On August 22, 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle survived a major assassination attempt. His survival was largely due to the exceptional performance of his presidential vehicle: the sleek Citroen DS 19, known as "La Deesse" aka The Goddess.
The Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS), known as Secret Army Organization in English, had plotted to kill President de Gaulle, who they believed had betrayed France by ceding Algeria to nationalist forces. On that evening, as de Gaulle and his wife were traveling from the Elysee Palace to Orly Airport, their black Citroen DS limousine was ambushed by 12 OAS gunmen on the Avenue de la Liberation in Paris. Despite the car speeding at 70 miles per hour, the attackers fired a barrage of 140 bullets, killing two of the President's motorcycle bodyguards, shattering the car's rear window, and puncturing all four tires.
The Citroen DS's advanced suspension system played a crucial role in the incident. Irrespective of the damage and the car going into a front-wheel skid, the chauffeur managed to accelerate out of the skid and drive to safety. Throughout the attack, de Gaulle and his wife kept their heads down and emerged unharmed.
Other key events on this day
1. Assassination attempt was made on US President, Gerald Ford - 1975
2. Brazil declared war on Germany, Japan and Italy - 1942
3. President Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. chief executive to ride in a car - 1902
4. Czechs protested against Soviet invasion - 1968
5. First Geneva Convention established Red Cross aid for war wounded - 1864
6. Joseph A. Walker became the first person to enter space twice - 1963
7. The First America's Cup was held - 1851
8. Queen Isabella of France died - 1358
9. Boko Haram fighters abducted over 40 women and girls in Mafa LGA, Borno State - 2023.
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