Charles De Gaulle - The Flame of French Resistance? - WW2 Biography Special

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks to Catherine Burton for researching this episode. It is our community which keep us going through these difficult times and enable us to produce such a range of content. The greatest help you can provide right now is joining the TimeGhost Army or upping your existing pledge. You can do so via www.patreon.com/TimeGhostHistory or timeghost.tv Please let us know what other Bio's you'd like to see. And if you would like to know something about a smaller topic, make sure to submit that as a question for our Q&A series, Out of the Foxholes. You can do that right here: community.timeghost.tv/c/Out-of-the-Foxholes-Qs. Cheers, Francis *RULES OF CONDUCT* STAY CIVIL AND POLITE we will delete any comments with personal insults, or attacks. AVOID PARTISAN POLITICS AS FAR AS YOU CAN we reserve the right to cut off vitriolic debates. HATE SPEECH IN ANY DIRECTION will lead to a ban. RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, OR SLAMMING OF MINORITIES will lead to an immediate ban. PARTISAN REVISIONISM, ESPECIALLY HOLOCAUST AND HOLODOMOR DENIAL will lead to an immediate ban.

[@doolittlegeorge]

Petain was a genuine military hero oddly enough.

[@freewal]

Andrew Doolittle yeah but at the end he was senile. Only able to work 2 hours per day. And he took a terrible decision by asking an armistice and collaborate to the nazi regime.

[@Geckogamer19]

Can you put the preview of the new weekly episode on the forum?

[@brianrusch2993]

I really like your series, unfortunately I'm not financially able to help. My wish is that the series would get into every high school in the WORLD. It's weird but history does repeat itself,would you agree? ( light bulb lighting over my head) Maybe do something about history repeating over and over, the good and the bad. Take care, thanks again for all the fascinating info. EVERYONE.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

I generally think that when people claim leaders are crazy or senile the claimant is being lazy. But I can't really explain Petain's collaboration.

[@EdVarkarion]

So some other funfacts about De Gaulle -He wrote a book on armored warfare which was a dud in France, but was a hot seller in Germany. One of its readers was a certain Erwin Rommel -During his time as a POW, one of his cellmates was a fellow armored warfare enthusiast, the future Soviet Marshal Tukhachevsky -De Gaulle's daughter Anne had Down's Syndrome. She had a special place in De Gaulle's heart, being the only person he acted silly around and even let her play with his prized officer's kepi. His Wife Yvonne later as first lady of France set up charity to help handicapped children, in Anne's name. -Charles De Gaulle's only son, Phillpe, was named after Marshal Petain. Phillip De Gaulle became an Admiral of the French Navy and at 98 years old he is (as of April 2020) the only living child of Charles De Gaulle.

[@SpiritOfMontgomery]

That bit about his daughter made me tear up for some reason

[@EdVarkarion]

@@SpiritOfMontgomery Well that's just the tip of the iceberg. It was especially difficult for the DeGaulles for a number of reasons.In that time it was more common to send handicapped to poorly run homes and the De Gaulle's taking it on themselves to raise caused great financial strains. Plus it was commonly thought that Downs Syndrome was caused by drinking during pregnancy so that caused some social stigma for the family. Anne unfortunately passed at the age of 22 but she always close to her fathers heart. De Gaulle survived an assassination attempt in the 50s because the bullet fired at him blocked by the locket with Anne's picture in it.

[@MrRamsey64]

Guderian was also a reader of de Gaulle's book. It greatly inspired him to create blitzkrieg.

[@ahennessy7998]

@@MrRamsey64 ironic

[@sylvananas7923]

De Gaulel would also allow women to vote right after the war

[@merkavamayhem5846]

Charles de Gaulle: I AM THE SEN...REPUBLIC

[@acr2051]

Not yet. The Wehrmacht will decide your fate.

[@victorbruant389]

@@acr2051 "It's treason...then." *draws hidden baguette

[@aringha5221]

Dew it, do it now

[@scottaznavourian5791]

My dear boy i created rommel..

[@aeropulu]

French fifth republic summarized.

[@simplymarshal1167]

Historians: how patriotic will you be Charles de gaulle: *YES*

[@Edax_Royeaux]

People under de Gualle's command have said he was very autocratic, keeping everyone at a distance and always having the final say. But for whatever reason, he was always the fiercest defender of French democracy.

[@freewal]

We can say whatever we want on De Gaulle : but the fact is he always remained loyal to the Republic, even having dozens of times the opportunity to take it and transform it in a dictatorial regime.

[@chrisd8866]

The first book De Gaulle published in 1924 (The enemy's house divided) is a study of the power struggle between the german civilian government under chancellor Hollweg and the general staff of the army, headed by Hindenburg and Ludendorff. In it, De Gaulle argues that while the government worried that unrestricted submarine warfare would trigger the entry of the USA in the war, the generals were only interested in sinking as many ships as possible to starve the UK and strangle the Entente's war production. He concluded that in a modern state the civilians should always keep the authority over the generals, since the latter can get too focused on military gains and ignore the bigger picture.

[@freewal]

Chris D I didn’t know. Once more he was right. At the end of The Great War, the German Empire was a total military dictatorship.

[@onelyone6976]

Amazigh Blue Azul - Anti Mafia - Anti ANPD Weimar republic?

[@ceoofwalls6751]

French government: surrender Charles De Gaulle: We don’t do that here

[@belisarius6949]

Also De Gaulle: "I AM the Senate!"

[@pierre-mariecaulliez6285]

Actually, yeah... Ever heard of the unit that, surrounded and cut off, fought to the last bullet ?

[@kv6256]

Yea, DeGaulle doesn't surrender! He bravely flees to England and denounces the armistice!

[@belisarius6949]

@@kv6256 tis but a tactical withdrawal!

[@ns7023]

More like "I AM the Nationale Assembly". But yeah i get the SW reference.

[@moneyman1995100]

One thing I truly love about De Gaulle is that he had a daughter named Anne who had Downs Syndrome and didn’t treat her like she was something to be hidden but the opposite. He was openly affectionate and goofy with her while not with his other kids. In those days if you had a child with something like Downs they would have been sent to an asylum and never spoken of but he was the opposite. When she died of pneumonia at the age of 20 he was absolutely devistated and said “Now she will be normal like the rest” And when he survived an assasination attempt in ‘62 he claimed that a potentially fatal bullet was stopped by the frame of a photograph of Anne.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Certainly a much softer side to De Gaulle than is often seen throughout his career. Thanks for sharing, we might use this story in an Across the Airwaves sometime.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

Basically Staannis and Shireen minus the butchering the show made of his charatcer.

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

He was a flawed man as was Churchill, FDR, Truman, & Eisenhower. That's just leaders, period !

[@jimplummer4879]

That is such an awesome thing. Yes, they would have put away some where. I myself have Asperger's syndrome and truly know how it is.

[@cherudium]

"I was the republic." I don't think that's how that works though, but um sure De Gaulle, you do you.

[@grafspee45440]

is De Gaulle the Sith lord we've been looking for?

[@cherudium]

@@grafspee45440 I don't think France has a senate sadly.

[@lhplatypus4346]

@@cherudium We do have one actually but it's only the upper house so not the main legislative body

[@cherudium]

@@lhplatypus4346 The more you know, cool! Greetings from quarantined America.

[@doolittlegeorge]

*saved France.* *Twice*

[@FormChecks-sy3rl]

"Just think how awakened his 'male virtue' must have been when the Great War broke out..." I see what you did there.

[@WesStacey]

Was thinking that this particular sentiment was quite common prior to the Great War. Modern war had a strange way of relieving the survivors of this particular delusion.

[@MrNicoJac]

War-boner 😝

[@tisFrancesfault]

He's not without critique, and it's at times even easy to do so, but you have to respect him for fighting on. He was an undeniable patriot

[@Talyrion]

On many respects, the man was insufferable. But I think that was the kind of temper one needed to go through what he went through in WW2.

[@mosesracal6758]

@@Talyrion Even Winston Churchill is to a degree like De Gaulle, he was adamant and decisive on many things. Take for example Dunkirk, if not for the fiery speech on staying the fight - Dunkirk would have been enough to concede defeat, the British Army almost lost everything in France and with many of the population still anti-war afraid of being conscripted again on a war like the Great War, it could have really been a reality.

[@Talyrion]

@@mosesracal6758 I agree, in many respects, both were quite similar to each other. And while they could get on each other's nerves something fierce (their arguments were many and always quite vocal), it seems there was a good deal of respect between them as well.

[@vermicelledecheval5219]

I can share an interesting exchange between De Gaulle and Churchill during Queen jubilee. De Gaulle amused by the fancy dresses asked Churchill a question : carnival time in England today ? And then Churchill answered : not every citizen could dress like you as the "soldat inconnu". De Gaulle smiled at this witty remark indeed.😉🇨🇵

[@chriskoff4723]

"I was the republic" I'm interested to know if this inspired the star wars quote "I am the senate".

[@jaojao1768]

It could also be based on "L'Etat, c'est moi" that Louis XIV

[@cyprienvieville6940]

@@jaojao1768 Louis XIV never said that, but people think he did. He actually said right before dying "I die, but the state will always remain."

[@alioshax7797]

"The State ? That's me" Louis the XIV of France, 13th of April, 1655. It think this one is the original

[@cyprienvieville6940]

@@alioshax7797 this quote is very contested by historians because it isn't mentioned in the parliament register, so Louis XIV probably never said that.

[@alioshax7797]

@@cyprienvieville6940 Indeed. But to be fair, many famous quotes are just belived to belong to someone, because it look fancy and make the speaker look smart ^^ And as we won't ever know if Louis XIV said, or did not say this, I'll stick with the legend :)

[@QuizmasterLaw]

"The leaders who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies have formed a government. This government, alleging the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy in order to stop the fighting. It is true, we were, we are, overwhelmed by the mechanical, ground and air forces of the enemy. Infinitely more than their number, it is the tanks, the aeroplanes, the tactics of the Germans which are causing us to retreat. It was the tanks, the aeroplanes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point of bringing them to where they are today. But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No! Believe me, I who am speaking to you with full knowledge of the facts, and who tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us victory one day. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States. This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not over as a result of the Battle of France. This war is a world war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering, do not alter the fact that there are, in the world, all the means necessary to crush our enemies one day. Vanquished today by mechanical force, in the future we will be able to overcome by a superior mechanical force. The fate of the world depends on it. I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the specialised workers of the armament industries who are located in British territory or who might end up here, to put themselves in contact with me. Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on the radio from London." General De Gaulle upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/CharlesDeGaullespeech18June.JPG

[@jaojao1768]

At his death the President of France said that "de Gaulle is dead, France is a widow"

[@kreeperface397]

Pompidou was de Gaulle's prime minister for many years, an other president my not have say that in other circunstances

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

He passed from having Pétain as his master to literaly being the biggest french opposition to Pétain's regime.

[@Edax_Royeaux]

I don't know, the Nazis seemed pretty opposed to Pétain's regime, their the ones who destroyed it.

[@veliocasse8587]

@@Edax_Royeaux Yeah, Pétain was the shield while that De Gaulle was the glave.

[@kreeperface397]

@@veliocasse8587 This idea was debunked decades ago

[@BraceletGrolf]

@@veliocasse8587 That idea was debunked decades ago, it's not fun anymore to see talking points to try to legitimize Pétain's actions. He had plenty of opportunities to fight Germany (why not invite Allied armies to France and/or secretly rearm ?)

[@Edax_Royeaux]

@@BraceletGrolf There were plenty of reasons not to. The French POWs enslaved by the Nazis being used as hostages and the fact that the Nazis brutally punished those who resisted while treated those who surrounded like Denmark with some mercy. France lost, there's no debating that, it was a matter of what was going to happen to France while the Nazis were there that has to be considered. In Czechoslovakia, the Nazis murdered 5,000 people over the assassination of one man. The Nazis can do a lot of damage to civilians in a short span of time, how quickly could the Allies have helped France before all the preparations for D-Day?

[@Altrantis]

I went to a french school in Concepción, Chile which was founded in 1943 and it's name is Charles de Gaulle. Special note on the year, think what was happening at that point in time. Teachers were brought from Martinique. It's half a block away from a french WW1 memorial of people from Concepción who died fighting in the French army, including Gallipoli of all places.

[@javier019]

And every 11th of november there was a school delegation that went to the memorial to salute the fallen.

[@pierre-mariecaulliez6285]

The Free French Forces where basically an afterthough in the allied commanders minds... Then, a couple battles like Koufra happened to remind them "what happens when French soldiers DO hold their positions" (Rommel), and De gaulle capitalized on them to sit Free France at the winners' table. A position he wrestled so hard for, Hulk Hoggan should be proud...

[@stepanlukanov7187]

Fun Fact: He shared a cell in Germany with Mikhail Tukhachevsky

[@podemosurss8316]

They became friends and kept correspondance during the interwar period.

[@Custerd1]

Podemos URSS For a while, anyway...

[@LeBangBig]

De Gaulle a aussi servi en Pologne en 1919 pendant la guerre contre les soviétiques.

[@jakubcesarzdakos5442]

Dokładnie! Pamiętamy o tym!

[@Martin-sf8nx]

C'est marrant je me demande souvent combien d'autres francophones sont là à regarder Indy :D

[@johndilday1846]

When I was a kid in school many years ago in the United States, about all you heard about De Gaulle was either that he was very arrogant and rude, or that he was the hero who single handedly marshaled France's Resistance and helped lead the Allies to victory. Not very three dimensional of a figure, more of a caricature. I appreciated the information on his life and back story. Thanks, Time Ghost.

[@martinlaird4738]

Could you do a special on the Free French Generals? - Leclerc, Juin, De Tassigny etc

[@PalleRasmussen]

I second that, some of them were actually really great commanders.

[@Paerigos]

I would be interested in Admiral Jaujard

[@martinlaird4738]

PalleRasmussen Juin was especially held in regard - particularly by Mark Clark.

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@martinlaird4738 Clark was not even a mediocre general himself. He had only one interest; Clark. Join was good, and showed how smart he was by refusing the command in Indochina after leading the expeditionary force back there to retake it. My favourite is de Lattre de Tassigny, he was the one the army held in the highest regards. And he was the only one to not get whipped in Indochina, though to be fair, he died before he could finish the job- or fail it- when his son Bernard got killed, he lost the will to live.

[@martinlaird4738]

PalleRasmussen I always found the story of De Lattre’s son very sad - that was at Din Bien Phuh right? (Sorry I think that’s spelled wrong)

[@baldviking1970]

I think de Gaulle might be the most influental European politician from the mid 40ies to the late 60ies. But he is a very complex and sometimes difficult person to get a grip on.

[@treyriver5676]

As USSR is in Europe.. Stalin is a bit more important that C.D.G.

[@baldviking1970]

@@treyriver5676 Yes. Stalin and all the leaders of USSR and USA were more important than any leaders of the weakened Western and Central European countries after WW2.

[@jpc7118]

@@treyriver5676 Stalin died in 1953... how can he be influential then in late 60's ? especially that Krutchev did lots of against Stalin memories and actions... In western camp, CDG was surely the most influential, UK was the puppet of USA and France, on the continent was the alone nuke power with the biggest army and if I may say, the biggest mouth then ;)

[@garmenlin5990]

Charles De Gaulle should of been a rancher, considering how many beefs he had with the Germans, British, and Americans.

[@shawngilliland243]

@Garmen Lin - I like your joke!

[@ingeposch8091]

it seems to me that dear old Charles, with his originally catholic and royalist vieuws, took over the motto of Louis XIV; "l'etait c'est moi...

[@europapulchra2855]

"L'état c'est moi!"

[@michimatsch5862]

Apart from that spelling error I was thinking the same. I was like..."bruh, not cool".

[@BangFarang1]

He wrote the constitution of the 5th republic, in which the president (head os state) has powers similar to those of a monarch of the 19th century.

[@karlrudolph626]

@@BangFarang1 The president of the 5th republic has far more power than any king has ever had. The power of the king was mostly limited because of feudality. It's something that's often misunderstood. And by the way, for everybody, Louis XIV never said "l'état c'est moi". It's a myth :)

[@yarpen26]

@@karlrudolph626 Both Petain and de Gaulle attempted to bring back the Second French Empire-if not in practice then at least in spirit. Although that of Petain was more dictatorial than the state of Louis Napoleon and that of de Gaulle was less so.

[@BannerFigurezZz]

There are also these musings/thoughts from Churchill about De Gaulle. There he looks back and basically says that while he (De Gaulle) was a stuck up and arrogant bastard, he did everything for France and its future. Churchill would also go on to say that, in hindsight, De Gaulle's attitude was necessary to develop a proud French voice counter to Petain's. A French resistance under Britain would never have been appealing to the Patriotic/nationalist groups in France and De Gaulle was.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Before I actually learned more about him and his role in WW2, I only viewed him as the name of an international airport. Glad I took the time to learn about him. This was a great biography, learned a bit more about him

[@TheLocalLt]

“I was the republic” De Gaulle wasn’t wrong, the Allies were going to set up an occupation regime in France until De Gaulle convinced them otherwise. The Free French, which only existed because of De Gaulle, helping the allies win back territory is really the only reason France got to go on the course it did post-war where it resumed being a fairly relevant imperial power. The Allies would have turned France into what they did Germany, aka chopped its balls off

[@readhistory2023]

You make that sound like a bad thing when historically replacement colonization would have been the norm. These day's Germany is still mostly German alhough Merkel is doing her best to change that, not the US or the UK.

[@TheLocalLt]

Hoehner Tim no question, but France ended up even better off, it was able to keep its empire and a little bit of its marshal showmanship although the French people have never seemed to want any part of that, while Germany had its Prussian heritage forcibly erased because it was blamed as the cause of wwii. Nowadays France and Germany face many of the same problems, regarding migration. Right now they have similar-minded, paralyzed leaderships. But if it comes to war, France will be there, Germany will not, they will be caught in the middle. A modern day interwar Poland.

[@WhiteCamry]

@@TheLocalLt Do you expect another European war?

[@TheLocalLt]

WhiteCamry international relations are entirely based on the idea of a hypothetical war. That’s an inescapable bedrock, though I certainly hope the current regime of peace remains in place.

[@treyriver5676]

They Free French existed a political gambit of the UK and USA no power from France could have made it stand.

[@qingyunwang3802]

Remember a certain portion of French people regarded De Gaulle as a traitor when he established his own regime back in June 1940, and the fact that till 1942 US government recognized Vichy France as the legitimate French regime and saw De Gaulle a mere British puppet to wage war against Germany (much like how we today think of Zygmunt Berling and his First Polish Army). French Navy, arguably the best of three branches of services, was traditionally anglophobic and refused to cooperate with him, and Royal Navy had to resort to force to capture French ships that were sailing along or already in British ports.

[@sirmeowthelibrarycat]

Qingyun Wang 😖 Admiral Darlan is to blame for the refusal of the French Navy to join the Royal Navy in 1940. Churchill asked that they played a dual role as equal partners under separate overall command. At no time was there any intention to do otherwise by the British government. Sadly French obtuseness and prejudice left Britain with no option but to prevent any chance of the French Navy from falling into the clutches of the Nazis. Thus the disasters of Mers el Kebir and Oran from the French perspective. Then came the scuttling of the fleet at Toulon when the Nazis invaded Vichy France. That I consider to be close to an act of cowardice when there was a chance to sail to the French West Indies or to Britain, thus keeping a powerful fleet available to the Allies.

[@qingyunwang3802]

@@sirmeowthelibrarycat Darlan is a politician. He used French Navy as a personal asset to gain more political power in France, and handing the fleet to the British would give him nothing so he would rather keep it. Later when he was promised top in French North Africa by Gen. Eisenhower he gladly gave the fleet out, that's when the Germans decided to raid Toulon to take the fleet. And when the fleet was lost, his life ended subsequently. P.S. In the dystopia novel "Vaterland" written by Robert Harris, Darlan is the dictator of a fascist France in 1960s after Germany managed to win WWII.

[@wilmerholmqvist8705]

I live for the time ghost content each piece is a masterpiece

[@pegzounet]

whatever else he was, he was in his heart a true servant of France. o7 Also i find it hilarious that he ended up as the resistance and restorer of the republic and Darlan ended up on the vichy side, given how staunchly republican Darlan was and how quasi monarchist de Gaulle. Ah well.

[@shawngilliland243]

There is no doubt that De Gaulle was arrogant, however, when he said "I was the Republic", he was not exaggerating much; he was Free France in many ways. Moreover, like many Frenchmen, De Gaulle correctly asserted that France had never surrendered, only signed an armistice with Germany.

[@moosemaimer]

5:46 man, that combover is as thin as the supply lines at Stalingrad

[@poiuyt975]

:D

[@solin.victus]

Lol

[@klevishida740]

Palpatine: I am the Senate! De Gaule: I am the Republic!

[@ddiamond6535]

@TiglathPileser3 Shut the fuck up, Donny!

[@alformodoritos2076]

Gaulpatine: I am the Senate Republic.

[@aquiladoro8535]

Please do a video about Général Leclerc and his incredible journey from Tchad to his liberation of Strasbourg!

[@WorldWarTwo]

We've noted him for a potential bio-video in the future!

[@tonyhawk94]

One can admire popular figures of French history like Louis XIV or Napoléon, but i'd rather admire these leaders who in the darkest night never accepted dishonnor and surrender ! Vive de Gaulle et la France libre.

[@BlackHawk2b]

That's why I love Georges Clemenceau

[@BlackHawk2b]

@@Cjvhxv13hxz9i4dbc Why ? I did and it was cool

[@jfierrar]

This guy was so patriotic, they named an airport after him. 🇫🇷 Not bad. 😂

[@kakab66]

An airport, an aircraft carrier, some high schools, many main squares and avenues in cities are named after him etc etc.

[@jfierrar]

@@Cjvhxv13hxz9i4dbc and why is that?

[@arandomguy8771]

@@Cjvhxv13hxz9i4dbc while I am also anti immigration I think he had slightly more pressing matters... etc

[@kimok4716]

@@Cjvhxv13hxz9i4dbc Mass immigration became problematic in the 70's and 80's. You're alone in your hate

[@georgebarnes8163]

also a useless aircraft carrier that only leaves port with tugs to get it back , the only aircraft carrier with 50 white flag holders (just incase someone fires back)

[@berdre2605]

You may call him arrogant and ungrateful, but he was extremely far-sighted and history proved him right. Without him France would have been occupied by the americans in 1944 instead he secured France a place in the security council. Say what you want about France not deserving this place. But arguably mounting a resistance to germany would have been impossible without France in 1939, since Britain would have never declared war on germany alone. And it was France who payed the highest price for its opposition to nazi germany, (of the western allies) while americans only joined after they had no choice in 1941.

[@Altrantis]

Also, after 1943 actually France does become a significant player in the war, from the colonies, and then after liberation they did invade Germany.

[@ahouais5620]

Yugoslavia did suffered a lot more than france from the nazi occupation, with 1 million civlian/military casualites (mostly deaths) compared to its overall population : Yugoslavia had at that time "only" 18 millions inhabitants.

[@ahouais5620]

And France was not the only one country that had a powerfull resistance, poland and yugoslavia had some too, with Tito or the warsaw uprising

[@BraceletGrolf]

I think this show will allow you to see that France doesn't pay the biggest price for going against Germany at least in material gains. It is true however that it will lead to the loss of the empire and that without France britain would have probably done nothing. (I'm french, just not willing to disregard the suffering in nations like Poland or other eastern european nations).

[@berdre2605]

@@BraceletGrolf Ah Ouais that's exactly why i wrote (of the western allies). Eastern Europe surely by far payed the biggest price

[@akula6352]

Joke: they say that De Gaulle was at his house already retired, watching on television the parade for the Bastille day and at the time of La Marseillaise he turned to see his wife and said "Darling, they're playing our song".

[@milostomic8539]

He was a very close friend with Dragoljub Draza Mihajlovic, Serbian general and leader of Chetnik guerrilla movement since May 1941. They were classmates at École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr.

[@BokicaK1]

Mihailović spent three months in Saint-Cyr in 1930. De Gaulle was then deployed in French Syria and the Lebanon. So, it is probably bullshit

[@milostomic8539]

@@BokicaK1 Mihajlovic spent 6 months in French war academy. De Gaulle for example never met Tito because Tito and his communists killed Mihajlovic, who was considered to be "the first gueriila fighter in all of occupied Europe, and a man who fought against Hitler for 4 long and brutal years.

[@BokicaK1]

@@milostomic8539 Mihailovic could spent a century at Saint-Cyr, it is worthless if De Gaulle was not there AT THE SAME TIME. Verstehen? I don't want so spoil history, but I am pretty sure we would never hear for any Mihailovic victory against Germans for next four years...

[@milostomic8539]

@@BokicaK1 No need to be that angry.I hope that one episode will be about such important figure like Mihajlovic was.

[@BokicaK1]

@@milostomic8539 no, no,it should be talked on Mihailovic. But not pseudohistory and fairy tales. You see, there are two groups of Mihailovic defendants: one who justify his inactivity by saying he didn't want casualties due to German retaliations and that partisans were to be blamed for 100 Serbian civilians for one Kraut, and those who say that he nevertheless fought and was "first guerrilla fighter in Europe". You are in the latter group. So did he fight or not, was he responsible for massacres in Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Mačva? Have You ever heard for meting in village Divci or speech in Gornje Lipovo, or his metting with Milan Nedić (Nazi-installed marionette) in village Ražana?

[@arielbelaisch4523]

He never said that "It is unnecessary, for the Republic has never ceased to exit. I was the Republic." He said, in August 1944 in Paris, after he was asked to declare back the Republic, that, because Vichy's existence was illegal, according to the texts of the Third Republic, the Republic had never ceased to exist, henceforth Vichy was never the Government of France.

[@darkfunewolfcoop6768]

De Gaulle: I am, the Republic Napoleon: The republic will be reorgonized, into the first, galactic, EMPIRE !

[@aronjanssonnordberg307]

Thanks for this. I think this was perfect in terms of balancing detailed information with an accessible presentation.

[@SHAd0Eheart]

It’s adorable that timeghost apologizes for spoilers. I admire the dedication to the real-time aspect of the series, as well as the fact that it isn’t taken TOO seriously. My favorite channels for sure! Keep it up!

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

Since he was 15 he wanted to fight Germany, lol. The germans and french really used to hate each other (and kinda still do, kinda).

[@ingeposch8091]

the Danes and Norwegians hate the Germans even more.... really, when i try to communicate with them it is better to use English than German and when i have to use the German language i do have to tell them that i'm from the Netherlands!

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

@@ingeposch8091 norwegians and danes hate Sweden more tho.

[@ivvan497]

@@ingeposch8091 Rly?

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

He can also speak German and also spoke highly of Germany in a speech in 1962

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqK0layBl96Fjrs

[@dylanmilne6683]

De Gaulle: but you can't surrender to the axis the fight must go on! Petain: white flag go swoosh swoosh

[@justicegaming1412]

de Gaulle's saying "I was the republic" is likely a reference to Louis XIV purportedly saying "I am the state".

[@BangFarang1]

Completely different context. He means that the republic never ceased to exist during 4 years of the Vichy regime, because he took the continuity of the republic on himself during that time. Like Taiwan still claiming they are still the true government of the Republic of China.

[@poiuyt975]

@@BangFarang1 Different context, yes, but I'd be surprised if the Le Roi Soleil wasn't the inspiration.

[@particuliervdm8603]

The US/UK tried to military occupy France like a colony after WW2 with the AMGOT: Allied *Military* Government for *Occupied* Territories. The Allied wanted to demote France as vanquished and minor nation. De Gaulle, the Free French and the 1.3 Million French soldiers in May 1945 forced then to drop their plan. No wonder why most of "biography" are unflattering. To be fair, this World War Two (TimeGhost) piece is not as awful as most English-speaking account but still contain condescending undertone. Here are a few point: - De Gaulle was heroic during WW1 especially at Dinant and Douaumont, repeatedly crawling out into no man's land. He was almost Killed In Action and received the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (War Cross) - De Gaulle was one of first to theorise "les moteurs combatants" (fighting engines) what will be later called the "Blitzkrieg" - The US/UK (mainly the US) tried to replace de Gaulle by General Henri Giraud but the French regarded de Gaulle as more legitimate to lead the French Resistance. - In the _"I was the Republic"_ quote the important part _"the Republic has never ceased to exist"_ It was to stress that Vichy was a illegitimate government and thus its action could not be associated to France a the French people. The _“I”_ was due to the fact that he was the only member of government pre-vichy to insure the continuity of the 3th Republic. Plus using this almost forgoteen quote to cast a unflatering light when so many other de Gaulle’s quote are much more significative is not serious. TL;DR; De Gaulle is seen as arrogant by some as he knew that France was too weak to make any concession. And good for him and France for holding their ground.

[@jliller]

Gee I can't imagine why the Allies would want to occupy a country that had surrendered to and collaborated with the Germans for 4 years. One that had seen extensive damaged because of the fighting and occupation during the war. "It was to stress that Vichy was a illegitimate government and thus its action could not be associated to France a the French people." Vichy was the legitimate government of France.

[@peletsoivre9110]

@GhostOfTomJoad Oh yes, please brag about Vietnam, America supplied the vietcong by the 1940's against both the french and japanese. When the japanese attacked the french in Indochina, they were clear orders to to not assist the french. France had to fight an ennemy supplied by americans in the first place. And please, an anglo saxon criticizing imperialism is as laughable as It gets.

[@CarrotConsumer]

@@peletsoivre9110 Just because we are anglos doesn't mean we condone what our governments do. A true patriot criticizes their government when it does wrong. American and British imperialism was bad, agreed. But do you agree that French imperialism was also bad?

[@peletsoivre9110]

@@CarrotConsumer I cannot disagree with your statement, It is unfortunately very true, however this unilateral anti french torrent just makes me want to kill someone.

[@Hanomarkhan...]

@GhostOfTomJoad for your information, most of the funding for the French war in Vietnam, the Indochina, came from the United States. Even without France, the USA wanted to wage war on Vietnam, for a reason of ideological supremacy, it would not have changed anything... The 4 th republic in France does not have a flawed reputation for decolonization and it is a fact, of which nobody has reason to be proud, even in France. From there, to say that American tutelage would have been better, that's not a fact, it's science fiction with a bit of simplistic nationalism... and/or arrogance.

[@christopherjustice6411]

Me: De Gaulle the tall, was so tall. Audience: How tall was he? Me: He was so tall that Shaq O’Neil used to ask him to grab things off the top shelf for him.

[@johnyarbrough502]

In a 1960s British sketch comedy act ,Beyond the Fringe, had a song about DeGaulle to the tune of "This Old Man" The last line was "This old man thinks he's St Joan!"

[@richardsimms251]

Great video

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you so much!

[@leavemealoneyoutube1707]

De Gaulle deserves a part two. This guy was the French Chad.

[@jaojao1768]

I thought that was Felix Eboue...

[@shatterquartz]

Kudos to you and the whole team for the hard work and masterful presentations, Mr. Neidell! Your various channels are instructive and engrossing. Now, scrolling down to have a look at the comment of this specific video, I see that you have your work cut out for you to dispel tenacious prejudices. Most of what I'm seeing is rancid Francophobia and knee-jerk hostility towards De Gaulle personally. Yes he was full of himself, hard to work with, and occasionally ungrateful, but he was also the right man at the right time.

[@velociraptor3313]

Agreed.

[@daleeasternbrat816]

De Gaulle was reputed to be a bit of a prick. Good. Sometimes that is what it takes. There was nothing wrong with the French Army. French leadership on the other hand was ....... obtuse, and totally ineffective. A few more guys like De Gaulle in the right places in the French leadership and the Battle of France and World War Two may have taken a very different course. Mediocre or worse leadership was the norm then , in France, as it is now. De Gaulle was certainly not mediocre.

[@freewal]

Yep good summarize. The Fren army leadership was the one to blame first. And then the French politicians who refused to prepare for an inevitable war and doing their maximum to keep a fake peace with the Nazi Germany.

[@BlackHawk2b]

Yeah, I'm sick of the presidents we got... France needs a strong leader !

[@freewal]

Masato Fujiwara Calm down ... The world has changed. President like De Gaulle were perfect at a certain time. Now, we line in another world. Much more complex.

[@BlackHawk2b]

@@freewal I'm not saying I want De Gaulle but it's just that I hate Macron

[@Kamfrenchie]

@Joakim von Anka That's a surprising definition of globalism. Usuammy people speak of globalism to refer to laissez faire worldwide capitalism, job outsourcing, tax dodging, etc.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

ami entends tu ces cris sourds du pays qu'on enchaine?

[@augustin5611]

Ohé, partisans, ouvriers et paysans c'est l'alarme Ce soir l'ennemi connaîtra le prix du sang et des larmes.…

[@plebonhomme6982]

@@augustin5611 Montez de la mine, descendez des collines, camarades, Sortez de la paille les fusils, la mitraille, les grenades...

[@MrNicoJac]

Quoi? 😅 Aussi en anglais sill vous plait ^^

[@BlackHawk2b]

@@MrNicoJac It's the song "Le Chant des Partisans "

[@frederic4844]

P Lebonhomme Ohé les tueurs, à la balle et au couteau ... tuez vite Ohé saboteurs, attention à ton fardeau... dynamite.

[@IslandThunder84]

Those first 5000 volunteers were really brave to sign up in 1940, respect to them.

[@j.m.f5451]

Great work on this one! Certainly an interesting look into De Gaulle's personality and motivations. It seems he was almost born to take on this role in history- and it seems he sort of thought that way, too.

[@Paris-xv9sj]

« Paris ! Paris outragé ! Paris brisé ! Paris martyrisé ! mais Paris libéré ! »

[@scipioafricanus6417]

By American tankers and GIs though....

[@Paris-xv9sj]

@@scipioafricanus6417 for De Gaulle it was France who liberated her self, quit strange lol

[@TheFiresloth]

@@Paris-xv9sj Hey, it was French troops who entered it, and FFI who fought the occupying forces, so he wasn't completely wrong. Of course, it's neglecting the larger conflict.

[@BlackHawk2b]

@@Paris-xv9sj Because the country was broken and being saved by french and not americans is much more effective

[@Paris-xv9sj]

@@TheFiresloth Yes but it's a part of allied troups, the most of the troops are Americans, English, Canadians and after small French resistant forces, but De Gaulle is a patriotic and nationalist so he want that's France liberated her self and play a major role in the conflict. He is partially true but for the most part he is wrong, because he never commemorated the landing in Normandie, so denying that's Americans and English troops have « liberated » France and also said that All France has been resistant, Yes he said that, he was totally wrong in this part of Free France with no French who collaborated, send Jews in the concentration camps , denouncing Jewish and resistant peoples... So he is terribly wrong when he said that All France has been resistant, and that all the fault of Vichy France.

[@qpid8110]

There has to be an epic movie made about Petain & De Gaulle. The protege & the mentor that eventually sour and find themselves leading their countrymen against each other for a cause they believe to be righteous. Only history could create such drama.

[@kiplingwasafurry1108]

Yes I would totally watch it!!

[@mireillelebeau2513]

At that time many French corporatists or members of the elite saw a re-unification of Europe, even under Nazi governance, as a good thing. De Gaulle’s rebellion against the Vichy government is all the more exceptional.

[@victorbruant389]

Here we go, the ultimate negative stereotype of an arrogant Frenchman - even towards his allies.

[@Bob.W.]

If the shoe fits...

[@jaojao1768]

Then again Mongomery was also really arrogant, and the americans of course had Patton

[@ahouais5620]

welp, considering all the allies wanted only to stop the war, and not liberate france, which means the allies bombed france as much as germany, or the fact that roosevelt didn't recognise charles de gaulle but only pétain until 1943/44, i think you can understand that you'd rather not want to follow all your allies. Indeed, the other allies didn't prevent de gaulle at mers-el-kebir, and they made everything so that almost no french troups were in d-day etc... They wanted De Gaulle out, so they replaced him with another french general. And then it's just De Gaulle's history, the other allies were also really arrogant. Also De Gaulle is the only allie that helped a little bit the USSR against germany in the Normandie-Niemen squadron in ww2

[@jeffersonwright9275]

I know Indie has very limited time BUT there are 2 minor and yet telling details about DeGaulle that (imho) could have been mentioned: while in captivity he became friends with a Russian POW Mikhail Tukhachevsky who later as Marshall of the Red Army advocated dynamic tank based armies (and paid the ultimate price for disagreeing with Stalin who didn’t see the value of tanks). Can you imagine the conversations those two must have had in captivity? Also during the Nazi invasion May 1940, Colonel DeGaulle led the only successful counter-attack by the French army during the entire campaign

[@scipioafricanus6417]

They did probably not have those conversations as tanks were barely out on the battlefield at that point and the situation during the great War did probably not give much encouragement to start thinking about mobile deep-operations.

[@jeffersonwright9275]

Fair point but I am willing to bet they had convos about how to bring about highly mobile deep penetration operations

[@chaosXP3RT]

De Gaulle was very smart and he has many wise quotes along with some funny ones

[@andrewsoboeiro6979]

Apparently, when they were talking in June 1940, Petain told De Gaulle that his promotion to general was meaningless given that it came on the verge of France's defeat. Só a few weeks later when he gave his June 18 & said "moi, General De Gaulle," I can't help but think "good for you, Chuck; don't let that traitor tear you down!"

[@luispalou217]

Excellent video 👍 greetings from Mallorca

[@michealohaodha9351]

An episode on Mannerheim would be great - soldier, spy, Commander in Chief, the only Marshal of Finland to date, Tsarist yet also later President

[@WorldWarTwo]

When he becomes relevant in our timeline again we most likely will cover him!

[@maciejkamil]

It's interesting to see that Petain and Gaulle were so close at one point.

[@FlagAnthem]

That would make a great movie

[@jerrystephen0092]

Great job Indy!

[@10thCompanyCaptain]

Nice! I'm excited to be so early for a video. De Gaulle is an interesting figure to say the least :)

[@jabscha7051]

Fascinating figure. Thanks for sharing!

[@podemosurss8316]

0:33 DeGaulle: (inside a Somua tank) Drive us closer! I want to hit them with my bayonet!

[@rabihrac]

Thank you Indy for this judicious biography of the very famous General De Gaulle and for mentioning that he served in my country Lebanon, too. Btw "spoiler" we will hear again of De Gaulle in the coming regulars before the summer.

[@onserendsurplace9305]

22 years after the war, he thanked Canada by saying: Vive le Québec libre!

[@brummagemjoe6111]

De Gaulle was wounded and taken prisoner at Verdun (he was wounded twice previously during WW 1). He made I think five attempts to escape from captivity but was captured every time because of his height.

[@stevemaxwell7341]

The French exp corps was the most feared allied army in Italy especialy the Marocian Goumers and Algerians lead by fantastic officers

[@jpc7118]

Indeed, they took the Belvedere mountains, forcing Geman to retreat... Kesselring, very reknown for its anti-french feelings, said to Hitler "if you want to know where allies will bereak through my defense in italy, just point me on the map where is the FEC"

[@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373]

Italian women feared them more

[@AdaL0906]

Often, people don’t know about French 🇫🇷 Civil war in the colonial empire that lasted 2 years (1940-1942). After that, France 🇫🇷 created the Army of the Liberation, counting around a million soldiers in French North Africa and then 2 million in Metropolitan France 🇫🇷 There are many histories in WW2 like the 2nd French armoured division that was on the first line in Battle of Normandy and was claimed by American 🇺🇸 Army that was not able to break German positions through. just before, during Desert campaign and its famous Koufra oath, it invaded all South Libya until get Tripoli with the British and then take Berchtesgaden 🇩🇪, the greatest Trophy of WW2 at the same title of Berlin. Known as the Eagle’s Nest, it is where Hitler lived and all the Axis plans had been elaborated. The general Leclerc even got back home with the personal Hitler’s car !!! During campaign of Italy 🇮🇹 , the third of effectives were French (112 000 French soldiers) and French army was the first to break Gustav line through and pass over the Garigliano. If we often tell about Normandy landing, whose the noun of the operation was initially “hammer”, the operation “anvil” is much more rarely addressed while on the 350 000 soldiers involved there, 260 000 were French 🇫🇷 ! I am British with French origins and my grand father served French army in 1942 as soon as he had the age and French Civil war was over, I have also a French Grand oncle who did 4 wars (WW2, Indochina’s war, Korea’s War and Algeria’s War). He did without almost any break, 23 years of war from 1939 to 1962 !

[@ciandoyle3315]

damn young charles de gaulle had some foresight didnt he. someone should have told him about ho chi minhs base area

[@ivan_t9n]

Quite interesting! Looking forward to the next one!

[@romeisfallingagain]

your videos are great. thanks for the uploads

[@WorldWarTwo]

Cheers - thanks!

[@Max-is4qu]

American teens talking about the surrendering french incoming

[@wititorac]

Hows Normandy?

[@SpittingBritTeaEarlGrey]

Hahaha French army surrenderd, wave white flags brrrrrr......

[@BlindingGlow]

Said by the American

[@Max-is4qu]

@@BlindingGlow Nope and never been there

[@BlindingGlow]

@Joakim von Anka Hey Joakim, lets compare America to Europe in the last 75 years. Do you want to compare death counts by wars started by Europe vs wars started by America? You really want to go there baguette boy? I find it laughable that a EURO is going to sit there with a straight face and talk down to America about so called continuous wars LMFAO!! The complete lack of self awareness from so many Euros on the internet astounds me. I'd say the world is in a hell of a lot better place today, with America keeping Europe and the rest in check. Certainly better than it was when y'all started not one but TWO world wars. The world literally would've ended if Europe created the Nuke before America, that's just a fact.

[@Sweet_Pup_g]

0:46 Fly cameo.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

De Gaulle was imprisoned together with Mikhail Tukhachevsky in Germany. Tukh was a weird character.

[@jeffsanders1609]

I never knew De Gaul and Petan were close. That's odd to think about it reminds me of how many American civil war generals knew each other and had been friends before the war

[@salt_factory7566]

It truly is tragic how men with intentions to save their nation and homeland may take such radically different paths. Placing one into the inferno of "evil men of history" and the other on the good side. This is not neo confederate apologist bullshit or pro petain etc. It is just a sad observation.

[@joeryan1153]

De Gaulle had a strong Irish connection, his grand mother was from Co Down. He had an interest in Ireland and visited. When he eventually retired he went awol from France in the late 60's only to turn up on a beach in Co Kerry with his wife the next day. I've often heard that his difficult political relationship with the British was part of his Irish heritage but is this true?

[@petertsharp4970]

"It was 1930, Germany was at war with France". Me, pausing the video 4 seconds in: "wat?"

[@diegocorales9284]

I love these biographies, please make more of these of important figueres of the war, I really hope to see one of Göring I think he is one of the most influential but least know generals of the war

[@SNOUPS4]

Please don't forget to mention that his rank of general was temporary and was also taken back after a while. So people should call him colonel De Gaulle, not general, nowadays.

[@Javaman92]

Nice job with the pictures in the frame. I'd suggest turning the brightness down to make it more realistic and perhaps add a slight tint.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for the feedback

[@gianniverschueren870]

Are you trying to hide your tie from me, Indy? Such disappoint. 2.5/5 because it looks like there's a nice little peacock pattern going on

[@WorldWarTwo]

It's a Frenchy vest, a petit gilet tricot. When in Rome...

[@MrNicoJac]

@@WorldWarTwo But we're not in Rome yet.... SPOILERS!! xD

[@thegloriouspyrocheems2277]

Charles de Gaulle in WW1 looks like Officer Crabtree from Allo Allo "Good newning"

[@tomortale2333]

IGKABOD CRANE.....THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN..

[@nickjung7394]

And you think that's a coincidence?

[@viettrungnguyen1242]

Next individuals who should be on the series: Zhukov, Beria, Kuribayashi, Yamashita, Heydrich, King Emmanuel, Bor Komorowski, Rokossovsky, Mad Jack Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt Jr, Chesty Puller

[@WorldWarTwo]

Most of these are already scheduled on our list!

[@IntyMichael]

My hometown Koblenz at 3:50

[@jaojao1768]

Nice

[@jliller]

I guess I have to be the one to say it: De Gaulle of that guy!

[@jpc7118]

In fact, in 1914, De Gaulle commanded baïonnet charges : he has fought at the head of an infantry platoon as Lieutnant, was injuried but retake the fight as captain at the head of an infantry company, fought in first line when he was severely injuried (a german infantryman broke his baïonet in the thigh of De gaulle), let dead on the ground was taken prisoner at the end of 1916. During his captivity for the end of the Great war, he did more than 10 attempts of escapes, has been injuried for that again, in once of those escape was taken near the swiss border. Between the 2 WW, he was sent as Captain in Poland and fought with Polish army, receiving the highest polish decoration then. In the early 30's, as Commandant (Major) he wrote a military book which contained 90% of the Blitzkrieg tactics and which served to Guderian. He wrote another one, where he explained how to obtain a faster ruprture of the defensive line with sending false officers in enemies uniform to put chaos in the movement of the reserves (La discorde chez l'ennemi)... In mid-May 1940, he's appointed too late to take the lead of the 4th DCR, created after the french, british and belgian front had already collapsed. He fought once again in first line because as he always said "it's at the nearest of the frontline that you see the best the things". He charged on french tanks and was Colonel, his half division, totally demoralised, managed at Montcornet to break through 14 km in the defensive line of 3 Panzer division, threatening their troops and their support. He was named Brigadier general after that and appointed secretary of Defense of the last war council. He chose to go in England when staying in France at this moment was surely the better and easiest move for him. He has been condemned by german puppet vichy gov, condemned to penalty death. Numerous times, he has put his life for his homeland and for another homeland (Poland)...

[@Spongebrain97]

Damn the irony of de Gaulle being under the command of petain

[@thomaswolf2896]

As a POW in WWI he could have left his camp for a walk in the town closeby, if he had given his word of honor (as many of his comrades did). He refused and stayed in the camp all the time. Could you imagine that today? POW just walking around and their guards trusting in a word of honor?

[@MachivelianBear]

When the allies met in Casablanca after the US joined the war. Under a personal meeting with Churchill, De Gaulle demanded to be acknowledged as leader of the free French, Churchill refused. De Gaulle then said “Je suis la France!”. Churchill in broken French said something like “tu n’est pas France!” Then de Gaulle leaned over and with a thick accent said “if I am not France, why are you talking to me?” A few days later he was proclaimed joint-leader with another French general. The scene is depicted in the movie “Le grand Gaulle”.

[@WillN2Go1]

Vive la France! Vive la Resistance! Vive De Gaulle!

[@dashcroft1892]

WillN2Go1 ... reveal nothing, deny everything.

[@BlindingGlow]

Vive la France! Vive la Resistance! Fuck De Gaulle!

[@emperorkarlfranzrulerofthe2826]

I hope you can do an episode about Carl Gustav Fleicher, Norwegian general of the 6th devision nicknamed Alta batalion, who was victorious in the north of norway. you didnt mention how in your episodes about the war in norway

[@katalbinson6562]

0:29 That’s probably typical talk for a French person back then considering the huge hatred for Germany in France at the time.

[@basedkaiser5352]

General De Gaulle may have been arrogant but unlike so many other arrogant generals he actually fought for his country (literally).

[@onefastcyclist]

Arrogant - yes, but unlike so many other French leaders that have been covered on this channel, Charles De Gaulle was not incipient.

[@raf.nogueira]

Reading his biography and books, he was an amazing person and was ahead of its time in mobile warfare