Pathet Lao
1950–1975 left-wing national liberation movement of Laos / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Pathet Lao (Lao: ປະເທດລາວ, romanized: Pa thēt Lāo, lit. 'Lao Nation'[1]), officially the Lao People's Liberation Army, was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group ultimately conquered the entire country in 1975, after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists and North Vietnam. During the civil war, it was effectively organized, equipped and even led by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). They fought against the anti-communist forces in the Vietnam War. Eventually, the term became the generic name for Laotian communists. Under orders from Mao Zedong, the People's Liberation Army provided 115,000 guns, 920,000 grenades and 170 million bullets, and trained more than 700 of its military officers.[2]
Pathet Lao | |
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Leaders | Prince Souphanouvong Kaysone Phomvihane Nouhak Phoumsavanh |
Dates of operation | 1950 – 2 December 1975 |
Headquarters | Vientiane |
Ideology | Communism Marxism–Leninism Left-wing nationalism Pro-Vietnam |
Allies | State allies:
Non-state allies: |
Opponents | State opponents:
Non-state opponents: |
Battles and wars | Indochina War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Communist insurgency in Thailand |