Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French army officer and statesman, best known for leading Free France against Nazi Germany during World War II, overseeing the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946, and establishing the Fifth Republic. He served as President of France from 1958 to 1969, shaping modern French politics.
Personal and Family Life
Charles de Gaulle was born on November 22, 1890, in Lille, France. He married Yvonne de Gaulle on April 6, 1921, and they had three children together. His towering height of 6 feet 4.5 inches made him a notable figure, both physically and politically.
Political Career
De Gaulle began his career as an army officer and gained recognition during World War II for his leadership in the resistance against Nazi occupation. After the war, he returned from retirement to reshape French governance, creating a new constitution and founding the Fifth Republic. He was elected President in 1958 and re-elected in 1965, serving until he resigned in 1969.
Death and Legacy
Charles de Gaulle passed away on November 9, 1970, in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, France. He left behind a significant legacy as a leader who restored France’s democracy and strengthened its global standing. His contributions to French politics and history are still commemorated and studied today.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer | 1943-01-02 | Himself – with Churchill and FDR (archive footage) |
| Foccart, l’homme qui dirigeait l’Afrique | 2010-09-18 | Self (archive footage) |
| La Libération de Paris | 1944-09-01 | Himself |
| André Malraux: l’épreuve du pouvoir | 2019-10-02 | Self – Politician (archive footage) |
| De Gaulle, le dernier roi de France | 2017-03-27 | Self (archive footage) |
| Drôle de guerre | 2019-08-27 | Self – Army Colonel (archive footage) |