In 1945, Cambodian patriots known as the Khmer Issaraks launched a hit-and-run guerrilla rebellion against the French colonial rule in Cambodia.

After two years of frustration, the Khmer Issaraks sought assistance from the Viet Minh independence coalition, leading to the formation of the Khmer Rouge through the merger of Khmer Issaraks and Khmer Viet Minh factions.

By 1952, the Khmer Rouge reportedly controlled more than half of Cambodia with the support of the North Vietnamese army and the Communist Party of China. They grew in size and strength during the Vietnam War.

In 1953, Pol Pot, then known as Solath Sar, returned to Cambodia after spending time in France and joining the French Communist Party. His involvement in clandestine communist activities laid the groundwork for his later rise to power within the Khmer Rouge.

In 1963, Pol Pot, the future leader of the Khmer Rouge, was appointed as the Communist Party of Kampuchea's (CPK) party secretary. This marked a significant step in his journey towards becoming a notorious dictator in Cambodia.

In March 1970, Marshal Lon Nol orchestrated a successful coup to overthrow Prince Sihanouk and seize power in Cambodia. This event set the stage for the Khmer Rouge's ascent to prominence during the country's civil war.

US B-52 bombardment of the Cambodian countryside in support of Lon Nol's forces reaches its peak. The bombing, which started in 1969, results in 50,000 to 150,000 civilian deaths before the US Congress calls a halt to it on August 15, 1973.

On April 17, 1975, Phnom Penh, a major city in Cambodia, fell to the communist forces, marking the end of five years of foreign interventions, bombardment, and civil war in Cambodia. This event had significant implications for the country's future under the Khmer Rouge regime.

In 1976, the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) established the state of Democratic Kampuchea and introduced the first 'Four-Year Plan,' which aimed at collectivizing private property and prioritizing rice cultivation, leading to harsh working conditions and forced labor for Cambodians.

In 1977, the secretive Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), led by the self-proclaimed 'Angkar Padevat,' revealed its leaders to the public. This disclosure shed light on the individuals behind the oppressive regime.

On May 25, 1978, the Khmer Rouge carried out purges in the East Zone of Cambodia, targeting individuals perceived as threats to their regime.

January 7, 1979, marked the day when Vietnamese forces captured Phnom Penh, initiating an 11-year period of Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia. This event led to mixed reactions among Cambodians, with some viewing it as liberation from the Khmer Rouge and others as the start of Vietnamese rule.

In 1981, children of Khmer Rouge guerrillas attended makeshift schools in western Cambodia as formal education was abolished by the regime. The education system was disrupted and children had limited access to learning.

In 1982, the Khmer Rouge formed a coalition with Prince Sihanouk and non-communist leader Son Sann to create the Triparty Coalition Government. This political alliance aimed to counter the government established by Vietnam in Phnom Penh.

Human remains were excavated from the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1983. The site served as a mass grave for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime during the Cambodian Genocide.

Pol Pot, the former leader of the Khmer Rouge, was under house arrest in 1989 and died in 1998 without facing charges for the atrocities committed during his regime.

In 1990, Vietnamese troops withdrew from Cambodia, marking the end of their military presence in the country. This withdrawal had implications for the political dynamics in Cambodia.

On October 23, 1991, all Cambodian parties signed a peace agreement in Paris, paving the way for a national election under UN supervision. The Khmer Rouge's refusal to participate in the election posed challenges to the peace process.

In 1993, the People's Republic of Kampuchea was replaced by the Royal Government of Cambodia, a constitutional monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk.

In 1994, the Khmer Rouge movement was officially outlawed by Cambodia's National Assembly.

In 1996, King Norodom Sihanouk pardoned the top cadre Ieng Sary's genocide sentence from the 1979 genocide tribunal.

In 1997, Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, was arrested by other Khmer Rouge leaders and sentenced to life imprisonment. This event marked a significant turning point in the history of the Khmer Rouge.

Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, died in his sleep due to heart failure on April 15, 1998, at the age of 72.

In March 1999, Ta Mok, the last surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge who refused to join the Royal Government of Cambodia, was captured. This event marked a significant milestone in the dismantling of the Khmer Rouge movement.

In January 2001, the Cambodian government established the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to try the leadership of the Khmer Rouge for crimes against humanity.

In 2003, an agreement was reached with the U.N. on how the international community would assist and participate in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, with amendments made in 2004.

The ECCC was established in 2006 to prosecute senior leaders and those most responsible for the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

On November 20, 2007, the pre-trial chamber held its first public hearing on an appeal by Duch, the Khmer Rouge head of the S-21 prison where thousands died.

Cambodian Buddhist monks are seen blessing victims' skulls at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields memorial in Phnom Penh.

In 2009, Cambodian Sao Phen was preparing skulls and bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge inside a stupa in Kandal province. This act symbolizes the tragic and brutal history of the Khmer Rouge regime.

On July 26, 2010, Duch was convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity, murder, and torture, leading to a 35-year prison sentence.

On November 17, 2011, a Cambodian woman was seen looking at portraits of victims of the Khmer Rouge at the Tuol Sleng genocide museum in Phnom Penh. The museum serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge era.

Duch's initial 35-year prison sentence was increased to life imprisonment on February 3, 2012.

A Cambodian man is seen sitting near a tree at Choeung Ek Killing Fields, which was used to beat children to death during the Khmer Rouge regime.

On August 7, 2014, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, key figures in the Khmer Rouge regime, were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

In 2018, Nuon Chea, known as Brother Number Two, and Khieu Samphan, the former President of Democratic Kampuchea, were found guilty and handed down guilty verdicts for their roles in the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.