Charles Andre Joseph Marie de Gaulle
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Z" is for "zero.")
An
easy question for you this week. What’s
this chap’s name?
He was the tall one, standing off to one side, isolated from the group, in
some photographs of the big cheeses, the leaders of the free world, back during
World War II.
He hated having to stand off to one side, What he called the limejuice types said,
sorry, but your country collapsed in just a couple of weeks. So you have to stand to one side.
He didn’t like the limejuice types. He didn’t care much for the Yankees either. Fact is, he seemed to dislike almost
everyone; he even hated the big-cheeses of his own country.
Back when he was in school his 6-foot 5-inch height
had the other kids referring to him as The Big Asparagus.
The Big Asparagus was a strange one, for a military
leader. He was an intellectual, and
there weren’t many of those among the military leaders on either side of the Great
Conflict. His father had been a
professor of literature and the son became a fine writer with what critics have
described as a powerful, elegant and even poetic style.
He also wrote about military matters. In the thirties, he wrote and lectured often
on one key topic: You see, folks, he said, there’s this little device called a
tank – we had it back in ’14 (you know, the war that was to end all wars) – but
we never used it right.
We still aren’t using it right. If all you big fromages would just listen to me, whatever those folks up north in
Hitler Alley are planning to pull off, we’d be ready for them.
One of the books he wrote claimed that a modern army
should be made up of “mobile armored divisions.” Well, the top brass didn’t listen. Zero is the number of full generals, of whatever country, who enjoy being lectured to by lieutenant-colonels.
So the Big Asparagus had to be content to be faithful to his main activity: continuing
to dislike everyone and biding his time.
On a beautiful day in September, the big bus named
WWII shifted into gear and the bad guys from Hitler Alley took off in it. It turned
out there was not much that could stop them or their tanks – their "mobile
armored divisions."
Our boy never said “I told you so” but that’s only
because, as usual, most folks weren’t listening to him. If you scrutinize his position carefully, however, you may decide that he had made a lot of sense.
37 comments:
Not certain about this one ... General Douglas MacArthur?
Thanks for the lesson about C.D.
I like this twist! Could he be, Sir Basil Liddell Hart?
My thanks to Dina who I THINK got the answer right - at least the initials.
I do believe you are referring to Charles de Gaulle?
C'est Charles de Gaulle.
Charles de Gaulle
We've got some "winners." Kathe W, humbird and naturgesetz all have coughed up the right answer.
Sounds a bit like Charles de Gaulle, sir, whose country did fall in two weeks.
Berowne, it's Gen Charles de Gaulle!
Hank
Glenn Buttkus and kaykuala have also given us the right answer.
If its not a Brit or an American, could it be Charles de Gaulle?
Roger Owen Green has come through, as he so often has, with the right answer.
Ah, this was an easy one--afraid "fromage" gave it away for me!! That would be Charles DeGaulle!!
Charles de Gaulle...
Ginny Brannan and Tess Kincaid are two more with the correct answer.
Could it be Patton?
I know but only because I googled out of curiosity. I really like the line about not saying told you so b/c no one was listening. Tragic, you know, but it happens all the time.
Brandee Shafer has just joined us with the right answer.
This was before my time (albeit no excuse not to know). That said, based on the information you gave Charles
De Gaulle comes to mind - didn't know he was that tall, though. Great post and change of theme. Have a Happy New Year.
I'm thinking tall..and cheese? Charles de Gaulle? Very well done!!
Lyn and Meryl, or possibly it's Meryl and Lyn, have provided us with the correct answer.
I am completely lost but I enjoyed reading your post :)
De Gaulle he wasn't terribly popular in the rest of Canada when he came to Canada and finished a speech with 'Viva la France".
Well, I do believe it's Charles De Gaulle of France.
leslie
abcw team
Leslie and Hildred have both presented us with the correct answer.
Ronald Spiers? Kate, ABC Team
That would be Gen. Charles de Gaulle!
That sort of nickname stick with you!
Another right answer, this one from uberrhund.
This has to be that complete, vain arsehole - De Gaulle. Churchill had his number alright.
General de Gaulle who organised the French war effort from Brtiain after France was occupied by the Germans.
Altonian and oldegg are with us - again - with the correct answer.
This one is NOT easy. Montgomery? Kate, ABC Team
Winston Churchill
I never really learned about the Big Asparagus in my high school history class. We heard much more about Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, and, of course, Hitler. Thus, to my shame, I would not have recognized this gent from the picture.
Hi Berowne and Happy New Year. I recognized his picture, but, honestly, your commentary taught me more about the man than I ever knew. Made me realize that to many of us he was just a name, with not much background filler, bio, interesting stories told about him. For instance, it was news to me that he was an intellectual. Truly, such interesting and long-overdue information for me. Thank you.
... was I ever off base! Back to the history books I go.
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