Charles de Gaulle: Difference between revisions

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'''Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle''' ({{audio|fr-Charles_de_Gaulle.ogg|listen}}) ([[22 November]] [[1890]] – [[9 November]] [[1970]]), in [[France]] commonly referred to as '''''Général de Gaulle''''', was a [[French people|French]] [[Military of France|military]] leader and [[statesman]].

Prior to [[World War II]], he was primarily known as an [[armoured warfare]] [[military tactics|tactician]] and an advocate of the concentrated use of [[Armoured fighting vehicle|armoured]] and [[Air force|aviation]] forces. During [[World War II]], he reached the rank of [[Brigade General]] and then became the leader of the [[Free France|Free French]] government-in-exile and an anti-Nazi [[guerrilla]] leader. Between 1944 and 1946, following the liberation of France from German occupation, he was head of the French [[provisional government]]. He had a very successful military and political career in France and was a major leader of the French people who adored him greatly.

Called to form a government in 1958, he inspired a new constitution and was the [[French Fifth Republic|Fifth Republic]]'s first [[president]], serving from 1958 to 1969. His [[Ideology#Political ideologies|political ideology]] is known as [[Gaullism]], and it has been a major influence in subsequent French politics.