Charles de Gaulle   1890—1970   French general and politician   Graduated 1912 Saint Cyr (French equivalent of West Point)   In World War I severely wounded at Battle of Verdun (1916)   During Polish-Soviet war 1919-20 was infantry instructor in Poland earned highest Polish military honor   Heavily influenced by use of tanks proposed reorganization of French army   Theories rejected at home but gained interest in Germany   Commanded tank division WWII during German invasion of France appointed secretary of state for national defense and war   Resisted armistice with Germany formed Free French Forces   Head of provisional government 1944-46 after liberation of France   President of France 1958-1969   Revived the country economically France became nuclear power independent of USA, USSR   Moved France from pro-Israel to pro-Arab foreign policy   Opposed UK admission to EU   His political philosophy, Gaullism, still an influence in French politics

MEMORY TRIGGERS   French___________________________   _________________________________   World War I______________________   _________________________________   Polish-Soviet War__________________   _________________________________   tanks____________________________   _________________________________   German invasion___________________   _________________________________   Free French Forces_________________   _________________________________   provisional government_____________   _________________________________   president_________________________   _________________________________   nuclear power_____________________   _________________________________   foreign policy_____________________   _________________________________   Gaullism_________________________   _________________________________     Copyrighted 2005 by Carl Peterson