Yves Godard (PJW)

Yves Godard was the leader of France from 1969 to 1973.

A participant in the French coup of 1962, Godard became a high-ranking official in the government of dictator Edmond Jouhaud. Godard managed to avoid Jouhaud's purges as dissent grew during the 1960s. In 1967, when civil war broke out, Godard commanded many of the government's forces. Despite victories in several pitched battles, Godard could never break the guerrillas. When Jouhaud fled the country in 1969, Godard returned to Paris and took control of the government.

The country stabilized for a year until renewed rebellions broke out. This second time, foreign nations directly intervened - Eurocommunist Italy and Belgium invaded parts of France, while West Germany invaded to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine. While the others were under the guise of peacekeeping, this last one wasn't, leading to a declaration of war on West Germany. Godard's two nuclear weapons were dropped on Germany, but unbeknownst to Godard, West Germany had finished their nuclear program, and Godard, along with Paris, woud be vaporized in 1973.