THAILAND-BURMA RAILWAY CENTRE

This modern museum, located next to the war cemetery, was created on the initiative of an Australian survivor of the Japanese labour camps. It traces the history of the construction of the Siam-Burma railway, also known as the Death Railway, which became infamous in 1943. This establishment is a counterpart to the Jeath Museum. This museum, located just next to the POWs cemetery in the heart of the city centre, was set up thanks to long and methodical documentation searches. Its creation was primarily intended for the survivors and the memory of the victims. It traces in detail the history of the military operations launched in Asia by the Japanese. We learn that the Thai government of the time had signed a cooperation treaty with Japan in January 1942, and even declared war on the Allied Forces! Of course, most of it explains the cruel fate of these tens of thousands of men (Australians, English, Dutch and Americans, but also Malay, Indians, Thai and Chinese!) who died in atrocious conditions during the seventeen months (instead of the three years initially planned!) that the construction of this strategic railway took between 1943 and 1944. The models on display are remarkable, and the explanatory texts give an accurate idea of how things went. Allow at least one hour for the visit.