de Gaulle
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| de Gaulle | |
|---|---|
| Name | de Gaulle |
| Caption | de Gaulle in the 1940s. |
| Office | President of France |
| Term start | 8 January 1959 |
| Term end | 28 April 1969 |
| Predecessor | René Coty |
| Successor | Georges Pompidou |
| Office2 | Prime Minister of France |
| Term start2 | 1 June 1958 |
| Term end2 | 8 January 1959 |
| Predecessor2 | Pierre Pflimlin |
| Successor2 | Michel Debré |
| Birth date | 22 November 1890 |
| Birth place | Lille, France |
| Death date | 9 November 1970 |
| Death place | Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, France |
| Party | Union for the New Republic (1958–1968) |
| Spouse | Yvonne de Gaulle |
| Children | Philippe, Élisabeth, Anne |
| Allegiance | France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Serviceyears | 1912–1940 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Battles | World War I, World War II |
de Gaulle. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French army officer, statesman, and the dominant political figure of mid-20th century France. He led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany during World War II and later founded the French Fifth Republic, serving as its first president from 1959 to 1969. His political ideology, known as Gaullism, emphasized national independence, a strong executive, and a prominent global role for France, leaving a profound and lasting legacy on the nation's institutions and international standing.
Early life and military career
Born in Lille into a patriotic Catholic family, he graduated from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and was commissioned into the French Army in 1912. During World War I, he served with distinction in the 33rd Infantry Regiment, was wounded multiple times, and was captured at the Battle of Verdun in 1916, spending the remainder of the war as a prisoner. In the interwar period, he advocated for modern mechanized warfare and the use of armored divisions in works like Vers l'Armée de Métier, clashing with the static defensive mindset embodied by the Maginot Line. He held various staff appointments and commanded a tank brigade during the Battle of France in 1940, briefly serving as a junior minister in the government of Paul Reynaud.
Leadership of Free France
Following the French armistice with Nazi Germany and the establishment of the collaborationist Vichy regime under Philippe Pétain, he refused to accept defeat. His famous Appeal of 18 June broadcast from London called for continued resistance, establishing him as the leader of the Free French Forces. He rallied French colonies like French Equatorial Africa and, despite tensions with allies like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, secured recognition for the French Committee of National Liberation. His forces played key roles in operations across Africa, the Middle East, and, following the invasion of Sicily and the Normandy landings, in the Liberation of Paris in August 1944.
Provisional Government and post-war politics
He headed the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944, overseeing the country's recovery and the purge of collaborators. He resigned in 1946 due to disagreements with the political parties over the weak executive powers in the new Fourth Republic. He remained politically aloof for over a decade, founding the Rally of the French People (RPF), but returned to prominence during the Algerian War crisis, which threatened to plunge France into civil war.
Founding of the Fifth Republic
Recalled to power as prime minister in June 1958 by President René Coty, he was granted emergency powers to draft a new constitution. This established the French Fifth Republic, which created a strong, directly elected presidency, vastly reducing the power of the National Assembly and the instability that had plagued the previous republic. The constitution was approved by referendum, and he was elected president by an electoral college in December 1958.
Presidency
His presidency was marked by efforts to restore French grandeur and stability. He ended the Algerian War through the Évian Accords, granting independence to Algeria in 1962 despite opposition from factions like the OAS. Domestically, he pursued a policy of economic modernization, known as trente glorieuses, and invested heavily in national projects like the Concorde supersonic jet. He survived several assassination attempts, including at Petit-Clamart, and faced significant civil unrest during the events of May 1968, which weakened his authority.
Foreign policy
His foreign policy, often termed "the politics of grandeur," was fiercely independent. He withdrew France from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966, expelled SHAPE from Paris, and developed an independent nuclear deterrent, the Force de frappe. He sought to position France as a leader of a "Third Force" between the United States and the Soviet Union, recognizing the People's Republic of China in 1964. He championed European integration based on nation-states, vetoing British entry into the European Economic Community and signing the landmark Élysée Treaty with West Germany.
Legacy and death
After a referendum on regional reform and Senate restructuring failed in April 1969, he resigned the presidency and retired to his home in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. He died there on 9 November 1970 from a ruptured aneurysm. His state funeral was a simple ceremony attended by world leaders including Georges Pompidou, Richard Nixon, and Harold Wilson. His legacy, Gaullism, continues to influence French politics through parties like Les Républicains, and the institutions of the Fifth Republic remain largely intact. Major international sites like Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and the aircraft carrier bear his name. Category:Presidents of France Category:French military personnel Category:Founders of the Fifth Republic