Charles de Gaulle was a towering figure in French history. He was a military hero, a political leader, and a writer. He was also a complex and controversial figure.
The Early Years
Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille, France, on November 22, 1890. He was the son of a lawyer and a teacher. De Gaulle showed an early aptitude for military matters. He graduated from the École Polytechnique in 1912, and he was commissioned as an officer in the French Army.
World War I
De Gaulle served in World War I, and he was wounded several times. He was also captured by the Germans, but he escaped and returned to France.
Between the Wars
After the war, de Gaulle served in the French military. He was a vocal critic of the French government, and he argued that France needed to be stronger in order to defend itself.
World War II
When France fell to the Germans in 1940, de Gaulle refused to surrender. He escaped to London, where he established the Free French Forces. The Free French fought alongside the Allies to liberate France from the Germans.
The Fourth Republic
After the war, de Gaulle returned to France. He served as Prime Minister of France from 1944 to 1946. He then retired from politics.
In 1958, de Gaulle was recalled to power. He was elected President of the Fifth Republic, which was a new constitution that he had helped to write.
De Gaulle was a strong and decisive leader. He oversaw the end of the French colonial empire, and he helped to restore France's position as a major power.
The Final Years
De Gaulle resigned as President of France in 1969. He died in 1970.
The Legacy of Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant military strategist, a gifted politician, and a gifted writer. He was also a man of great vision.
De Gaulle's legacy is immense. He is considered one of the most important figures in French history. He helped to shape the course of the 20th century, and his ideas continue to influence France and the world today.
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