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PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
DE GAULLE, Charles. Speech typescript, “Discours Radiodiffuse,” 31 December 1945. 3 pages, folio. Unsigned. Autograph corrections in De Gaulle’s hand; three lines added in holograph at end. In French.
Details
DE GAULLE, Charles. Speech typescript, “Discours Radiodiffuse,” 31 December 1945. 3 pages, folio. Unsigned. Autograph corrections in De Gaulle’s hand; three lines added in holograph at end. In French.
“IN 1945 FRANCE WON THE WAR. IN 1946 SHE WILL WIN HER LIFE”
De Gaulle’s fascinating look towards the recent past and towards the future, as he tries to glide over the desperate state of his country, and build a hopeful (if fanciful) vision of France’s restoration as a great world power. In the past 12 months, he says, France was “buffeted relentlessly by bitter necessities. We had to finish the war. We had to live too. At its worst, we had to face the loss of everything including our strength, but we had to endure. This could not happen without constant tests of our endurance, and our patience was always on the line. But it was through such struggles that France was built. In 1945 we triumphed in the war, occupied the Rhineland, reclaimed our hold on Indochina, recovered our deported workers, regained our internal stability, progressed in work and prosperity, restored the vigor of our free institutions. We did it without disorder and divisions. We did it as a unified French people. It is with enthusiasm and courage that we set forth into 1946…We know we have many obstacles to overcome, and must endure many disappointments. But we also know that in every field we are making progress. Each day we are more certain of our advance. In this fight to remake France bigger and better than it ever was before, despite all internal and external challenges, we will prevail. From one end of the French Union to the other, which stretches across the five continents, our wishes go first to those who suffer in mourning for those who gave their lives for our victory, without which all would be worthless.” Secondly, he looks to the generation about to be born, “who will be the joy of their homes and the future of the country. In 1945,” he writes in hand at the end, “France won the war. In 1946 she will win her life.”
“IN 1945 FRANCE WON THE WAR. IN 1946 SHE WILL WIN HER LIFE”
De Gaulle’s fascinating look towards the recent past and towards the future, as he tries to glide over the desperate state of his country, and build a hopeful (if fanciful) vision of France’s restoration as a great world power. In the past 12 months, he says, France was “buffeted relentlessly by bitter necessities. We had to finish the war. We had to live too. At its worst, we had to face the loss of everything including our strength, but we had to endure. This could not happen without constant tests of our endurance, and our patience was always on the line. But it was through such struggles that France was built. In 1945 we triumphed in the war, occupied the Rhineland, reclaimed our hold on Indochina, recovered our deported workers, regained our internal stability, progressed in work and prosperity, restored the vigor of our free institutions. We did it without disorder and divisions. We did it as a unified French people. It is with enthusiasm and courage that we set forth into 1946…We know we have many obstacles to overcome, and must endure many disappointments. But we also know that in every field we are making progress. Each day we are more certain of our advance. In this fight to remake France bigger and better than it ever was before, despite all internal and external challenges, we will prevail. From one end of the French Union to the other, which stretches across the five continents, our wishes go first to those who suffer in mourning for those who gave their lives for our victory, without which all would be worthless.” Secondly, he looks to the generation about to be born, “who will be the joy of their homes and the future of the country. In 1945,” he writes in hand at the end, “France won the war. In 1946 she will win her life.”
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