|
|
|
de Gaulle, Gen. Charles (1890-1970): |
| Charles de Gaulle was a famous French general and politician during World War II and the period following. When France fell in 1940, de Gaulle, a brigadier general in the French army, organized the French soldiers and members of the French fleet that had escaped Dunkerque to rise up against Germany and Vichy France. He announced that he was forming a French government in exile, based out of London. This small force he assembled went to Africa and took over Madagascar and entered the French colony of Algeria. In Algeria, de Gaulle joined the French Committee of National Liberation. De Gaulle politically maneuvered the president of the committee out of power, and De Gaulle became the president. For a short time de Gaulle moved his headquarters to Algiers, but they were moved back to London during Operation Overlord, and then to Paris following the liberation of that city. He set up a provisional government there, and he was the president. He served this function for only 2 months; he resigned due to a falling out with the legislature on key issues. He formed his own political movement in 1947, but by 1953 he retired from this movement as well. He did not return to the public eye until 1958 when he was called upon to serve as premier and to draft a constitution. His constitution, which contained a remarkably strong executive branch, was approved that year, and he was elected President of the new government in 1959. He was elected to a second term in 1969, but resigned when an important referendum of his was voted down. He retired from politics until his death in 1970. |
|
|
Timeline | Museum | Simulation | Resources | Participation