Born on November 22, 1890 in Lille, Charles de Gaulle was a military man, the leader of the political entity Free France (France Libre), and the president of the French Fifth Republic.
Élève de l'École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (caporal) (2006)Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides
From a very young age, Charles de Gaulle embraced a military career, entering the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr (École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr) in 1909. He graduated 13th out of 121 students in 1912.
During World War I, Lieutenant de Gaulle joined the armies of the northeast of France. Wounded three times, reported missing, and then captured as a prisoner of war in Germany, he was finally freed following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, after attempting to escape five times.
Sacoche en cuir fauve ayant appartenu au colonel Charles de Gaulle (2nd quarter of the 20th century)Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides
De Gaulle had close ties with the Invalides, the headquarters of the Secretariat-General for National Defence (Secrétariat général de la Défense nationale), where he served for more than six years (1931–1937). This leather bag was used by de Gaulle during this period.
This period of his career allowed him to develop his military theories. In 1934, de Gaulle published a book entitled Army of the Future (Vers l'Armée de Métier) in which he proposed, among other things, to create battleship divisions.
In December 1937, de Gaulle was put in command of the 507th tank regiment. As a mark of fate, the insignia of this unit, which was based in Metz, traditionally included a cross of Lorraine, the future symbol of Free France.
Veston en cuir modèle 1935 du colonel Charles de Gaulle (1935)Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides
At the outbreak of World War II, de Gaulle was appointed to lead an armored division. Worn by de Gaulle during combat in May–June 1940, this jacket was hidden during Occupied France before being returned to him after the liberation of the country and subsequently donated to the museum.
The reputation he gained during battle led to him being promoted to the rank of temporary general but, above all, made him a member of the government, which gave him political legitimacy.
After Marshal Pétain announced the armistice, General de Gaulle broadcast a call to resistance on BBC radio on June 18, 1940. De Gaulle spoke into a microphone like this from London.
Determined to keep fighting, de Gaulle organized the armed forces that would later become the Free French Forces as early as the summer of 1940. Today, it is estimated that approximately 54,100 volunteers enlisted alongside de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French.
Libération de Paris, un char Sherman acclamé par la population parisienne (August 1944) by AnonymousMusée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides
"Paris! Paris outraged! Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated!"
Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944. Charles de Gaulle went to the city hall (Hôtel de Ville) where he gave a memorable speech. The next day, he triumphantly paraded down the Champs-Élysées.
President of the provisional government, de Gaulle chose to resign on January 20, 1946 following political disagreements. A year later, he created his political party, the Rally of the French People (Rassemblement du Peuple Français), which soon gained a large following. In 1953, de Gaulle began his so-called "crossing the desert", where he retired to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises and wrote his memoirs.
Back in power in 1958 as President of the Republic, Algeria became his most urgent mission—the Évian Accords signed in March 1962 proclaimed Algeria's independence. This is an insignia of the Liberation Front fighting for the independence of Algeria.
Following a political setback, de Gaulle resigned as President in 1969 and retired again to Colombey-les-deux-Eglises to finish his memoirs. The military man, leader of Free France and founding president of the French Fifth Republic died on November 9, 1970.
A story written and edited by the teams of the Musée de l'Armée.
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For more information: Historial Charles de Gaulle https://www.musee-armee.fr/votre-visite/les-espaces-du-musee/historial-charles-de-gaulle.html
