Reader’s Reviews > A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle > Status Update

The May 1958 crisis (French: Crise de mai 1958), also known as the Algiers putsch or the coup of 13 May, was a political crisis in France during the turmoil of the Algerian War (1954–1962). Many saw in de Gaulle, who had not held office since 1946, the only public figure capable of rallying the nation and giving direction to the French government in the Fifth Republic.

Churchill vs De Gaulle (25.05.2026) - De Gaulle was tense and wary, Churchill warm on the surface but apprehensive underneath.
Churchill vs De Gaulle (25.05.2026) - Churchill sent for Morton to order him to send de Gaulle forcibly back to Algiers – ‘in chains if necessary’. Harvey commented: ‘PM is almost insane at times in his hatred of de Gaulle,

Churchill: ‘I am no more enamoured than you (Roosevelt) of de Gaulle but I would rather have him on the Committee than strutting about as a combination of Joan of Arc and Clemenceau.”

Churchill vs De Gaulle: “…felt that there had been a ‘good atmosphere’. Good atmosphere’ meant that the two men had not actually screamed at each other.

Trivia: Do you know where the decision for D-Day was taken? Tehran, Iran!

October 1942 De Gaulle and Churchill have a HUGE argument...De Gaulle returned from a Middle East tour. Churchill was livid that De Gaulle used the trip to whip up anti-British sentiments!

Well, after reading part 1….De Gaulle was quite a character! He had no oratory or diplomatic skills. It was his way….or the highway!