On this day Brigadier-General Charles de Gaulle (b.22 Nov 1890-d.9 Nov 1970) gave his L’Appel du 18 Juin (Appeal of June 18) Speech in 1940. This speech is seen as the originator of the French Resistance.

When Marshal Philippe Petain, the Premier of the Vichy government made it clear that he was going to seek an accommodation with Nazi Germany, De Gaulle fled to England, like many other French nationals that chose to continue the fight against the Axis Powers. Obtaining permission from Winston Churchill to broadcast over BBC radio, De Gaulle made his plea to those French servicemen and citizens that had made their way to England’s shores, urging them to contact him to organise a resistance with aid from France’s American and British allies. De Gaulle was not yet the powerful statesman that he is recognised as today, few French combatants heard the speech by this new appointed Brigadier-General. De Gaulle reiterated the main points of his speech again on the 22nd June, this time to a wider audience. The transcript of the June 18th speech and the recording of the 22nd Speech have been entered into the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.

This record comes from the Internal Affairs Department records, answering a request from New Zealand’s Under Secretary for a description of the Flag for the Free France Forces under De Gaulle’s leadership. The response is a newspaper clipping from the Auckland Star featuring a reproduction of the Cross of Lorraine, the symbol of the Free France government in exile.

Reference: [ACGO 8333 IA1 2119/81/21 (R14988637)] For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter twitter.com/ArchivesNZ