Charles de Gaulle (22 November 1890 - 9 November 1970) led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany and Vichy France during the Second World War and chaired France's Provisional Government from 1944 to 1946 to restore democracy. Following the 1958 Algiers crisis he became Prime Minister, commissioned a new constitution approved by referendum that established the Fifth Republic, and was elected President of France that same year, holding the office until his resignation in April 1969 after losing a referendum on decentralization. As president he pursued an independent foreign policy, withdrew France from NATO's integrated military command, developed France's own nuclear deterrent, making it the world's fourth nuclear power, and granted Algeria its independence.
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Charles de Gaulle (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationGoverns: France, 1958-1969: Return to power sectionQuote, Governs: France, 1958-1969: Return to power section
He was subsequently elected President of France later that year, a position he held until his resignation in 1969.
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