<
https://theconversation.com/two-great-war-leaders-united-by-american-isolationism-charles-de-gaulle-and-volodymyr-zelensky-251328>
"Eighty-five years before Volodymyr Zelensky visited Downing Street in search
of support for Ukrainian democracy, a Frenchman arrived in London with a
similar request.
Charles de Gaulle was not the French prime minister. That job belonged to Paul
Reynaud. De Gaulle had been undersecretary of state for defence in Reynaud’s
government for less than two weeks.
He started June 1940 as commander of a tank squadron fighting to stem the
German advance. But his decision later that month to leave France rather than
surrender – and to proclaim himself the leader of all Frenchmen who wished to
fight on – was the foundation of his political career.
French citizens became aware of de Gaulle as a wartime political leader through
his broadcasts on the
BBC. The most famous of these, the “Appeal of 18th
June”, was actually heard by very few in France – but for those that did
listen, it contained the core of de Gaulle’s message of defiance.
He arrived at the
BBC at 6pm to record the four-minute speech which was
transmitted by the
BBC at 10pm. De Gaulle said: “Nothing is lost for France.”
He insisted that: “She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the
British Empire that holds the sea and can continue the fight. She can, like
England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.”
Transmission of this speech is widely regarded as the moment when French
resistance was born. The
BBC describes it as “one of the most remarkable
pieces in the history of radio broadcasting”.
Had the US president, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), responded positively to
Churchill and Reynaud’s impassioned pleas in June 1940, to actively support
France and Britain, de Gaulle might have remained a dynamic and courageous
military officer. But Roosevelt refused, Reynaud resigned, and Marshall Henri
Philippe Pétain led France into collaboration."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
