Charles De Gaulle died 50 years ago today. One of the lesser-known aspects of his life was that he had a daughter with Down’s Syndrome. His profound and public affection for her stands in stark contrast to the great evil of euthanasia that stalked Europe at the time

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Anne was born on New Year’s Day, 1928. At the time, it was common practice for parents of disabled children to place them in hospitals and other institutions that were seldom able to provide the care they needed.

But that’s not what De Gaulle and his wife did. 2/8

“God has given her to us. We must take responsibility for her, wherever she is and whatever she will be”. 3/8

Anne was the apple of his eye - this haughty and aloof army officer adored Anne and would often play on the floor with her. He read her stories and taught her how to pray. 4/8

Anne is a little-known inspiration behind the towering figure of De Gaulle.

“Without Anne, I could never perhaps have done what I did. She gave me the heart and the inspiration”. 5/8

Sadly, Anne died at the age of 20. In her memory, her parents founded the Fondation Anne De Gaulle, which would provide a home for young girls with intellectual disabilities. 6/8

De Gaulle was aware of how the Nazis would see his beloved Anne. His resistance was in protecting his daughter, and others like her, from those who saw her as sub-human. 7/8

The example of Charles and Anne De Gaulle is a deeply Catholic one: seeing the inherent dignity in each and every one of us and protecting the lives of the least among us. 8/8