When Roosevelt planned to govern France / Charles L. Robertson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Robertson, Charles L., 1927- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.

Roosevelt, Franklin D.

Gaulle, Charles de, 1890-1970.

Gaulle, Charles de.

Allied Military Government.

World War, 1939-1945--Diplomatic history.

World War, 1939-1945.

France--History--German occupation, 1940-1945.

France.

United States--Foreign relations--France.

United States.

France--Foreign relations--United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 235 p. )

Place of Publication:

Amherst, [Massachusetts] ; Boston, [Massachusetts] : University of Massachusetts Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book tells the story of a plan put forth by President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II for an Allied military occupation of France in the aftermath of liberation, and of General Charles de Gaulle's efforts as self-appointed leader of the Free French Movement to thwart FDR's intentions. Charles L. Robertson frames the narrative as a mystery in which he plays the role of detective. He begins at a dinner party thirty years ago, where he first learned of the alleged plan from an elderly former aide to de Gaulle. Yet it wasn't until 2004, when he heard the same story repeated during the 60th commemoration of D-Day, that he set out to investigate whether it was true. Many French are aware of this episode and believe, on the basis of later Gaullist officials' writings, that until the last moment a military occupation of their country was imminent. This view, across the years, has helped darken relations between France and the United States. Yet few if any Americans have ever heard of this plan, and in the event, no Allied military government of France was ever established. How and why it never came to be, and why the French still believe it almost did, is the subject of this book. Robertson recounts how the president of the most powerful nation in the world was outmaneuvered in both his earlier plans for an occupation of France and his subsequent attempts to keep General de Gaulle from "seizing" power--in a France that ultimately, despite Roosevelt's intentions and expectations, regained its place among the victorious powers under de Gaulle's leadership.

Contents:

Introduction : Roosevelt's and French views on AMGOT

America and the fall of France

Positions defined

Giraud, de Gaulle, and the Committee of French National Liberation

Allied preparation for civil affairs in France

French preparations for liberation

D-day

After D-day

Conclusion : AMGOT, myth or reality?

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61376-007-8

OCLC:

794700522

Publisher Number:

40019923991