Kanchanaburi’s role in WWII, Thailand

The Bridge on the River Kwai

After entering the Second World War in December 1941, the Japanese forces quickly overran most South-East Asia. In 1942, in order to have a short and secure line of supply between Burma (now Myanmar) and Siam (now Thailand), they decided to use prisoners of war and civilian labor to build a single line railway: the Burma-Siam railway.  This railway also passed through Kanchanaburi (in Thailand): the Bridge on the River Kwai. The project cost the lives of more than one hundred thousand prisoners of war and civilians,  as a result of sickness, accidents, exhaustion, malnutrition and mistreatment. It all ended in 1944 when the Allied forces bombed the bridge several times, to stop the Japanese invasion.

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Podul peste raul Kwai: Dupa ce au intrat in cel de-al II-lea razboi mondial in Dec. 1941, japonezii au invadat rapid Asia de Sud-Est. In 1942, ca sa aiba un transport rapid si sigur intre Burma (acum Myanmar) si Siam (acum Thailanda), au decis sa construiasca – folosing prizonieri de razboi – calea ferata Burma-Siam. Aceasta cale ferata trecea si prin Kanchanaburi, traversand raul Kwai (Podul peste raul Kwai). Constructia acestei cai ferate a costat peste 100 000 de vieti ale prizonierilor de razboi datorita bolilor, accidentelor, epuizarii, malnutritiei si tratamentului barbar. Totul s-a sfarsit in 1944 cand Aliatii au bombardat podul de cateva ori, pentru a opri avansarea invaziei Japoneze.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

This cemetery was built to commemorate the deaths of more than 5000 British and 1800 Dutch during the construction of Burma Railway. It’s quiet, peaceful and very well taken care of: with nice cut grass and flowers next to the tombstones.

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Cimitirul acesta a fost construit pentru a comemora moartea a peste 5000 de britanici si 1800 de olandezi, decedati in timpul constructiei caii ferate de care va spuneam mai sus. Aici e liniste, pace si e foarte ingrijit: iarba tunsa si flori langa pietrele funerare.

The Death Railway Museum and Research Center

This is a great museum which I think you have to visit while in Kanchanaburi, because it presents in chronological order the historical facts and the reasons behind the construction of Railway. The exhibitions display POW’s personal belongings, journals and describe the conditions in which they had to work and live in.

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Muzeul Caii Ferate Burma-Siam: e un muzeu foarte bine organizat – prezinta in ordine cronologica istoria si motivul construirii caii ferate, sunt expuse obiecte personale ale prizonierilor de razboi, jurnalele lor, scrisori, si sunt descrise conditiile in care traiau si munceau.

The World War II Museum

Not really worth visiting unless you are bored and don’t know what to do with your time. There is a bunch of things from the war period like cars, weapons, money, but not in a very well organized manner.

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Muzeul celui de-al II-lea razboi mondial: nu e musai de vizitat, decat daca esti super plictisit si nu ai altceva de facut. Sunt expuse diverse chestii din timpul razboiului: arme, masini, dar nu intr-o maniera organizata.

After so much learning, time for sightseeing

Like usual, there will be dogs and cats in some of the photos…

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Dupa atata istorie, e timpul de hoinarit prin oras. Vor fi catei si pisici in poze…bineinteles.

The slowest transportation ever!

When it’s Very Hot and you’re tired, taking a “vehicle” to drive you around seems like a good idea…but make sure you ask the maximum speed before you make a deal, because you might end up slower than by foot…

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Cand e Foarte Cald si esti obosit, un mijloc de transport pare o idee foarte buna…dar inainte sa bati palma cu soferul, ar fi bine sa il intrebi care e viteza maxima, caci s-ar putea sa fie mai incet ca mersul pe jos…