On the first day of the new year, Siam released a new economic policy statement, stating that a move to central planning would be necessary to best use the nation's small resources. The members of the cabinet all retained their former positions.
At the beginning of 1939 Siam's economy was in good shape. Stockpiles of resources improved in all areas and the economy was stable.
On January 7th 8. Thai Infantry Division was ready for deployment. It was assigned to 2 Thai Corps in Chiang Rai.
On March 15th Germany annexed Czechoslovakia by threat of war, and partitioned it between itself, a new puppet nation of Slovakia, and a province to Hungary. France and Britain were furious and geared up for an expected war.
With the success of this latest annexation, Germany decided to be bold and claim the province of Memel from Lithuania. Lithuania quickly gave the province up.
Possibly emboldened by Germany's latest success, Italy decided to send an ultimatum to Albania, demanding the tiny country to give up its independence and become an Italian colony. The Albanian King Zog refused the demands and a war broke out. The war lasted a month, ending in the annexation of Albania on April 27th.
On March 28th 9. Thai Infantry Division was ready for deployment and assigned to 2 Thai Corps.
On March 30th Poland entered a military alliance with the Allies, hoping this would safeguard against a possible German or Soviet attack.
During May Japanese and the Soviet border troops clashed in several large scale battle around Nomonhan. The Japanese were defeated quite badly and Japan changed its plans for an assault on the Soviet Union in the near future.
On June 14th 10. Thai Infantry Division was ready for deployment and assigned to the newly created 3 Thai Corps in the western province of Nakhon Sawan.
On August 21st, Hungary joined the Axis alliance.
On August 24th, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a deal together, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. They agreed to partition Poland between themselves, and Germany would allow the Soviets to annex the Baltic states.
On August 26th 11. Thai Infantry Division was ready for deployment and assigned to 3 Thai Corps.
On August 28th research on Large Front Doctrine was completed, greatly increasing the fighting capacity of Siam's army. Research now began on Basic Infantry Division.
On August 30th Germany demanded that Poland cede Danzig, and when Poland refused, Germany declared war. The Allied powers quickly returned the favor, and soon Europe was once again engulfed in war.
Taking advantage of the situation, on September 10th, the Soviet Union demanded from Romania the outer provinces of Chisinev, Ismail and Beltsy. Romania, knowing it could not defeat the Soviet Union, atleast not alone, accepted the demands. On October 18th, Romania entered a military alliance with Germany.
On September 15th Estonia caved in to the Soviet Union's demands and became annexed into the USSR. The rest of the world hardly gave notice.
On October 2nd, after a tough month long fight, Poland was annexed into the German empire. On October 5th the official borders between Germany and the Soviet Union were created in Poland.
On November 4th, 12. Thai Infantry Division was deployed to 3 Thai Corps.
On November 17th, the Comintern declared war on Finland after it refused Soviet demands on territory. Few gains were made by the Soviets in 1939.
On December 17th in Norway the Altemark incident occured, causing Germany to create plans for the invasion of Norway in the next year.
With 1939 at an end, Siam continued to get larger, militarily and economically. Siam's advances were largely overshowed by the recent events in Europe and the escalating war in that region. But when the time came for a war of its own, Siam felt it would be ready to hold its own.
Newly deployed divisions, 1939
