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Gaulle, de, Charles André Joseph Marie

Date of birth:
November 22nd, 1890 (Lille, France)
Date of death:
November 9th, 1970 (Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, France)
Buried on:
Grave Charles de Gaulle Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Nationality:
French (1870-present, Republic)

Biography

Charles de Gaulle, a veteran from WW1, was the commander-in-chief of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. He became president of France on 8 January 1959.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Awarded on:
January 18th, 1915
"A exécuté une série de reconnaissances des positions dans des conditions périlleuses et a rapporté des renseignements précieux".

With palm and star (2 citations)
Croix de Guerre (1914-1918)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1916
Médaille des blessés de guerre
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Unit:
10e Compagnie, 33e Régiment d'Infanterie, Armée de terre
Awarded on:
October 17th, 1919
Original French citation:

"A DOUAUMONT le 2 Mars 1916, sous un effroyable bombardement, alors que l'ennemi avait percé a ligne et attaque sa compagnie de toutes parts, a organisé apres un corps à corps farouche, un îlot de résistance ou tous se battirent jusqu'à ce que fussent dépensées les munitions, fracassés les fusils et tombés les défenseurs désarmés; bien que très grièvement blessé d'un coup de baïonnette, a continué à être l'âme de la défense jusqu'à ce qu'il tombât inanimé sous l'action des gaz. A blessure/antérieures"

Odre N. 20.654 "D"
Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Awarded on:
1920

With swords
Order of St. Anna III class
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Awarded on:
1921

With bronze palm
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Awarded on:
January 26th, 1922
De Gaulle, during military operations on July 29, August 13 and 16 August 1920 "gave evidence of an exemplary judgment of the situation. He was not afraid of reaching the enemy, carefully using the information of the military intelligence, which turned out to be a valuable contribution to the commander-in-chief and showed his full officer's merits ”.

No. 2980 (commander-in-chief's decree No. 2965)
Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari - Krzyz Srebrny
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Awarded on:
1922
Medaille Interalliée de la Victoire 1914–1918
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Awarded on:
1922
Médaille commémorative de la bataille de Verdun
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Awarded on:
1923
Order Odrodzenia Polski Kawalerski
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1927
Médaille des Évadés
Awarded on:
1932
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel
Awarded on:
December 19th, 1934
Officier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
November 17th, 1940

Grand Master in 1945-1946 and 1959-1969
l' Ordre de la Libération
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
1942
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
June 1943
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
May 1944
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
October 1944
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
October 1944

With 1 palm
Croix de Guerre 1940
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1945
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic and Commander-in-Chief of France's armed forces during World War II.

GENERAL CHARLES DE GAULLE, President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic and Commander-in-Chief of France's armed forces, performed distinguished services by maintaining his nation's effort in the struggle against the common enemy in Europe. From the chaos which followed the unleashing of the aggressor states' military power he emerged to keep bright the flame of liberty among his countrymen, to rally them in the cause of freedom, to merge their revived strength with the growing might of the United Nations. In victory he returned to his native soil, there to rebuild on firm principles a nation rededicated to liberty, equality and fraternity."

War Department, General Orders No. 83. The presentation was made by the President in a ceremony at the White House.
Legion of Merit - Chief Commander (LoM - CC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
November 13th, 1945
Grand Croix de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
1945

Last order awarded.
Grand Croix de l'ordre du Dragon d'Annam
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
1945
Grootlint in de Leopoldsorde / Grand cordon de l'Ordre de Léopold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
1946

With bronze palm (1 citation of 1940)
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Awarded on:
1946
Médaille des Services Volontaires dans la France Libre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Rad Bileho lva I Class
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Général de brigade
Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939
Awarded on:
October 1950
Awarded on:
April 16th, 1959
Awarded on:
June 1959
Awarded on:
February 1960
Awarded on:
April 1960
Royal Victorian Chain
Awarded on:
June 1960
Awarded on:
July 1960
Awarded on:
October 1960
Awarded on:
October 1960
Awarded on:
February 1961
Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau
Awarded on:
March 1961
Awarded on:
April 1961
Awarded on:
June 1961
Awarded on:
June 1961
Awarded on:
October 17th, 1961
Awarded on:
September 1961
Awarded on:
October 1961
Awarded on:
March 1962
Awarded on:
November 1961
Awarded on:
April 1962
Awarded on:
April 1962
Awarded on:
June 1962
Awarded on:
September 1962
Awarded on:
September 1962
Sanct Olavs Orden Grand Cross
Awarded on:
October 19th, 1962
Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun suurristi (SVR SR)
Awarded on:
March 1963
Awarded on:
March 1963
Awarded on:
May 8th, 1963
Kungliga Svärdsorden - Grand Cross
Awarded on:
May 1963
Basilikon Tagma toy Soteros - Grand Cross
Awarded on:
June 1963
Awarded on:
October 1963
Medaille  Militaire
Awarded on:
1963
Grand Croix de l'Ordre National du Mérite
Awarded on:
June 1964
Awarded on:
September 1964
Awarded on:
September 1964
Awarded on:
September 1964
Awarded on:
September 1964
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1964
Awarded on:
October 1964
Awarded on:
October 1964
Awarded on:
October 1964
Awarded on:
November 1964
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1965
Elefantordenen
Awarded on:
May 1965
Awarded on:
June 1965
Awarded on:
July 1966
Grand Cordon in to the Order of a Million Elephants and White Parasol
Awarded on:
October 1966
Awarded on:
July 1967
Awarded on:
September 1967
Order Odrodzenia Polski Wielki
Awarded on:
October 1967
Awarded on:
October 1968

Sources