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Thailand (ประเทศไทย), officially the Republic of Thailand, was a regime in Thailand that lasted from 1941, when Field Marshal and Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram overthrew the country's king, and reformed the government. About a year later, the Japanese Empire occupied the country, and it later signed a mutual defense pact with Japan. Officially, the nation was a fascist republic, but it was realistically closer to being a military dictatorship. Japan allowed the country to function largely independently, and did not leave a garrison, giving Thailand much freedom. As a result, the Thais fared much better as part of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere than most other countries, which were mostly Japanese puppet states.
Under Phibunsongkhram, the sole dictator of the regime, the state was very nationalistic and pro-Japanese, supporting the idea of pan-Asianism. Thailand militarily aided Japan in the conquest of Burma and continued providing support during the Burma Campaign. Thai troops also fought in the invasion of India. During the following Cold War, the Western powers attempted several times (unsuccessfully) to overthrow the military government in the Republic of Thailand. The regime collapsed when Pleak died in 1964
The regime lasted from 1941 until 1964, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram was the sole leader of the nation (ท่านผู้นําแห่งชาติ) during this period. When he died in 1964 his government collapsed, the monarchy was restored and a new royal government was formed.