Born November 22, 1890, Charles De Gaulle was a man known for his tenacity, pride in his country and a self-confidence that was so strong that even in the worst of times during the German occupation of France he still believed that victory was within sight. At 6-foot 5-inches he cut an imposing figure and he was widely popular among his own people for the efforts he made during World War II. Unfortunately, he was oftentimes considered an arrogant man, which made him rather unpopular with other world leaders. He was a born soldier who spent most of his life fighting in one conflict or another, whether for France or its allies.
De Gaulle was a well-educated man, graduating 13th in his class at the military academy. In his early 20s he joined the French infantry, being quickly promoted to Captain for his deeds in World War I. During that war, he was wounded several times and captured by the Germans. He spent 32 months of WWI in a German POW camp, never ceasing in his attempts to escape.
