De Gaulle, Charles (1890-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Nov 12 p. 1

Birth date: 1890

text of obituary:

De Gaulle, Last of World War II Leaders, Dies

Charles De Gaulle, last of prominent world figures from the World War II era, died suddenly Monday night of a heart attack while watching television at his retirement home some 16 miles east of Paris.

De Gaulle became famous for his refusal to surrender to the Germans during the blitz attack on the French capital and his later regrouping of French resistance forces in Britain and North Africa under his command. He led the French army's triumphal re-entry into Paris after the German retreat in 1944 and twice served his country as president — assuming virtual dictatorial powers to restore order out of political chaos.

Rejecting U. S., Britain and Russian pressure to join the nuclear test ban treaty, he forged ahead in building a separate atomic arsenal after the first French test explosion in the Sahara Desert Feb. 13, 1960. He stepped down from the French presidency in April 1969.

De Gaulle played a leading role in influencing the course of history — for good or ill — as also did Churchill, Roosevelt, Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini.