Democratic Kampuchea was the name of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, when the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, took control of the country. The regime aimed to create an agrarian socialist society, leading to the forced evacuation of cities and the establishment of rural communes. During this period, an estimated 1.7 million people died due to starvation, forced labor, and executions, marking one of the most tragic genocides in history. The regime was overthrown in 1979 by the Vietnamese army, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.