de Gaulle’s Complex Relationship

Matthew “Matt” Hefler, PhD, is a history instructor with Saint Mary's University (SMU) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who completed his doctoral work at King's College London. Matt Hefler has presented in his academic community, and in 2019 lectured on the topic: “Intelligence and Grand Strategy: Churchill, de Gaulle, and the Failure of Anglo-French Relations 1943-45.”

A specialist of international history and intelligence studies, Matt's doctoral work examined how intelligence and clandestine diplomacy shaped Anglo-French relations during the Second World War. Previous research demonstrated that key British and French wanted close Anglo-French cooperation after the war. This would be a means to compete with the superpower and prevent the tired empires from being relegated to second tier powers. Yet Britain and France did not cooperate, and in fact relations were worse in June 1945 than at anytime of the Second World War. Most accounts blame General Charles de Gaulle, the 'ungrateful and intransigent Frenchman.'

Matt Hefler's research uses intelligence archives from the UK, US, and France to challenge the existing historiography. This material reveals that critical policies, strategic debates and personal relationships had been missing from earlier archival releases or intentionally obscured by figures at the time. Matt's work reveals that Winston Churchill conducted an unofficial policy against France in the Middle East. Intelligence records reveal not only that de Gaulle's forces had penetrated this operation, but that Churchill knew they had.

Matt's work challenges existing interpretations of Anglo-French relations, of Churchill-de Gaulle relations, and of the end of the Second World War.