The Appeal of 18 June was the first speech made by Charles de Gaulle after his arrival in London in 1940 following the Battle of France. Broadcast to France by the radio services of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is often considered to have marked the beginning of the French Resistance in World War II. It is regarded as one of the most important speeches in French history. In spite of its significance in French collective memory, historians have shown that the appeal was heard only by a minority of French people. De Gaulle's 22 June 1940 speech was more widely heard. The historic importance of these radio broadcasts and de Gaulle's future status as the emblem of the French resistance gave de Gaulle the nickname L'Homme du 18 juin.
Appeal of 18 June by Charles de Gaulle.
On June 18, in the year 1940, Appeal of 18 June by Charles de Gaulle. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of June 18, one of 453 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on June 18, 1940 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 16 May 2026.
On This Date in History 453
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