Charles de Gaulle, future leader of Free France and President of the French Republic, forged a special bond with the Belgian town of Dinant during the First World War. As a young lieutenant in the 33rd Infantry Regiment, he saw his first action on 15 August 1914, when French troops attempted to defend the bridge at Dinant against the advancing Germans. On that day, Charles de Gaulle was seriously wounded in the leg while trying to cover the retreat of his comrades and had to be evacuated to the hospital in Charleroi. For his courage, he was mentioned in the 2nd Division's order of the day and awarded the Croix de Guerre in January 1915.
The memory of the event remains alive in Dinant: a statue of De Gaulle, a young lieutenant aged 24, has been erected near the place where he was wounded, a unique feature as it is the only statue commemorating the future general in his lieutenant's uniform. In addition, the town's main bridge over the Meuse now bears the name Charles de Gaulle, in tribute to the significant role played by the young officer in local history.
Sources: RTBF & 1914-18.be
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