He turns 81 todayAppeal of June 18, the first speech of the general Charles de Gaulle on Radio London, on the frequencies of the BBC. Broadcast on this date in 1940, it represents a sort of call to arms to incite the French not to stop fighting against the Third Reich. He is considered the founding text of the French Resistance, also because the historical context in which it was pronounced was one of the most dramatic: four days earlier, on June 14, Nazi troops had entered Paris.
In reality, the appeal was not listened to much live, but it had a large following starting from the following day, when it was published in the French press and picked up by many foreign radio stations. Unfortunately, the original version of the appeal was not recorded: the audio document that we can hear today dates back to June 22, 1940, when De Gaulle repeated the appeal.
Here is the complete text of the appeal of June 18, 1940.
“The leaders, who have been at the head of the French armed forces for many years, have formed a government.
This government, citing the defeat of our armed forces, has made contact with the enemy to cease the fighting.
Of course, we have been, we are outclassed by the enemy's mechanical strength, land and air.
Infinitely more than their number, it's the tanks, the planes, the tactics of the Germans that make us retreat. It's the tanks, the planes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point of leading them to where they are today.
But has the last word been said? Must hope fade away? Is defeat final? No!
Believe me, I speak to you with full knowledge of the facts, and I tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that defeated us can one day lead us to victory.
Because France is not alone! She is not alone! She's not alone! She has a great empire behind her. You can blockade with the British Empire which controls the sea and continue the fight. You can, like England, make unlimited use of the immense industry of the United States.
This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not decided by the battle of France. This war is a world war. All the responsibilities, all the delays, all the sufferings do not prevent the possibility of having recourse to all the means that exist in the universe, necessary to one day crush our enemies. Struck today by mechanical strength we will be able to win in the future thanks to superior mechanical strength. The fate of the world is there.
I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, I invite the French officers and soldiers who are in British territory or who will be there in the future, with their arms or even unarmed, I invite the engineers and specialists of the industries of 'weapons located in British territory, or to be found there in the future, to get in touch with me.
Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not and will not go out.
Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on London Radio.'
