De Gaulle, Churchill Meet: Discuss North Africa Evacuation & RAF Support for French Forces

Charles de Gaulle flew to London and met Winston Churchill for the first time to discuss the urgent evacuation to North Africa and the involvement of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the operations. At this time, France faced severe military threats from German forces, pushing French leaders to consider alternative strategies for national defense and continuity of their government. De Gaulle, a French military leader known for his strategic insights and firm stance, recognized the necessity of establishing a French presence outside Europe. The evacuation to North Africa was paramount, where the French military could regroup and resist the Axis powers. Leading up to this meeting, de Gaulle had been advocating for continued resistance against Germany and saw the RAF's involvement as crucial for providing air support and enabling a safer evacuation. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, was central to Allied operations and understood the strategic value of assisting France to maintain a resilient oppo