Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II and later founded the French Fifth Republic and served as its first President. In France, he is commonly referred to as Général de Gaulle or simply Le Général.
Children - Philippe de Gaulle (b. 1921), Elisabeth (1924-2013), and Anne (1928-1948).
Led the Free French during WWII.
President of the French Republic (8 January 1959 to 28 April 1969).
Served in WWI; he was wounded twice and taken POW by the Germans.
Time Magazines "Man of the Year"
Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Les guignols de linfo" (although its rarely utilized).
He was voted greatest French person ever in 2005.
His namesake grandson represents France in the European Parliament as a member of the National Front party.
He and Yvonne Vendroux (who became known as "Tante Yvonne") had 3 children: Philippe (1921), Elisabeth , and Anne (1928 - 1948). Anne, who had Downs syndrome, died at the age of 20.
His name is synonymous with a political philosophy, "Gaullism" (from the French "Gaullisme"), an ideology based on his thoughts and actions that is still current powerful in France. The serving president, Jacques Chirac, is a Gaullist. Gaullisms central tenet is a desire for France to remain independent of influence from a foreign power. In foreign policy, national independence is stressed, with some degree of opposition to international organizations such as NATO. De Gaulle believed that France should not rely on any foreign country for its survival (thus the creation of the French nuclear deterrent) and that France should refuse subservience to any foreign power, be it the U.S. or the former Soviet Union. De Gaulles policies of grandeur - the insistence that France is a major power in the world scene and military and economic forces to back this claim - also is part of Gaullism. The foreign policy of France was influenced by Gaullism even when Gaullists were not in power. Gaullism typically is equated with social conservatism, and it is generally considered a right-wing ideology, but there have also been left-wing Gaullists, the differences between the two consisting of differing social and economic policies. Gaullism has sometimes been characterized as a form of populism, since de Gaulle relied heavily on his personal charisma in the political realm.
De Gaulle was descended, on his fathers side, from a long line of aristocracy from Normandy and Burgundy which had been settled in Paris for about a century, whereas his mothers family were rich entrepreneurs from the industrial region of Lille in French Flanders. The most ancient de Gaulle ancestor recorded was a squire of King Philip Augustus in the 12th century. The name de Gaulle is thought to have evolved from a Germanic form "De Walle" meaning "the wall". Most of the ancient French nobility descended from Germanic lineages and often bore Germanic names.
In an affront to the French and world political establishments and protocol, de Gaulles will specifically stated that he was to be buried at Colombey-les-deux-glises, and that no presidents or ministers attend his funeral, only his Compagnons de la Libration. The heads of State attended a simultaneous service held at Notre-Dame Cathedral. His will also specified that his tombstone bear the simple inscription "Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970". He was nearly destitute when he died, and his family had to sell their residence, which was purchased by a foundation and is currently the Charles de Gaulle Museum.
In perfect health until his unforeseen death, it was reported that de Gaulle died in his armchair at his home in Colombey-les-deux-glises of an aneurysm after having finished watching the evening news on television. Allegedly, his last words were "I feel a pain here", pointing to his neck, and fell unconscious due to the aneurysmal rupture seconds later. Within minutes he was dead.
After his return to Paris in 1944, he moved back into his old office at the War Ministry where he had served undersecretary of state for national defense and war, underscoring the continuity of the Third Republic (which he had represented in the government in exile in London) and denying the legitimacy of Vichy France. He served as the President of the provisional government from September 1944 through January 20, 1946, when he resigned. De Gaulle was tired of the conflict between the political parties and did not approve of the draft constitution for the Fourth Republic which he believed placed too much power in the hands of parliament, which made the state vulnerable to shifts in party alliances.
Was recalled to power upon the collapse of the Fourth Republic due to its inability to resolve the Algerian War. The Fourth Republic was undermined by the May 13, 1958 seizure of government buildings in Algiers by French settlers, who acted with the support of the Army. The French settlers in Algeria were protesting what they saw as the French governments weakness in dealing with the Arab majoritys quest for Algerian independence. The Gaullist General Jacques Massu was installed as president of a Committee of Civil and Army Public Security and the French military Commander-in-Chief in Algeria, General Raoul Salan, announced that the Army had "provisionally taken over responsibility for the destiny of French Algeria" During the crisis, De Gaulle widely increasingly seen as the only person who could settle the Algerian question and stop the military rebellion. General Salan had declared "Vive de Gaulle!" from the balcony of the Algiers Government-General building on May 15th. Two days later, de Gaulle answered that he was ready to "take on the powers of the Republic" in what essentially was a military coup detat to forestall an even more egregious coup. To questions that his ascendancy threatened civil liberties, de Gaulle responded that, to the contrary, "...I have reestablished them when they had disappeared. Who honestly believes that, at age 67, I would start a career as a dictator?" A republican by conviction, de Gaulle maintained throughout the crisis that he would accept power only from the lawfully constituted authorities of the state. De Gaulles stock as savior of France rose as French paratroopers from Algeria seized Corsica and planned a landing near Paris to likely seize the National Assembly. Except for the Communists, leaders across the political spectrum agreed to support de Gaulles return to power (with the notable exception of Franois Mitterrand, then a liberal). French President Ren Coty appealed to the "most illustrious of Frenchmen" to become the President of the Council (Prime Minister) of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1958, and de Gaulle accepted, with the proviso that he was intent on abrogating the constitution of the Fourth Republic, which he blamed for Frances political weakness. The other precondition of his return was that he be given wide emergency powers for six months and was permitted to propose a new constitution to the French people. De Gaulle became premier on June 1, 1958, and the National Assembly granted him emergency powers as befits a state of siege for six months. A referendum on a new constitution that created a strong presidency took place on September 28, 1958 and was approved by 79.2% of those who voted, thus creating the Fifth Republic, which has lasted nearly half a century. In the elections held in November 1958, de Gaulle and his supporters in the Union pour la Nouvelle Rpublique-Union Dmocratique du Travail won a comfortable parliamentary majority. De Gaulle subsequently was elected President of the Republic by the National Assembly with 78% of the vote by an electoral college consisting of parliamentarians and local politicians and was inaugurated in January 1959. He won re-election in 1965 under the current system, beating Mitterand in the second round after failing to achieve a majority in the first round. In all, he served 10 years as president, resigning on April 28, 1969 after the failure of a referendum to reform the Senate and local government, feeling that he had lost the support of the people.
He caused an international incident in July 1967 while in the francophone province of Quebec as part of a state visit to Canada to celebrate its centennial and to attend the worlds fair, Expo 67, in Montreal. On July 24th, speaking to a large crowd from a balcony on Montreals city hall, de Gaulle uttered "Vive le Qubec!" ("Long live Quebec!") then added, "Vive le Qubec libre!" ("Long live free Qubec!"). (Ironically, many Quebckers had supported De Gaulles antagonists in Vichy during the war.) The speech caused outrage in Canada and a serious diplomatic rift between the two countries; de Gaulle was forced to leave the country. However, the event is seen as a watershed moment by the Quebecois sovereignty movement.
Brother of Pierre de Gaulle.
All Parisian cinemas closed for the day, on November 12th 1970, as a mark of respect to him.
Gold is absolute objectivity. It is blind, like justice. It has no,politics and ideology, no likes or dislikes, no friends or enemies. All,it recognizes is its possessor, whom it serves faithfully so long as he,has it.
[on action] Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone.
France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war.
[from his victory speech at the liberation of Paris, August 23, 1945],Paris! An outraged Paris! A broken Paris! A martyred Paris! But. . . a,liberated Paris! Liberated by itself, liberated by its people with the,help of the armies of France, with the support and the help of all of,France, of the fighting France, of the only France, the real France,the eternal France!,Always choose the most difficult way, there you will not meet competitors.
How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?,I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war,Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.
The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.
A man of character finds a special attractiveness in difficulty, since it is only by coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities.
Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
Deliberation is the work of many men. Action of one alone.
How can you be expected to govern a country that has 246 kinds of cheese?,Faced with crisis the man of character falls back on himself.
Before such a prodigious career judgement is torn between blame and admiration.
How can you govern a country with two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?,Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.
The perfection preached in the Gospels never yet built up an Empire. Every man of action has a strong dose of optimism pride hardness and cunning. But all these things will be forgiven him indeed they will be regarded as high qualities if he can make of them the means to achieve great ends.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless.
Every man of action has a strong dose of egotism pride hardness and cunning. But all those things will be forgiven him indeed they will be regarded as high qualities if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.
Since a politician never believes what he says he is surprised when others believe him.
It will not be any European statesman who will unite Europe: Europe will be united by the Chinese.
In order to become the master the politician poses as the servant.
The better I get to know men the more I find myself loving dogs.
It so happens that the world is undergoing a transformation to which no change that has yet occurred can be compared either in scope or in rapidity.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
I respect only those who resist me but cannot tolerate them.
Faced with crisis the man of character falls back on himself.
Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop.
I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.
Old age is a shipwreck.
I was France.
I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French.
The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute.
The true statesman is the one who is willing to take risks.
The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.
You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.
Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.
In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.
How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?,The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone. .
