Post by Catsmate on Jul 20, 2022 10:09:41 GMT
Another short idea from my notes.
The Day the President Disappeared.
In May of 1968 France was experiencing a sustained period of social, economic and political convulsions, with a mix of worker unrest and strikes, student demonstrations and occupations, and social protests against capitalism, consumerism and American imperialism blending together.
At it's height the French economy was paralysed and there were fears of revolution, a military coup and civil war. Running street battles were fought between police and protestors in various cities, especial Paris's Latin Quarter.
On 29MAY1968 the French president, Charles de Gaulle, disappeared for a period of six hours.
Many in his government, including his friend the Prime Minister Georges Pompidou thought that de Gaulle has flown to his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Église, perhaps to prepare his resignation. However he never arrived there and the government simply didn't know what was happening. Politicians and civil servants were in a state of panic; state papers and records were destroyed and many prepared to flee in the face of the seemingly inevitable revolution
In fact de Gaulle and his party had flown in a pair of helicopters to Germany. Specifically to Baden-Baden, the headquarters of the French military forces in Germany, where he met with General Jacques Massu to seek advice, specifically information about the loyalty of the French army.
Massu confirmed that the president had the support of the military, while warning him that using a conscript army to repress a popular uprising might be hazardous and persuaded de Gaulle to return to France.
Within a few days the crisis had subsided; a massive counter-protect by Gaullist supporters, the veiled threat of military intervention (as in the suppression of the 1871 Commune) and the calling of a new Assembly election calmed maters.
So far all is history.
Game Use.
1. What was the real reason for de Gaulle's disappearance? He returned to Baden-Baden for three days at the end of the month, was this merely preparation to flee if necessary? Or was he conferring with French and UN military leaders about certain threats to global security?
2. Or had he been taken out of the picture by sinister forces who were attempting to meddle in terrestrial politics, perhaps to create a base of operations in France?
Was the sudden and widespread unrest in France part of an alien plot?
3. Or was it the PCs, having arrived in the pleasant spa town for some other reason (and perhaps being off in their arrival by a few decades), maybe they want to relax and take the waters. There they become enmeshed in events, reassure de Gaulle and send him home to save France1.
4. For an alternative history, what if de Gaulle's helicopters crashed, or simply disappeared? A revolution and civil war in France perhaps?
Suggestions? Comments? Ideas?
1. For certain values of 'save'.
The Day the President Disappeared.
In May of 1968 France was experiencing a sustained period of social, economic and political convulsions, with a mix of worker unrest and strikes, student demonstrations and occupations, and social protests against capitalism, consumerism and American imperialism blending together.
At it's height the French economy was paralysed and there were fears of revolution, a military coup and civil war. Running street battles were fought between police and protestors in various cities, especial Paris's Latin Quarter.
On 29MAY1968 the French president, Charles de Gaulle, disappeared for a period of six hours.
Many in his government, including his friend the Prime Minister Georges Pompidou thought that de Gaulle has flown to his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Église, perhaps to prepare his resignation. However he never arrived there and the government simply didn't know what was happening. Politicians and civil servants were in a state of panic; state papers and records were destroyed and many prepared to flee in the face of the seemingly inevitable revolution
In fact de Gaulle and his party had flown in a pair of helicopters to Germany. Specifically to Baden-Baden, the headquarters of the French military forces in Germany, where he met with General Jacques Massu to seek advice, specifically information about the loyalty of the French army.
Massu confirmed that the president had the support of the military, while warning him that using a conscript army to repress a popular uprising might be hazardous and persuaded de Gaulle to return to France.
Within a few days the crisis had subsided; a massive counter-protect by Gaullist supporters, the veiled threat of military intervention (as in the suppression of the 1871 Commune) and the calling of a new Assembly election calmed maters.
- The Communists believed that they would win the election handily and obtain power legitimately. In fact the Gaullists won a massive, and quite unexpected, victory in June.
So far all is history.
Game Use.
1. What was the real reason for de Gaulle's disappearance? He returned to Baden-Baden for three days at the end of the month, was this merely preparation to flee if necessary? Or was he conferring with French and UN military leaders about certain threats to global security?
- While it's basically impossible to date them, The Web of Fear was broadcast in FEB/MAR 1968 and The Invasion in NOV/DEC. Was de Gaulle involved in the creation of UNIT?
2. Or had he been taken out of the picture by sinister forces who were attempting to meddle in terrestrial politics, perhaps to create a base of operations in France?
Was the sudden and widespread unrest in France part of an alien plot?
3. Or was it the PCs, having arrived in the pleasant spa town for some other reason (and perhaps being off in their arrival by a few decades), maybe they want to relax and take the waters. There they become enmeshed in events, reassure de Gaulle and send him home to save France1.
4. For an alternative history, what if de Gaulle's helicopters crashed, or simply disappeared? A revolution and civil war in France perhaps?
Suggestions? Comments? Ideas?
1. For certain values of 'save'.