C'est la guerre, de Gaulle

[Croesus]

Oh the humanity...

The world watches in admiration of de Gaullish gall as the kepi'd leader marches down the Champs D'Elysee together with his various cronies and at the head of a proud array of French military might in the form of LeClercs 2nd French Armoured.

The world gasps as isolated shots ring out and camera's pan to locate the fire and return again to the superbly unruffled de Gaulle as he continues his triumphant return to the emotional centre of France.

The world stops in horror as the first pre-registered salvoes fired from the German artillery still remaining in the Bois de Boloigne enclave shatter the marching columns... when the smoke clears, de Gaulle is dead, along with many of the FFI glitterati, and the head is shorn from the shoulders of the French provisional government... what fate now for France?

Croesus

 

[Nik]

Lynching, then civil war ??

Would it matter who actually fired the shots ?? After the lynchings, there would probably be a Communist coup attempt as in Greece etc...

Nasty, bloody & dirty street fighting for sure but, as in Greece, I can't see the UK & US forces letting go.

Perhaps it might give the French a distaste for such things, so the later Algerian problems might be settled less bloodily.

 

[Fearless Leader]

Yeah, I'd have to say a communist or even a socialist attempted take over would be likely, the French seem to have a thing for revolutions.

Also I doubt that without De Gaulle's decisive influence that France would get to occupy piece of Post War Germany

Now here's an Idea...

France is embroiled in a brutal, ugly, nasty, civil war after WWII. France's colonial possessions soon find themselves independent as France continue's its civil war. It is inevitable that the communists will lose however perhaps it is decided to put a monarch on the throne again in France and one of the Bourbon's steps in? Perhaps he is also backed by the military/fascists leading to the formation of a 3rd Alliance system in the 60's /70's?

 

[fhaessig]

Yeah, I'd have to say a communist or even a socialist attempted take over would be likely, the French seem to have a thing for revolutions.

Both seem very unlikely to me.

A socialist takeover is just not in the cards. They were part of the political establishment before the war and afterward also in OTL. In fact the IVth republic is when they had the most influance on french politics. The right has just definitely discredited itself and it is sure the next government will be socialist. So why try to take power if it will be handed to you?

For the communists, there are two blocking points. First, the high leadership ( i.e. Thorez and al ) are listening to Stalin ( in fact, they are in Moscow right now ). And Stalin definitely doesn't want to sour the relationship with US/Uk. This is 1944, not 47. ANy communist leader trying a takeover in France is going for a short trip in the Lubianka, if he's lucky. Second, the rank and file of the communist partisans ( as well as their immediate leadership ) will NOT go for a takeover. They believe in republic. If the take power, it will be by ballots, not by guns.

Also I doubt that without De Gaulle's decisive influence that France would get to occupy piece of Post War Germany

Actually, giving the french a piuece of Germany to administrate was Churchill's idea. He would find it easier without De Gaulles. Churchill didn't want to be alone in front of the Red Army, as the americans were telling everyone loudly that they would leave just after Hitler was beaten and that NO Us troops would be left in Germany. The original plan was to Have Uk/France take over the US sector, as the later retired.


Now here's an Idea...

France is embroiled in a brutal, ugly, nasty, civil war after WWII. France's colonial possessions soon find themselves independent as France continue's its civil war. It is inevitable that the communists will lose however perhaps it is decided to put a monarch on the throne again in France and one of the Bourbon's steps in? Perhaps he is also backed by the military/fascists leading to the formation of a 3rd Alliance system in the 60's /70's?

If there is a civil war ( but you'd better have another PoD; maybe a negociated French State Surrender after Us/Uk land in the Balkans and Netherland? ), it is not inevitable that the communist/socialist/republican wins, depending on PoD. What is totally impossible is a royalty restoration. This is 1944, not 1874.
Also, what Army/Fascist? In July 1944, the french Fascist were in Siegmarinen and the army was rather small. Juin and Leclerc will NOT support a king and most of the french armed men are partisan.
You definitely need a much earlier PoD than this one for restoration of a french kingship. The latest PoD I could see is with a german victory in 1916/early 1917, with the Bourbon coming once again 'dans les fourgeons de l'ennemi'.