About
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) was a French soldier, writer and statesman. A graduate of Saint-Cyr, he fought at Verdun during World War I. Between the wars, he advocated a mechanized professional army. In 1940, he made the Appeal of 18 June from London and embodied Free France. After the Liberation, he led the provisional government and founded the Fifth Republic in 1958, becoming its first president. He oversaw decolonization, developed the nuclear strike force, and withdrew from NATO's integrated command. He resigned in 1969.
Major works
- Le Fil de l'épée (1932)essay
- Vers l'armée de métier (1934)essay
- Mémoires de guerre (1954-1959)memoirs
Key milestones
- 1940Made the Appeal of 18 June on the BBC, calling for resistance against Nazi occupation.
- 1958Founded the Fifth Republic and became its first president.
- 1962Granted independence to Algeria, ending the Algerian War.
Themes
National sovereigntyMilitary independenceResistanceDecolonizationConstitution and institutions
Sources: elysee.fr · britannica.com · encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net