War Memoirs (Complete Three Volumes)

Author: (French) Charles de Gaulle / Chen Huanchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In the golden autumn of 2004, the "French Cultural Year" arrived in the ancient capital of Beijing, and this cultural feast would continue until July 2005, allowing people to experience more highlights of modern France. Through this cultural exchange, the Chinese and French peoples would connect their hearts. At this moment, we cannot help but remember the original builder of the modern Sino-French friendship bridge, General Charles de Gaulle. In 1964, General de Gaulle was the first to recognize the People's Republic of China, opening the door to modern Sino-French friendly relations. As a fighter against fascist aggression, de Gaulle captured the world's attention and was undoubtedly a great man contributed by France to the world. He was a famous French statesman and former president, born in 1890 and died in 1970. He graduated from the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1912 and participated in World Wars. In September 1939, after Germany's Hitler army invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. In May 1940, de Gaulle was appointed commander of the 4th Armored Division and later became deputy minister of defense in June. Soon after, Hitler captured Paris, and in November, the French ruling group surrendered to Germany. De Gaulle retreated to London, London, where he founded "Free France" and called on the people to resist the war. In June 1943, he was appointed chairman of the "French Committee of National Liberation," and in June 1944, he became the head of the provisional government of the French Republic. Until Germany surrendered in May 1945, de Gaulle actively engaged in the movement to resist fascism. After Germany surrendered, de Gaulle focused on rebuilding France and restoring its status as a great power. In January 1946, he resigned from the government. In December 1958, he was elected president and established the Fifth French Republic. In April 1969, he resigned from the presidency due to domestic political and economic crises. The "De Gaulle Series" includes de Gaulle's own works, "War Memories" and "Memoirs of Hope," as well as an interview with Admiral Philip de Gaulle, the general's son, conducted by journalist and writer Michel Toriga, recalling his father's legendary life. "War Memories" includes three volumes: "Call" (1940-1942), "Unity" (1942-1944), and "Salvation" (1944-1946), which are de Gaulle's memories of World War II from his own and France's perspective. "Memoirs of Hope" was written after de Gaulle left politics and is divided into two volumes: "Reconstruction" (1958-1962) and "Efforts" (1962-). It records the efforts de Gaulle made for the reconstruction of France since he regained power in 1958. "My Father, De Gaulle" tells the legendary life of de Gaulle from a unique perspective, shaping the image of a great man with blood and flesh. The "De Gaulle Series" reveals many little-known secrets from the perspective of those involved, depicts grand scenes of life-and-death struggles in war, and portrays vivid figures. Behind the magnificent historical painted in elegant prose, we see a real General de Gaulle. His philosophy of life, his joys and sorrows, his joys and disappointments run through the entire series. History has shown that the great man de Gaulle was a great hero of the French nation and an outstanding representative of the French spirit. The core of de Gaulle's thought is to uphold the national independence of France, strive for the greatness, honor, and revival of the French nation. As de Gaulle wrote at the beginning of "War Memories," "If France is not great, it is not France." The "De Gaulle Series" is a gift from our publishing house to the "French Cultural Year." At the same time, 2005 is the 60th anniversary of the victory in the World War against Fascism, and the release of the "De Gaulle Series" even more expresses our deep reverence and high respect for this century-old great man. "War Memories" is a monumental work completed by the "Guardian of France," de Gaulle, after he retired from politics in 1953 and spent several years in the countryside. "War Memories" is divided into three volumes: "Call," "Unity," and "Salvation." The volume narrates the period from 1940 to mid-1942, where de Gaulle describes the situation before and after the French authorities' surrender and the establishment of "Free France." It also devotes much space to the relationship between France and the United Kingdom, especially with the United Kingdom, which has great reference value for studying the European situation before and after World War II, especially in France. The second volume narrates the period from July 1942, when the aggressive momentum of Nazi Germany was checked, to August 1944, when de Gaulle returned to Paris with the Allied forces. This was the period after the Battle of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), where Hitler was gradually defeated and ultimately destroyed. During this period, de Gaulle actively sought formal recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation from the Allies while controlling the domestic situation. This volume further highlights the contradictions between France and the United Kingdom, especially between France and the United States. The third volume begins with de Gaulle's return to Paris in August 1944 and ends with his forced resignation in January 1946. This period was when Hitler's Germany continued to retreat and eventually surrendered unconditionally, while the United States, Britain, and France began to focus on domestic issues, with their own struggles intensifying. From his own and France's perspective, de Gaulle mainly describes these issues in this volume. In "War Memories," de Gaulle critically examines the entire historical action, often reflecting on whether he could have taken other approaches, thus reevaluating his past actions. This book not only has high historical value but is also a classic that all wise and knowledgeable people with a vision for the world must read. The entire book is written in person, with fluent and elegant prose, and is imbued with a strong sense of personal emotion, making it highly compelling.