episode-header-image

Jul 2023

41m 48s

354: Paris 1968: The Return of De Gaulle...

About this episode

Charles de Gaulle was a war hero in the First World War, and, having refused to accept his government’s armistice with Nazi Germany, became the voice of the French Resistance during the Second World War. But how did France’s largest uprising since the Paris Commune come to happen during his presidency? Join Tom and Dominic in the second part of our tour of Paris, as they look at de Gaulle’s role in the events of May 1968, and how he eventually overcame the protests.

Read more about Tom and Dominic's trip to Paris, in partnership with Wise: https://wise.com/campaign/restishistory

*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:

Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!

Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next

594. The First World War: The Invasion of Belgium (Part 1)

Following the declaration of war in 1914, how did the outbreak of the First World War unfold? What were the earliest military engagements of this terrible, totemic event? Who were its key political players and how did they respond? What was the attitude to the war in Germany? Wer ... Show More

593. The Fight of the Century

Why did two men - John Heenan and and Tom Sayers - illegally meet in a field in Hampshire, in 1860, to brutally fight one another, captivating Britain in the process? What can the fight tell us about the nature of Britishness in the 19th century? Was this the birth of boxing? Who ... Show More

592. Mad Victorian Sport

How and when was football invented, and what are the origins of football clubs? What is the connection between public hangings, highwaymen, and early sporting events? Which is the most historically important sporting ground in the world? When was the first cricket test match play ... Show More

Recommended Episodes

The Allied Race to Retake Paris in 1945 Before the Nazis Could Destroy It

In a stunning move, the armies of Nazi Germany annihilated the French military and captured Paris, the crown jewel of Europe, in a matter of a few weeks. As Adolf Hitler tightened his grip on the City of Lights, the shocked Allies regrouped and began planning for a daring counter ... Show More

Épisode 21 : Les trois France

Après le débarquement allié en Afrique du Nord en novembre 1942 il y a trois France qui s’opposent : celle de Vichy, celle de Londres et celle d’Alger. Mais l’assassinat le 24 décembre 1942 à Alger de l’amiral Darlan va changer la donne. En effet si dans un premier temps le génér ... Show More

The Siege of Paris 1870-71

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war and the social unrest that followed, as the French capital was cut off from the rest of the country and food was scarce. When the French government surrendered Paris to the Prussians, power gravitat ... Show More

The Siege of Paris 1870-71

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war and the social unrest that followed, as the French capital was cut off from the rest of the country and food was scarce. When the French government surrendered Paris to the Prussians, power gravitat ... Show More

D-Day: Victory In Normandy? (Episode 10)

After over a month on the ground fighting through fields and villages, the Allies have forced a retreat by Nazi High Command. The fightback has begun in Western Europe. Al Murray and James Holland assess Allied victory, losses and our memory of June 1944. In the biggest series of ... Show More

World War II victory in North Africa

Peter Royle, 103, endured a month of solid fighting in the hills outside of Tunis in 1943. Eventually the Allies prevailed and took more than 250,000 German and Italian prisoners of war. They declared victory in Tunisia on 13 May. Peter came close to dying many times. He recalls ... Show More

« On a volé le Maréchal ! » : il y a 50 ans, un commando exhumait Pétain

Il y a 50 ans, dans la nuit du 18 au 19 février 1973, un commando de quelques hommes déterre le cercueil du maréchal Pétain. L’ancien chef du gouvernement de Vichy repose alors à l’île d’Yeu, en Vendée, où il a passé les dernières années de sa vie. Il y était emprisonné pour avoi ... Show More

Episode 8 : La France de Vichy.

L’Etat français a remplacé la République française. À sa tête le maréchal Pétain qui exerce des pouvoirs considérables. Mais les allemands occupent les trois-quarts du pays et Laval joue sa propre partition. En octobre 1940 la rencontre Hitler-Pétain à Montoire sera le début d’un ... Show More

The French Revolution, Part 2 of 2

It’s simple enough to pinpoint the beginnings of the French Revolution in 1789, but far more difficult to mark its end. Following the initial outbreak of revolution, France was plunged into years of political, social and economic instability, as various new governments sought to ... Show More

Love, Lust & Fighting in World War II

It can be hard to comprehend the magnitude of historical events, with World War Two a prime example of this. By 1945, some 3 million British people had served. As such, the rich diversity of masculinity and sexuality of those men is often reduced or hidden from the history books. ... Show More

Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami