On 22 August 1962, shortly after leaving the Élysée Palace for a state visit, French President Charles de Gaulle survived an assassination attempt when armed assailants opened fire on his car near the suburb of Petit-Clamart (Montrouge/Clamart area) south of Paris. The attack—carried out while the presidential vehicle was traveling on an open road—failed to kill De Gaulle. His car sustained damage but he and his wife emerged with minor or no physical injuries. The incident intensified political tensions in France during a volatile period defined by the end of the Algerian War and polarizing decisions about decolonization. Context De Gaulle’s presidency (1959–1969) coincided with the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), a conflict that deeply split French politics and society. De Gaulle’s move toward negotiations with Algerian nationalists and eventual acceptance of Algerian independence angered hard-line colonial supporters, parts of the military, and right-wing extremist groups. By August 1962, violence and plots by opponents—most notably the Organisation armée secrète (OAS), a clandestine paramilitary group—had targeted officials seen as betraying French Algeria. The Ambush Contemporary accounts and subsequent investigations describe the assailants as firing multiple rounds at the presidential car as it slowed on a road near Petit-Clamart. The attack was planned to take advantage of the convoy’s predictable route. Witnesses and police reports note that quick action by the vehicle’s driver, who accelerated and changed course, together with the car’s construction, likely prevented fatalities. The attack left bullet holes in the vehicle; De Gaulle’s survival was widely reported in the French and international press the same day. Aftermath and Investigation French authorities launched an intensive investigation. Evidence gathered at the scene and other intelligence pointed to an organized plot by individuals opposed to De Gaulle’s Algerian policy. Several suspects were arrested in the weeks and months following the attempt. The affair contributed to a crackdown on extremist networks and justified, in the eyes of many contemporaries, stronger security measures around the presidency. Political Consequences The attempt on De Gaulle’s life hardened his resolve and had political repercussions. Public sympathy for the president increased, and his ability to pursue policies—most notably the Evian Accords and recognition of Algerian independence—was reinforced. The event also underscored the intense domestic polarization of the era and the lengths to which opponents of decolonization would go. Historical Notes and Disputed Details Some particulars about the planning and exact chain of responsibility have been the subject of historical inquiry and debate. While the OAS is commonly linked to plots against De Gaulle and some participants in the Petit-Clamart ambush were associated with pro-colonial networks, attribution of direct orders and the full roster of conspirators remains complex in the archival record. Accounts vary on the number of assailants and the precise sequence of shots, but the core fact—that De Gaulle survived a serious assassination attempt on 22 August 1962—is well documented in contemporary newspapers, police records, and subsequent historical studies. Legacy The attack at Petit-Clamart is remembered as one of the most serious attempts on De Gaulle’s life and a marker of the domestic strife surrounding the end of the French colonial era. It reinforced the perception of De Gaulle as a figure who navigated France through a turbulent transition and contributed to the narrative of his presidency as one shaped by crisis and strong executive action.