Charles de Gaulle

Lore & Background

Born in Lille to a devoutly Catholic conservative family, de Gaulle was a decorated officer of World War I, wounded several times and taken prisoner of war by Germany. During the interwar period, he advocated mobile armoured divisions. Refusing to accept the armistice with Germany, he fled to England and exhorted the French to continue the fight in his Appeal of 18 June. He led the Free French Forces and later headed the French National Liberation Committee, emerging as the undisputed leader of Free France.

Reader's Guide

De Gaulle's significance lies in his role as the symbol of French resistance during World War II and his reshaping of French political institutions. He granted independence to Algeria, angering the Pieds-Noirs and armed forces, and acted progressively towards other French colonies. In the Cold War, he pursued a 'politics of grandeur,' withdrawing France from NATO's integrated military command and launching an independent nuclear strike force, making France the world's fourth nuclear power. He restored cordial France–Germany relations via the Élysée Treaty and opposed supranational Europe, favouring sovereign nations. His later years saw controversy over his 'Vive le Québec libre' speech and two vetoes of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community. Many French political parties and leaders claim a Gaullist legacy, and numerous streets and monuments worldwide were dedicated to his memory.

Did You Know?

• De Gaulle was wounded several times and taken prisoner of war by Germany during World War I.
• He wrote his War Memoirs during retirement in the early 1950s, which became a staple of modern French literature.
• He introduced a dirigiste economic policy as head of the Provisional Government, followed by 30 years of unprecedented growth.