Charles de Gaulle is famous for leading the Free French forces, coordinating the Resistance and being the first leader of the French 5th Republic.
He also had a remarkable talent…
for being disliked by his peers.
Some exemples
Winston Churchill reportedly once said he would have liked to burn him at the stake after de Gaulle compared himself to Joan of Arc… Once after a heated Debate Churchill almost considered arresting DE Gaulle and preserve him in the lowest dungeon of the tower of London…
Franklin D. Roosevelt was often heavily guarded during their meetings, as there were concerns for his own safety, thinking that CDG would attack the president…FDR also compared him to an histeric woman during an UN summit..
There are even stories—such as during the Liberation of Toulouse—where de Gaulle’s attitude allegedly provoked such hostility that hardened Maquis fighters considered abducting him and hiding him in a partisan camp…..
He refused to grant his own son the title of *Companion of the Liberation*, believing it would amount to nepotism, despite his son’s notable wartime record and early support for the Free French cause.
Yet behind this image of a proud, stubborn, and often abrasive man, there was a deeply personal side. De Gaulle was devoted to his daughter, Anne de Gaulle, who was born with Down syndrome at a time when such children were often marginalized. He treated her with tenderness and dignity—singing to her, playing with her, and caring for her with genuine affection.
Her death in 1948, at just 20 years old, profoundly affected him. De Gaulle kept her photograph in his wallet for the rest of his life, and today he rests beside her in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises.
Muted_Competition_35 on
I saw a picture of De Gaulle from the back that confirmed my suspicions reading about him. He was like 6’6” and built like a mule. All rump and thighs.
Plus he had that CTE resistant head shape, he coulda played right tackle for Bear Bryant with the Tide. He’d a been an absolute road grader, and with his apparent knowledge of tank maneuvers, you gotta believe he could understand more complicated OLine play. You could prolly trust him with a slip screen, idk how quick Stalin was but I’d put him at split back and get the ball to him, the defense wouldn’t even be able to see him behind De Gaulles big ole derrière in a 3 point stance
RaptorKarr on
He also rejected the UKs entrance into the EU like three or four times
ClavicusLittleGift4U on
Yes, De Gaulle’s personality was adamant, uncompromising and sharp, which often led to clashes instead of smooth negociations. He was a military, and acted as such until his death. But he was also quite lucid when it came to the future.
He made a clear point from late 40s about the fact France (and by extension Europe) should not rely and be too trustful to the USA in order to preserve their sovereignty and become a third power.
Look where we are today.
Comfortable_Town7535 on
Should have thrown him to the germans and plucked a better frog to be the French figurehead.
6 Comments
Context? 🙂
Charles de Gaulle is famous for leading the Free French forces, coordinating the Resistance and being the first leader of the French 5th Republic.
He also had a remarkable talent…
for being disliked by his peers.
Some exemples
Winston Churchill reportedly once said he would have liked to burn him at the stake after de Gaulle compared himself to Joan of Arc… Once after a heated Debate Churchill almost considered arresting DE Gaulle and preserve him in the lowest dungeon of the tower of London…
Franklin D. Roosevelt was often heavily guarded during their meetings, as there were concerns for his own safety, thinking that CDG would attack the president…FDR also compared him to an histeric woman during an UN summit..
There are even stories—such as during the Liberation of Toulouse—where de Gaulle’s attitude allegedly provoked such hostility that hardened Maquis fighters considered abducting him and hiding him in a partisan camp…..
He refused to grant his own son the title of *Companion of the Liberation*, believing it would amount to nepotism, despite his son’s notable wartime record and early support for the Free French cause.
Yet behind this image of a proud, stubborn, and often abrasive man, there was a deeply personal side. De Gaulle was devoted to his daughter, Anne de Gaulle, who was born with Down syndrome at a time when such children were often marginalized. He treated her with tenderness and dignity—singing to her, playing with her, and caring for her with genuine affection.
Her death in 1948, at just 20 years old, profoundly affected him. De Gaulle kept her photograph in his wallet for the rest of his life, and today he rests beside her in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises.
I saw a picture of De Gaulle from the back that confirmed my suspicions reading about him. He was like 6’6” and built like a mule. All rump and thighs.
Plus he had that CTE resistant head shape, he coulda played right tackle for Bear Bryant with the Tide. He’d a been an absolute road grader, and with his apparent knowledge of tank maneuvers, you gotta believe he could understand more complicated OLine play. You could prolly trust him with a slip screen, idk how quick Stalin was but I’d put him at split back and get the ball to him, the defense wouldn’t even be able to see him behind De Gaulles big ole derrière in a 3 point stance
He also rejected the UKs entrance into the EU like three or four times
Yes, De Gaulle’s personality was adamant, uncompromising and sharp, which often led to clashes instead of smooth negociations. He was a military, and acted as such until his death. But he was also quite lucid when it came to the future.
He made a clear point from late 40s about the fact France (and by extension Europe) should not rely and be too trustful to the USA in order to preserve their sovereignty and become a third power.
Look where we are today.
Should have thrown him to the germans and plucked a better frog to be the French figurehead.
Its not like he got any better after the war…