Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle was a French soldier, writer, statesman, and architect of France’s Fifth Republic. He was born in Lille on 22 November 1890 and grew up in Paris, where his father was a teacher. He graduated from the military academy of Saint-Cyr in 1912 and served in World War I, where he was wounded and captured by the Germans. He escaped several times but was recaptured each time. After the war, he pursued a career in the army and became an expert on tank warfare. He also wrote several books on military strategy and history. In 1940, after the fall of France to Nazi Germany, he fled to London and broadcast a famous speech on the BBC, calling on the French people to resist the occupation and join him in exile. He formed the Free French Forces, which fought alongside the Allies in Africa, Europe, and Asia. He also established a provisional government in Algiers, which later moved to Paris after the liberation of France in 1944. He became the head of the provisional government until 1946, when he resigned over constitutional disagreements. He returned to politics in 1958, when France faced a crisis over the Algerian War. He was elected as the president of the newly created Fifth Republic, which gave him extensive powers. He granted independence to Algeria and other French colonies, pursued an independent foreign policy that distanced France from NATO and the United States, and developed France’s nuclear deterrent. He also initiated a series of social and economic reforms, such as the introduction of a new franc, the expansion of social security, and the promotion of regional development. He faced several challenges during his presidency, such as the student protests and workers’ strikes of May 1968, the assassination attempts by the OAS (a militant group opposed to Algerian independence), and the growing opposition from his former allies. He resigned in 1969 after losing a referendum on constitutional reform. He retired to his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, where he died on 9 November 1970 from an aneurysm. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in French history and a symbol of national unity and resistance. His political ideology, known as Gaullism, has influenced many French politicians across the political spectrum. He is also celebrated for his role in World War II and his vision of a united Europe. He is buried in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, alongside his wife and daughter Anne, who had Down syndrome. His other two children, Philippe and Élisabeth, became prominent figures in French politics and culture.