Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II and later founded the Fifth French Republic, serving as its first president.
Refusing to accept his country's surrender, de Gaulle broadcast appeals for resistance from exile in London, years before he'd return to found an entirely new French republic.
Leading from Exile
After France's defeat by Nazi Germany in 1940, de Gaulle fled to England and became the leader of the Free French Forces, broadcasting radio appeals rallying French resistance and securing crucial Allied support from exile throughout the remainder of the war.
A Provisional Leader
De Gaulle briefly led France's provisional government immediately following liberation in 1944-1945, before stepping away from active politics amid disagreements over the structure of France's postwar constitution.
Returning Amid Crisis
De Gaulle returned to power in 1958 amid a serious political crisis stemming from the Algerian War, drafting a new constitution that established the Fifth French Republic with a significantly stronger executive presidency than previous French governments.
Ending Colonial Rule in Algeria
De Gaulle oversaw the difficult and politically fraught process of peaceful decolonization, most significantly the end of French colonial rule in Algeria in 1962, despite facing significant domestic opposition and even assassination attempts over the decision.
An Independent Foreign Policy
De Gaulle served as president until 1969, pursuing a deliberately independent French foreign policy distinct from both American and Soviet influence, and remains one of the most significant and revered figures in modern French history.
