De Gaulle Survives OAS Assassination Attempt

Summary

France faced deep divisions over Algerian independence, granted earlier in 1962 after years of war. The far-right Organisation de l'Armée Secrète (OAS) opposed de Gaulle's policies and plotted his death. On August 22, 1962, as President Charles de Gaulle and his wife traveled from the Élysée Palace toward an airport in a Citroën DS, gunmen ambushed the motorcade near Petit-Clamart outside Paris. The attackers fired over 150 rounds, striking the car multiple times and nearly hitting de Gaulle. The vehicle's advanced suspension and speed allowed it to escape, with de Gaulle and his wife unharmed. The plotters, led by Jean Bastien-Thiry, were later captured; he became the last person executed by firing squad in France.

Why It Matters

The failed attack highlighted the violent resistance to decolonization within France and strengthened de Gaulle's resolve to pursue Algerian independence and stabilize the Fifth Republic. It underscored the era's political extremism and the resilience of democratic institutions amid crisis.

Related Portfolio Site

Assassination Attempts: Assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle

Sources

1. Citroen helps de Gaulle survive assassination attempt, HISTORY.com. Accessed 2026-07-02.