De Gaulle didn’t want the UK in the EEC because he thought the Brits were too obedient to the USA, and he thought the USA was far more of a threat to France than the USSR. However, once he realised that the Federalists had outmanoeuvred him with the Luxembourg Compromise, De Gaulle approached Christopher Soames, the UK ambassador to France, in secret, in 1969. He was looking for a way to leverage UK involvement in the EEC to outflank the Federalists. Unfortunately, Soames was himself a Federalist, who immediately leaked De Gaulle’s plans to the rest of the EEC, forcing the General to back down. Soames was made a European Commissioner as soon as the UK joined the EEC in 1973.
Soames is also the name of Nicholas Soames, his son, the one who Johnson removed the whip from for being mouth-foamingly pro-EU and voting against the government. Remember when people were crying about Churchill's grandson being kicked from the party? That was him. We're dealing with the exact same types of people today.
as a French speaker born in Belgium raised in France (i am 22) this video is an absolute delight you are so informed, never have i seen an anglo Saxon so informed on foreign political cultures such as France's or Russia's truly exquisite !
This is truly the best history TH-cam channel. There’s nothing else here that offers anything like the kind of depth that each video provides. Precious few history courses I took in university approached anywhere near the detail of the typical video here. One exception (and I raise this because I think it could be a fantastic topic for a video) was a senior year history seminar that was only about how/why the First World War started.
Yea I agree. Good history sources are hard to find, moved past the pop history channels a while ago once I bought and actually read some credible books on my favorite historical eras and figures and realized how much depth and context is always left out of popular history channels.
You talked so much about French History that I knew that an Episode about De Gaulle will come one Day Great Work as always Your Channel is an absolute delight Thanks
Even though he wasn't a fan of us English, I still have respect for De Gaulle for how he stood up against the Americans and put the interests of his country before anyone else's. If only we had leaders in Europe like him today
AM's characterization of US-Israel relations as 'Slavish' is perfect. An interesting anecdote to read about relating to 1968/69 & DeGaulle's conception of an 'Israeli-American Plot' is the Cherbourg Project. It is truly unbelievable.
Ughhh! This is the fourth time I've missed catching an AM live despite youtube being supposed to notify me. Was particularly interested in this one as I know very little about De Gaulle. Nonetheless, instantly liked the vid, and watching in full now. Keep em coming! I'll try to catch the next one live.
What Mister De Gaulle learned was that, although you may have success for a while, you cannot play the devil's game and win, he will always reveal the card under his sleeve before the end.
Great video. Seems like between Napoleon I, Napoleon III, and De Gaul, France was set up for whatever prominence it still has in our time. Interesting how certain cultures are able to produce great leadership time and time again. I think my francophilia has been reignited, time to start my French lessons again
De Gaulle: delighted you picked him, AM. Very interesting man, intriguing even. To my anglo inclinations he is ungrateful, contrary, stubborn and with a faith in "France" that is borderline psychotic. But he's got style, the old boy! And yes, chutzpah. He chutzpah's his way to success...
Very good video I just have a quick suggestion, you have mentioned doing a video on the Spanish golden age but you could make that a series and also cover the Visigothic Kingdom and Reconquest of Spain by the Christians.
Great video! So much to unpack. Interesting how French strategic conceptions from the 1930's and even Napoleon III which most would consider delusional still figured into De Gaulle's thinking at the height of his tenure.
Has any one realised that De Gaulle's name reflects certain historic significance? Sounding so close Charlesmagne, his surname goes one step further, Charles De Gaulle, Charles of France.
Charles of Gaul. He himself would disagree that the Gauls were "French" - French history started with Clovis, per de Gaulle. Gauls as part of France is a Republican narrative.
De Gaulle has, by his hilarious "grandeur" policies that have persisted in France for a long time, removed France from any prominent position that it might have had otherwise.
How so? He seems like a great leader to me, or atleast as much greatness as being a leader/ruler of a Western nation in our modern era can allow. Genuine question
@@sonicman52 Ever since de Gaulle's excessive "grandeur" silliness - coming from a man who was a "general" of ragtag group of US armed French, whose role in WW2 was negligible - France cannot be taken seriously anymore. The French illusions are such that France was and still is ignored, and therefore de Gaulle effectively started a period of French "Petiteur".
@@robertsanders7060 I understand France is a satellite state of America, but is France really “ignored” on the global stage? Atleast any more than all of Europe being irrelevant when it comes to geopolitics?
@an52 If the Spanish prime minister visits an EU country, you listen and have a good talk. If the French president shows up, you give an "ehhhmmm... yeahhh... sure dude whatever" smile.
you read battle of Jutland with a hard j, such as in jew, yet obviously you are aware this is a german region and the spelling\pronunciation should be german in one of the previous videos, you read Seljuks with a soft j, Sel-youk, instead of a regular hard j. You are obviously doing this on purpose and this is hillarious, keep it up, I wonder how often people notice that XD
You took a man i had nothing but absolute comtempt for and brought me around to like him. I dislike french republicanism but i think now France was in good hands from 1946 to 1969. You didn't get into the riots enough but i think that was a decision on your part. The 1960's represent a total deconstruction of the world and it would get truly complicated if you develved in too deeply. Perhaps one day you could do a stream on the 60's alone, altho i doubt youtube would allow it. Eagerly waiting Franco's stream as i'm half Spanish. Hope you don't bring any guests like in this one. They are mostly annoying (reason i cant bear the robert e.lee stream). Cheers from south america!
I was rather disappointed with the neglect to cover DeGaulle's challenge to get the Char B1 tanks built, as well as his role in battles of May/June 1940.
I think Trump is like De Gaulle. A ego maniac who looks after his country first and really does not care much about other countries. De Gaulle overplayed his cards.
My take on an overview. Ideologically, nothing there for anyone. He held some antiquated personal views influenced from a bygone era but ultimately passively observed as American liberalism filled the void of his nation's absent morality. Liberals should disdain him for not being an enthusiastic believer and non liberals for passively letting France get taken by liberalism. His legacy are perhaps his desire for a strong presidential system and attempts at making France a great power. The latter failed despite his efforts. France is a vassal of the US, no different from Spain, Germany, or Italy. I despise the man and the livestream only buttressed the validity of that disdain.
De Gaulle didn’t want the UK in the EEC because he thought the Brits were too obedient to the USA, and he thought the USA was far more of a threat to France than the USSR. However, once he realised that the Federalists had outmanoeuvred him with the Luxembourg Compromise, De Gaulle approached Christopher Soames, the UK ambassador to France, in secret, in 1969. He was looking for a way to leverage UK involvement in the EEC to outflank the Federalists. Unfortunately, Soames was himself a Federalist, who immediately leaked De Gaulle’s plans to the rest of the EEC, forcing the General to back down. Soames was made a European Commissioner as soon as the UK joined the EEC in 1973.
The Same Soames involved in the Rhodesian handover?
@@thermionic1234567 Yes. Clearly a wonderful guy.
Fascinating
Soames is also the name of Nicholas Soames, his son, the one who Johnson removed the whip from for being mouth-foamingly pro-EU and voting against the government.
Remember when people were crying about Churchill's grandson being kicked from the party? That was him.
We're dealing with the exact same types of people today.
@@Coldenthusiast Well, good thing you can deal with EU trade policy without having a say in it now. Exactly as you wanted.
as a French speaker born in Belgium raised in France (i am 22) this video is an absolute delight
you are so informed, never have i seen an anglo Saxon so informed on foreign political cultures such as France's or Russia's
truly exquisite !
Ooo look at you flirting with a little bit of racism or xenophobic thinking. See something new everyday.
This is truly the best history TH-cam channel. There’s nothing else here that offers anything like the kind of depth that each video provides.
Precious few history courses I took in university approached anywhere near the detail of the typical video here.
One exception (and I raise this because I think it could be a fantastic topic for a video) was a senior year history seminar that was only about how/why the First World War started.
Yea I agree. Good history sources are hard to find, moved past the pop history channels a while ago once I bought and actually read some credible books on my favorite historical eras and figures and realized how much depth and context is always left out of popular history channels.
You talked so much about French History that I knew that an Episode about De Gaulle will come one Day Great Work as always Your Channel is an absolute delight Thanks
Even though he wasn't a fan of us English, I still have respect for De Gaulle for how he stood up against the Americans and put the interests of his country before anyone else's. If only we had leaders in Europe like him today
AM's characterization of US-Israel relations as 'Slavish' is perfect. An interesting anecdote to read about relating to 1968/69 & DeGaulle's conception of an 'Israeli-American Plot' is the Cherbourg Project. It is truly unbelievable.
Ughhh! This is the fourth time I've missed catching an AM live despite youtube being supposed to notify me. Was particularly interested in this one as I know very little about De Gaulle. Nonetheless, instantly liked the vid, and watching in full now. Keep em coming! I'll try to catch the next one live.
What Mister De Gaulle learned was that, although you may have success for a while, you cannot play the devil's game and win, he will always reveal the card under his sleeve before the end.
well said
Great video. Seems like between Napoleon I, Napoleon III, and De Gaul, France was set up for whatever prominence it still has in our time. Interesting how certain cultures are able to produce great leadership time and time again. I think my francophilia has been reignited, time to start my French lessons again
Was only half interested in this topic to begin with but, found it fascinating. Cheers AM!
De Gaulle: delighted you picked him, AM. Very interesting man, intriguing even. To my anglo inclinations he is ungrateful, contrary, stubborn and with a faith in "France" that is borderline psychotic. But he's got style, the old boy! And yes, chutzpah. He chutzpah's his way to success...
You have described EVERY FRENCHMAN who has ever drawn a breath! Vivé l'France!
@@EarlHebert-c8w well, I didn't want 'go there', but now you mention it...
Winston Churchill said of De Gaulle, the hardest cross that I have to bear, is the cross of Lorraine.
Very good video I just have a quick suggestion, you have mentioned doing a video on the Spanish golden age but you could make that a series and also cover the Visigothic Kingdom and Reconquest of Spain by the Christians.
This was fascinating. Many thanks
I didnt realize AM had this many subs now. Great to see!
Great video! What biography would you most recommend for someone who wants to learn more about De Gaulle?
Thank you Jack. I read extracts here from Julian Jackson's a Certain Idea of France and also consulted Charles William's the Last Great Frenchman.
I had a poor and rather ill informed opinion of de Gaulle. I am very happy to have received this education from you about a rather profound man.
Bravo king.
Great video! So much to unpack. Interesting how French strategic conceptions from the 1930's and even Napoleon III which most would consider delusional still figured into De Gaulle's thinking at the height of his tenure.
Lol just fyi “chutzpah” is pronounced “hootzpah.” A very strange etymology since it is Yiddish but mainly known via the American Jewish community.
I thought there was some joke going over my head with that pronunciation
Sometimes I worry AM may know too much.
If only these were louder, but great!
Thanks!
Has any one realised that De Gaulle's name reflects certain historic significance? Sounding so close Charlesmagne, his surname goes one step further, Charles De Gaulle, Charles of France.
Charles of Gaul. He himself would disagree that the Gauls were "French" - French history started with Clovis, per de Gaulle. Gauls as part of France is a Republican narrative.
De Gaulle has, by his hilarious "grandeur" policies that have persisted in France for a long time, removed France from any prominent position that it might have had otherwise.
How so? He seems like a great leader to me, or atleast as much greatness as being a leader/ruler of a Western nation in our modern era can allow. Genuine question
@@sonicman52 Ever since de Gaulle's excessive "grandeur" silliness - coming from a man who was a "general" of ragtag group of US armed French, whose role in WW2 was negligible - France cannot be taken seriously anymore. The French illusions are such that France was and still is ignored, and therefore de Gaulle effectively started a period of French "Petiteur".
@@robertsanders7060 I understand France is a satellite state of America, but is France really “ignored” on the global stage? Atleast any more than all of Europe being irrelevant when it comes to geopolitics?
@an52 If the Spanish prime minister visits an EU country, you listen and have a good talk.
If the French president shows up, you give an "ehhhmmm... yeahhh... sure dude whatever" smile.
Thank you
Read Julian Jacksons book on Peter Hitchens recommendation. Great book.
you read battle of Jutland with a hard j, such as in jew, yet obviously you are aware this is a german region and the spelling\pronunciation should be german
in one of the previous videos, you read Seljuks with a soft j, Sel-youk, instead of a regular hard j. You are obviously doing this on purpose and this is hillarious, keep it up, I wonder how often people notice that XD
De Gaulle was a Catholic believer. Can’t imagine a long talk about him and this is not mentioned.
You took a man i had nothing but absolute comtempt for and brought me around to like him. I dislike french republicanism but i think now France was in good hands from 1946 to 1969. You didn't get into the riots enough but i think that was a decision on your part. The 1960's represent a total deconstruction of the world and it would get truly complicated if you develved in too deeply. Perhaps one day you could do a stream on the 60's alone, altho i doubt youtube would allow it. Eagerly waiting Franco's stream as i'm half Spanish. Hope you don't bring any guests like in this one. They are mostly annoying (reason i cant bear the robert e.lee stream). Cheers from south america!
I was rather disappointed with the neglect to cover DeGaulle's challenge to get the Char B1 tanks built, as well as his role in battles of May/June 1940.
DeGaul should have seized power in 1954 or 1956
I think Trump is like De Gaulle. A ego maniac who looks after his country first and really does not care much about other countries. De Gaulle overplayed his cards.
47:06
Perhaps De Gaulle had lineage from the ancient Belgae.
My take on an overview. Ideologically, nothing there for anyone. He held some antiquated personal views influenced from a bygone era but ultimately passively observed as American liberalism filled the void of his nation's absent morality. Liberals should disdain him for not being an enthusiastic believer and non liberals for passively letting France get taken by liberalism. His legacy are perhaps his desire for a strong presidential system and attempts at making France a great power. The latter failed despite his efforts. France is a vassal of the US, no different from Spain, Germany, or Italy. I despise the man and the livestream only buttressed the validity of that disdain.
Interesting how you leave the UK out there like they are vassalised to an even greater degree.
De Gaulle was a dullard.
If only these were louder, but great!
thank you
Thanks!