21 Brutal Dictators of the 20th Century Posted on September 18, 2016November 11, 2017 by TFE Times Prev10 of 21Next Pol Pot Pol Pot (19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998) was a Cambodian politician and revolutionary who led the Khmer Rouge from 1963 until 1997. From 1963 to 1981, he served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea. As such, he became the leader of Cambodia on 17 April 1975, when his forces captured Phnom Penh. From 1976 to 1979, he also served as the Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea (30th Prime Minister of Cambodia). Related