Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle was a French military leader and head of government. He was born in 1890 in Lille, a city in northern France. He grew up in a family that valued history and public service. De Gaulle joined the French army as a young man and became an officer. He later became known for leading France during times of war and political change.

Before World War II, de Gaulle served in the French army and studied military strategy. Strategy means planning how armies move and fight. He wrote books about modern warfare. When World War II began in 1939, Germany invaded France. In 1940, France was defeated and many leaders accepted German control. De Gaulle refused to accept this outcome.

In June 1940, de Gaulle left France and went to Britain. From London, he made a radio speech calling on French people to continue fighting. He formed the Free French movement. This group supported the Allies and opposed German rule. The Allies were countries that worked together against Germany, Italy, and Japan. De Gaulle became the main leader of Free French forces during the war.

Free French soldiers fought in North Africa, Europe, and other areas. De Gaulle worked closely with Allied leaders, including Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower. When France was liberated in 1944, de Gaulle returned to Paris. Liberation means freeing a country from enemy control. He helped form a temporary government to restore order.

After the war, de Gaulle left political life for a time. In 1958, France faced a political crisis linked to the war in Algeria. De Gaulle was asked to return to lead the country. He became president and helped create the 'Fifth Republic. A republic is a country without a king or queen. The Fifth Republic gave the president stronger powers.

De Gaulle served as president from 1959 to 1969. He focused on rebuilding France, strengthening the government, and shaping foreign policy. Foreign policy means how a country deals with other nations. De Gaulle resigned in 1969 and died the following year. He remains a major figure in modern French history.