The Rise and Fall of the Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge
Claude Juvenal / AFP / Getty Images

Day One, Year Zero
Khmer Rouge fighters celebrate as they enter Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. Prince Sihanouk, the party's early ally, resigned in 1976, paving the way for the now notorious Khmer Rouge founder and leader, Pol Pot, to become prime minister. The country was renamed Kampuchea, and it was the start Year Zero — the beginning of a new history for Cambodia written by Pol Pot.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.