After Sihanouk showed his support for the Khmer Rouge by visiting them in the field, their ranks swelled from 6,000 to 50,000 fighters. Many of the new recruits for the Khmer Rouge were apolitical peasants who fought in support of the king, not for communism, of which they had little understanding. Sihanouk's popular support in rural Cambodia allowed the Khmer Rouge to extend its power and influence to the point that by 1973 it exercised de facto control over the majority of Cambodian territory, although only a minority of its population. By 1975, with the Lon Nol government running out of ammunition, it was clear that it was only a matter of time before the government would collapse. On 17 April 1975, there was the Fall of Phnom Penh, as the Khmer Rouge captured the capital.
after sihanouk showed his support for the khmer rouge by visiting them in the field their ranks swelled from 6000 to 50000 fighters many of the new recruits for the khmer rouge were apolitical peasants who fought in support of the king not for communism of which they had l.ittle understanding sihanouk's popular support in rural cambodia allowed the khmer rouge to extend its power and influence to the point that by 1973 it exercised de facto control over the majority of cambodian ?territory although only a minority of its population by 1975 with the lon nol government running out of ammunition it was clear that it was only a matter of time before the government would collapse on 17 april 1975 there was the fall of phnom penh as the khmer rouge captured the capital