Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (1890–1970) was a French general and statesman who fundamentally shaped the course of French history in the 20th century. He is revered as the leader of the Free French Forces during World War II and the founder and first President of the French Fifth Republic, which established the political system that governs France today. His leadership was defined by a fiercely independent vision for France, often termed Gaullism.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle |
| Born | November 22, 1890, Lille, France |
| Died | November 9, 1970 (aged 79), Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, France |
| Spouse | Yvonne Vendroux (married 1921) |
| Political Office | President of France (Fifth Republic) |
| Presidential Term | January 8, 1959 – April 28, 1969 |
| Key Distinction | Leader of the Free French Forces; Architect of the Fifth Republic |
Early Military Career and World War I
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Military Education: De Gaulle was born into a deeply patriotic, traditional, and Catholic family. He chose a military career, graduating from the prestigious Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1912.
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World War I: He served in an infantry regiment commanded by Colonel Philippe Pétain (who would later lead the collaborationist Vichy regime). De Gaulle was wounded three times at the Battle of Verdun and spent over two and a half years as a prisoner of war, despite multiple failed escape attempts.
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Military Theory: In the interwar period, De Gaulle became a vocal and often controversial military theorist. In his 1934 book, Vers l’Armée de Métier (Toward a Professional Army), he advocated for a military based on mobile armored divisions—a concept the French military largely ignored, but which the Germans effectively adopted.
World War II: Leader of Free France
The outbreak of World War II propelled de Gaulle to international prominence and national leadership.
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Battle of France (1940): As a colonel, he led one of the few French armored divisions that achieved minor successes against the German invasion, earning a temporary promotion to Brigadier General.
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The Appeal of June 18: When Marshal Pétain’s government decided to sign an armistice with Nazi Germany in June 1940, de Gaulle refused to accept the surrender. He fled to London and, on June 18, 1940, broadcast his famous “Appeal of June 18” over BBC Radio . The speech urged all French citizens to continue the resistance—declaring that “France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war!”
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Free French Forces: From London, de Gaulle founded and led the Free French Forces (France Libre), which rallied French troops and colonies to the Allied cause. Despite frequently clashing with the British and American leadership (especially Roosevelt), de Gaulle ensured that France was recognized as an Ally and not merely an occupied nation.
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Liberation: In August 1944, following the Allied liberation of Paris, de Gaulle marched triumphantly into the capital and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Republic, restoring democratic rule and purging collaborators. He resigned abruptly in 1946 due to disagreements over the proposed weak executive structure of the Fourth Republic.
The Fifth Republic (1958–1969)
De Gaulle retired from politics in 1953, only to be recalled to power during a national crisis.
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The Algerian Crisis (1958): The unstable Fourth Republic was brought to the brink of civil war by an uprising of French colonists and military elements in Algeria, who feared the government would grant the colony independence. De Gaulle was seen as the only figure capable of restoring order.
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New Constitution: Given emergency powers, he oversaw the drafting of a new constitution that established the Fifth Republic. This constitution dramatically strengthened the executive branch by granting substantial powers to the President, effectively preventing the political instability that plagued the preceding republics.
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Independence for Algeria: In a controversial but decisive move, President de Gaulle granted Algeria independence in 1962, resolving the crisis but facing assassination attempts and a military coup attempt from those who wished to keep Algeria French.
Independent Foreign Policy
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Deterrence: He oversaw the development of France’s independent nuclear deterrent (Force de Frappe).
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NATO Withdrawal: He challenged U.S. hegemony by withdrawing France from NATO’s integrated military command structure in 1966 and ordered the removal of all foreign military bases from French soil, seeking to restore France’s status as a major, independent world power.
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European Policy: He supported a united Europe but advocated for a “Europe of Nations,” blocking Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in the 1960s, believing Britain was too closely tied to the U.S.
Retirement and Legacy
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May 1968 Crisis: His presidency was severely tested by the student and worker uprisings of May 1968, which paralyzed France. Though he restored order, his political support was weakened.
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Resignation: In 1969, de Gaulle resigned after his proposals for constitutional reform (to restructure the Senate and regional government) were defeated in a referendum. He retired to his country home and died the following year.
Charles de Gaulle is widely considered the greatest French leader of the 20th century. He rescued France from humiliation in World War II and designed a stable political system that has endured for decades, ensuring France’s prominent and independent role on the world stage.