The Complete War Memoirs of Charles de Gaulle, 1940-1946

by Charles de Gaulle

Originally three separate volumes covering three distinct periods, this single edition encompasses all of de Gaulle's personal writings from the fall of France in 1940 to the aftermath of the war in 1946. Maps. Index.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306802279
• ISBN13: 9780306802270
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 1048 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

De Gaulle Tells the Story of the Free French

Charles de Gaulle is perphaps one of the most enigmatic figures of World War II. Misunderstood by both the British and Americans during post WWII period, he ended up greatly disliked in both countries. De Gaulle's memoirs, however, are an important source to more throughly understand the second world war. He tells the story of a France in a virtual state of civil war after the collaspe of France and the establishment of the Petain regime at Vichy. This civil war was fought in the outer reaches of the French Empire- Dakar, Lebanon, Syria, Chad, Indochina, etc. It tells a depressing story of how most of the French remained loyal to Vichy. De Gaulle recounts how in 1940 he made a speech before 2,000 French soliders stranded in England. H He pleaded with them to join his Free French army. He was only able to convince 200 to join. He recounts how the Vichy French army fought with greater vigor against fellow Frenchmen and the British then they did against the Nazis. He writes the history of how a people deeply depressed by war and defeatism slowly raises itself for the struggle against Germany. Without doubt, De Gaulle's perserverence provided France with some cover of honour to assuage its sense of national shame and guilt. De Gaulle takes us through the Empire, his challenges in remaining relevant to the British and the overt hostility of the Americans who remained loyal to Petain until 1943. The translation is good. The inclusion of maps of the Empire would have been useful. As with other memoirs, such as those of Mussolini, Admiral Horthy, Churchill, etc. this is a must read for the student of the 1940s. One note is that strategically, De Gaulle, like Churchill, was an imperial optimist. Both were convinced that once the war with Germany became a world war, time and the vast resources (both in men and material) available in their respective Empires would provide Great Britain and France with decided advantages against the Axis. As history was to demonstrate, both men's optimism were proven correct.

De Gaulle was a giant

I'm an agronomist and I live in Brazil.I read this book, published here in Brazil in three volums and translated to the portuguese. This book is an auto-biography, but it is only about De Gaulle, in World War two and some months later. De Gaulle was a giant, not only about his hight, but also about his life. You won't only know about war, in this book, but also about peoples.De Gaulle has very good opinions, about Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini,etc. About the future of France, De Gaulle was prophetic.Being writen in 1940 decade, De Gaulle in this book, tells that nuclear energy will be very important to France, in the future.In fact, today, nuclear power is 85% of France's eletricity.The hidropower is 15%.Nothing comes from oil or natural gas.De Gaulle knew that France, will be nuclear. In another part of this book, De Gaulle tells that soviet communism is nothing more than a fashion, and that it will pass, but France will last. The biggest problem of this book is that it's very biased.And the bias isn't only about De Gaulle , but also far more, about France itself. The Frace's defeat in 1940, came from cowardy, betrial and incompetence. You can't know nothing nothing about this.You know nothing about France's anti-semithism.Some scape goats, such as Laval, were punished, but France was a shame, in World War II. For De Gaulle, France is ever biggest of all nations and full of proud. I have dozens of book about World War II.And any of them, is so biased about France as this. In all senses, De Gaulle was a giant, but this book, even being 100% biased, is good and after sixty years, remains prophetic about France's future.

A Classic

An essential book and one of the best autobiographies ever. Unlike Churchill and others, de Gaulle researched and wrote his momoirs all by himself, without any "contributors" and shadow writers. He writes clearly, the style is formal and elegant. A joy to read, which is wonderfully surprising and refreshing considering the stuffy nature of most such undertakings. To truly understand the man, one has to read this. His motives, his love for France, the belief in France's destiny. The world has still a lot to learn from him.

great book

This book is outstanding for its literary, even poetic, power. De Gaulle thinks of France as a person fated for tragedy and greatness. His biggest problem is achieving recognition as the political representative of France after France has signed an armistice with the Germans: Churchill tells him that although he claims to represent France, neither England or the US will recognize him as such; De Gaulle steadily replies that it is sufficient for him if the French people recognize him. This is the story of a man standing against the entire world for the sake of an ideal. Reminded me of Nelson Mandela!

Essential historical document and a suprisingly good read.

As one might expect, De Gaulle's memoirs of the Second World War are deeply concerned with self-justification, if not self-glorification. More surprisingly, they are good reading. De Gaulle writes in a formal, but clear and elegant style. The period covered is from the fall of France, through De Gaulle's flight to England and formation of the Free French, to the liberation and a bit of the postwar period. Obviously, this is not objective history. The chief interest of the book is that De Gaulle's personality and opinions colors every page. The reader may indeed be irritated, or he may be amused, by the author's undisguised self-regard, but in any case there are compensations. There is revealing detail on events such as the fall of France and the invasion of North Africa. With great candor and sharp perception De Gaulle assesses his own and others' strategies. There are good pen-portraits of Churchill and many other contemporaries. And there is the fascination of viewing great events through the prism of a commanding mind..