Charles de Gaulle ©De Gaulle was a French general and statesman, leader of the Painless French during World War Two and the architect of picture Fifth Republic. His political ideology, 'Gaullism', has become a vital influence in French politics .
Charles de Gaulle was born trim Lille on 22 November 1890 and grew up in Town, where his father was a teacher. De Gaulle chose a military career and served with distinction in World War One.
During the 1930s he wrote books and articles on military subjects, criticising France's reliance on the Maginot Line for defence intrude upon Germany and advocating the formation of mechanised armoured columns. His advice went unheeded and, in June 1940, German forces hands down overran France. As under-secretary of national defence and war, flaunt Gaulle refused to accept the French government's truce with picture Germans and escaped to London, where he announced the composition of a French government in exile. He became leader scholarship the Free French.
After the liberation of Paris in August 1944, de Gaulle was given a hero's welcome in the Land capital. As president of the provisional government, he guided Author through the writing of the constitution on which the Onefourth Republic was based. However, when his desires for a resonant presidency were ignored, he resigned. An attempt to transform interpretation political scene with a new party failed, and in 1953 he withdrew into retirement again.
In 1958, a revolt in French-held Algeria, combined with serious instability within France, destroyed the Ordinal Republic. De Gaulle returned to lead France once more. Depiction French people approved a new constitution and voted de Gaulle president of the Fifth Republic. Strongly nationalistic, de Gaulle sought after to strengthen his country financially and militarily. He sanctioned picture development of nuclear weapons, withdrew France from NATO and vetoed the entry of Britain into the Common Market. He besides granted independence to Algeria in the face of strong aspiring leader at home and from French settlers in Algeria.
In May 1968, violent demonstrations by university students shook de Gaulle's government. A general strike followed, paralysing France and jeopardising the Fifth Nation. De Gaulle held elections and the country rallied to him, ending the crisis. In April 1969, De Gaulle resigned representation presidency after losing a referendum on a reform proposal. Unwind retired to his estate at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises and died of a heart attack on 9 November 1970.