CHARLES DE GAULLE

Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille on 22nd November, 1890.He was raised in a catholic family. He was educated in Paris at the College Stanislas. Since his childhood, he had been interested in reading and studying history. He chose a military career and spent four years studying and training at the elite military academy of St Cyr. In 1912, he joined the 33rd infantry regiment of French Army.
While serving during World War I, he reached the rank of captain but was wounded several times. In 1916, he was captured by the German Army at Douaumont in the Battle of Verdun. He was released after the Armistice. He received in July 1919 “la Croix de Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”.
After the war,he continued to serve in the army. He participated in the war between Poland and Communist Russia.
He married Yvonne Vendroux on 7th April 1921.They had three children.
When World War II broke out, de Gaulle was colonel, commanding a regiment in Metz. Quickly, he denounced with several French officers the French government’s decision to seek peace with the Nazis. They fled the country and landed in London. Then, he created the Free French Forces and on 18th June 1940, he delivered the famous radio message via the BBC. He asked the French people for not be demoralized and to continue to resist the occupation of France. At the liberation, de Gaulle became the president of the Provisional Government of the French Republic. He gave the vote to women.
But, in 1946, disapproved, he returned to his home at Colombey-les Deux-Eglises to write his war memoires.
In April 1947, he created the RPF (Rassemblement du Peuple Français).
In 1958, he gave to the France a new constitution and became the first president of the 5th Republic.
In December 1965, de Gaulle was reelected but this time directly by the French people.
After May 1968, he resigned and retired once again to Colombey where he died suddenly (heart attack) on 9th November 1970.His funeral