De Gaulle, l'éclat et le secret
Explores the life of General De Gaulle, from the Appeal of June 18, 1940, to his departure from power in 1969. A dive into the military and political career of De Gaulle and an inside portrait of his private life.
Episodes
June 1940. In London De Gaulle negotiates with Churchill to unify the two countries. But, an ultimate betrayal for the general, France asks for an armistice and Pétain takes power. 18 June, he broadcasts a radio appeal to continue the combat. 3 July, the Royal Navy attacks the French fleet.
September 1940. In Dakar, Pétain's French fleet machine-guns the Free French Forces. Additional suffering for De Gaulle, beset by doubts. All the more so as he is increasingly opposed to Churchill and has to face the hostility of Roosevelt. Spring 1943, the general and his family move to Algiers
August 1944. Paris is liberated but the wounds are deep. On her return from deportation, Geneviève, the general's niece, recounts the Nazi horrors. A provisional government is established, led by De Gaulle. The time has come for reconstruction. January 1946. Refusing to play party politics, De Gaulle leaves power.
May 1958. The Algerian crisis risks dragging France into civil war. The President of the Republic René Coty appealed to de Gaulle. The constitution of the Fifth Republic was born, Charles de Gaulle entered the Elysee Palace in January 59. Putsch of the generals in 1961, multiple attempted attacks against de Gaulle… the question of Algeria remained burning. When the year 1965 opens, de Gaulle suggests that he might not stand for the presidential election in December. Yvonne, who has linked her fate to his, discreetly encourages a few relatives to dissuade the General from being a candidate. But how to abandon France?
May 1968. With France in turmoil De Gaulle doesn't understand what is in play. Increasingly, those around Prime Minister Pompidou call for De Gaulle to go. With no sign of events calming down, a general strike and student rebellion are launched. De Gaulle secretly joins General Massu in Baden-Baden.
Late 1968. Pompidou is no longer Prime Minister. De Gaulle launches a referendum, an ultimate battle he will lose. 25 April 1969. He records his televised speech and leaves the Élysée Palace, never to return. André Malraux visits him in the solitude of Colombey. The end of the road approaches.
