General de Gaulle speaking on the BBC on 18 June 1940

The Appeal of 18th June was a famous speech by Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French Forces, in 1940. The appeal is the origin of the French Resistance to the German occupation during World War II. De Gaulle spoke to the French people from London after the fall of France. He declared the war for France was not yet over, and rallied the country in support of the Resistance. It is one of the most important speeches in French history. Image File history File links De-gaulle-radio. ... Image File history File links De-gaulle-radio. ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Free French Forces under review during the Battle of Normandy. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The History of France has been divided into a series of separate historical articles navigable through the list to the right. ...

In spite of its reputation as the beginning of the Resistance and Free French, historians have shown that the appeal was heard only by a minority of French people. De Gaulle's June 22, 1940 speech on the BBC was much more widely heard.^[1] is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ...

Context

General de Gaulle became the de facto leader of the Free French Forces which had escaped to London in World War II. Marshal Philippe Pétain, a hero of World War I, had signed an armistice of Nazi Germany, and led the collaborating Vichy government while the Germans occupied the country's north. De Gaulle was opposed to the armistice and had left France on June 15, 1940 after Pétain made clear that he would seek an accommodation with the Nazis. De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... Philippe Petain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French general, later Head of State of Vichy France, from 1940 to 1944. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... A white flag is traditionally used to represent a truce. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Motto Travail, famille, patrie French: Unoccupied zone of Vichy France (until November 1942) Capital Vichy Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Chief of state  - 1940 — 1944 Henri Philippe Pétain President of the Council  - 1940 — 1942 Philippe Pétain  - 1942 — 1944 Pierre Laval Legislature National Assembly Historical era... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Three days later, de Gaulle obtained special permission from Winston Churchill to broadcast a speech via BBC Radio over France, despite the British Cabinet's efforts to block it so as not to provoke the Pétain government into a closer allegiance with Germany.^[2] In the speech, de Gaulle reminded the French people that the British Empire and the United States of America would support them militarily and economically in an effort to retake their land from the Germans. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician, soldier in the British Army, orator, and strategist, and is studied as part of the modern British and world history. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

The BBC did not deem the speech important enough to be recorded, and few actually listened to it. Another speech, which was recorded and heard by more people, was given by De Gaulle on June 22, 1940. is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Translation of the speech

On June 18, 1940, at 19:00, de Gaulle's voice was broadcast nationwide, saying: is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

This monument commemorates those who passed through Jersey in response to the appeal.

"The leaders who, for many years, were at the head of French armies, have formed a government. This government, alleging our armies to be undone, agreed with the enemy to stop fighting. Of course, we were subdued by the mechanical, ground and air forces of the enemy. Infinitely more than their number, it was the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans which made us retreat. It was the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point to bring them there where they are today.

"But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No!

"Believe me, I speak to you with full knowledge of the facts and tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us to a day of victory. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.

"This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not finished by the Battle of France. This war is a worldwide war. All the faults, all the delays, all the suffering, do not prevent there to be, in the world, all the necessary means to one day crush our enemies. Vanquished today by mechanical force, we will be able to overcome in the future by a superior mechanical force.

"The destiny of the world is here. I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who would come there, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the special workers of armament industries who are located in British territory or who would come there, to put themselves in contact with me.

"Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on Radio London."

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 341 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (815 × 1432 pixel, file size: 950 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Monument commemorating the Free French who passed through Jersey in response to Charles de Gaulles Appeal of June 18 LAssociation des Français Libres... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 341 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (815 × 1432 pixel, file size: 950 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Monument commemorating the Free French who passed through Jersey in response to Charles de Gaulles Appeal of June 18 LAssociation des Français Libres... Combatants  France  United Kingdom  Canada  Czechoslovakia  Poland  Belgium  Netherlands  Luxembourg Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) Leopold III (Belgian) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R...

Notes

References

• David Schoenbrun & E.P.Dutton (1980). Soldiers of the Night: The Story of the French Resistance. New York.

External links

• Text of the speech in the original French (from Wikisource)