Charles de Gaulle
1890 – 1970 French Leader of Free France; President of France
Free French leader and founder of the Fifth Republic.
- Religion
- Roman Catholic
- Affiliations
- Founder of the Fifth Republic; not a Freemason.
De Gaulle led the Free French resistance against Nazi Germany from London during World War II. He returned to power in 1958 amid the Algerian crisis and founded the Fifth Republic with a strong presidency. He pursued an independent French foreign and nuclear policy.
Connections
- ally of Felix Eboue — Brought Chad over to Free France in 1940, an early cornerstone of de Gaulle's African base.
- rival of Sekou Toure — Led the lone 'no' to de Gaulle's 1958 Community, triggering France's abrupt withdrawal.
- ally of Winston Churchill — Hosted the Free French leader during the war.
- ally of Winston Churchill — Wartime ally, though relations were often tense.
In the timeline
- 1958 French Fifth Republic and a strong presidency mentioned
- 1958 Guinea votes no to the French Community, France withdraws overnight mentioned
- 1958 France's Fifth Republic curbs parliamentary power in favor of the presidency mentioned
- 1960 Jacques Foccart's Africa cell formalized inside the Elysee mentioned