De Gaulle: I Was France (2000)
50 minutes
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille on 22 November 1890 and grew up in Paris, where his father was a teacher. De Gaulle chose a military career and served with distinction in World War One. During the 1930s he wrote books and articles on military subjects, criticising France's reliance on the Maginot Line for defence against Germany and advocating the formation of mechanised armoured columns. His advice went unheeded and, in June 1940, German forces easily overran France. After the liberation of Paris in August 1944, de Gaulle was given a hero's welcome in the French capital. As president of the provisional government, he guided France through the writing of the constitution on which the Fourth Republic was based. In May 1968, violent demonstrations by university students shook de Gaulle's government. A general strike followed, paralysing France. De Gaulle resigned the presidency after losing a referendum on a reform proposal. He retired to his estate at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises and died of a heart attack on 9 November 1970. - Actors:
- Charles de Gaulle
- Studio:
- Blue Gooseberry
- Genres:
- Documentary