That Time in WW1 That Thailand Occupied a (Small Patch of) Germany [S8.E69]

Another fascinating history episode, this time looking into a little-known event in World War 1 that saw Thailand - er, Siam - occupying a small part of Germany! Greg sets the stage by reviewing the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the chain reaction of alliances that triggered the global conflict. Next, Ed brings up how this localized event snowballed into a world war and explains that Siam - typically pragmatic - initially remained neutral because it had close trade ties with Germany while being bordered by British and French empires. Ed notes that Siam eventually joined the Allied side to gain diplomatic leverage against unequal European treaties. Greg then details the regional territorial losses and concessions Siam had suffered to France and Britain prior to declaring war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. After seizing German assets locally, Siam dispatched an expeditionary force to Europe to serve under French command. Although they earned a French award for bravery under artillery fire and lost soldiers to illness, they faced racism and marginalization from French officers. To ease these diplomatic tensions after the armistice, France assigned Siamese troops to temporarily occupy a small German town. Greg and Ed conclude the topic by reflecting on how this brief occupation allowed Siam to join the League of Nations. See the photos below, including Thai aviators, photos from the war, the flag used by the expeditionary unit, and the memorial near Sanam Luang today.