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Sarkozy marks war broadcast in UK | Sarkozy marks war broadcast in UK |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni last visited the UK in March 2008 | Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni last visited the UK in March 2008 |
The French president and his wife are visiting the UK to mark the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's radio appeal to German-occupied France. | The French president and his wife are visiting the UK to mark the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's radio appeal to German-occupied France. |
Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni will visit the BBC radio studio in London where the general famously urged his compatriots to resist Nazi occupation. | Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni will visit the BBC radio studio in London where the general famously urged his compatriots to resist Nazi occupation. |
Mr Sarkozy, joined by Prince Charles, will lay a wreath on the Mall at the statue of the Queen's father George VI. | Mr Sarkozy, joined by Prince Charles, will lay a wreath on the Mall at the statue of the Queen's father George VI. |
The president and British PM David Cameron will later meet veterans. | The president and British PM David Cameron will later meet veterans. |
Limited audience A special Eurostar train will bring French WWII veterans to London | |
The visit is the first by a French president to mark Gen de Gaulle's broadcast on 18 June 1940. | The visit is the first by a French president to mark Gen de Gaulle's broadcast on 18 June 1940. |
The general had fled his country the day before as a new administration, headed by Philippe Petain, sought an armistice with Hitler. | The general had fled his country the day before as a new administration, headed by Philippe Petain, sought an armistice with Hitler. |
In the stirring radio appeal Gen de Gaulle declared himself leader of the "Free French", spawning the French Resistance, which went on to play a crucial role in defeating the Germans. | In the stirring radio appeal Gen de Gaulle declared himself leader of the "Free French", spawning the French Resistance, which went on to play a crucial role in defeating the Germans. |
He told his nation that "the flame of the French resistance must not and will not be extinguished". | He told his nation that "the flame of the French resistance must not and will not be extinguished". |
Posters displaying his words were put up all over London in the days that followed the broadcast, to galvanise French exiles | |
During their visit to Broadcasting House, Mr Sarkozy and his wife will unveil a plaque and view a tapestry presented in thanks to the BBC by France after World War II. | During their visit to Broadcasting House, Mr Sarkozy and his wife will unveil a plaque and view a tapestry presented in thanks to the BBC by France after World War II. |
The president and Prince Charles will later lay wreaths at the statue of Gen de Gaulle in Carlton Gardens, where he set up his wartime offices. | The president and Prince Charles will later lay wreaths at the statue of Gen de Gaulle in Carlton Gardens, where he set up his wartime offices. |
About 800 people from the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, the Free French Foundation and other groups have been invited to London to join events. | About 800 people from the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, the Free French Foundation and other groups have been invited to London to join events. |
Many will travel across the Channel on a specially chartered Eurostar, which will take them home again for further ceremonies. | Many will travel across the Channel on a specially chartered Eurostar, which will take them home again for further ceremonies. |
The French and UK leaders will later meet resistance fighters and British veterans for a ceremony at the Chelsea Royal Hospital, home of the Chelsea pensioners. | The French and UK leaders will later meet resistance fighters and British veterans for a ceremony at the Chelsea Royal Hospital, home of the Chelsea pensioners. |
A student from the French lycee in London will read Gen de Gaulle's speech to Mr Sarkozy, the full text of which is inscribed on a bronze plaque at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. | A student from the French lycee in London will read Gen de Gaulle's speech to Mr Sarkozy, the full text of which is inscribed on a bronze plaque at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. |
He was given a hero's welcome after the liberation of Paris in August 1944, but historians point out that he was not seen as a saviour in 1940. | He was given a hero's welcome after the liberation of Paris in August 1944, but historians point out that he was not seen as a saviour in 1940. |
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Translation of the speech | |
They say his now revered broadcast went almost unnoticed at the time, with a very limited audience on the BBC French Service. | They say his now revered broadcast went almost unnoticed at the time, with a very limited audience on the BBC French Service. |
Mr Sarkozy's last official visit to the UK was in March 2008, when he was also accompanied by his supermodel-turned-singer wife. | Mr Sarkozy's last official visit to the UK was in March 2008, when he was also accompanied by his supermodel-turned-singer wife. |
The 36-hour stay was the first full state visit by a French president for 12 years. | The 36-hour stay was the first full state visit by a French president for 12 years. |