The assassination plot that inspired 'The Day of the Jackal'
Discover the real-life assassination plot that inspired Frederick Forsyth’s 'The Day of the Jackal', based on an attempt on President de Gaulle’s life.
Image: Charles de Gaulle and his wife narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when their Citroen DS was targeted by machine gun fire arranged by Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry | Keystone Press / Alamy Stock Photo
English novelist Frederick Forsyth is famous for his fast-paced thrillers, many adapted into gripping films and television series. His bestseller The Day of the Jackal is no exception. Set against the backdrop of 1960s France, the book follows a fictional assassin hired to kill President Charles de Gaulle.
What many readers may not realise is that the story is inspired by a real, and equally dramatic, attempt on de Gaulle’s life. The would-be killers behind the assassination plot were the Organisation de l'Armée Secrète (OAS), a far-right paramilitary group determined to prevent Algeria from gaining independence from France.
The OAS: Rebels against the Republic
The OAS was no harmless group of disgruntled citizens. Many were battle-hardened former French military officers who had fought in the Algerian War. For them, Algeria wasn’t just another piece of French real estate. It was a part of France itself.
Their motto, ‘L’Algérie est française et le restera’ (‘Algeria is French and will remain so’), says it all.
The origins of the OAS
The group was founded in response to a French referendum on Algerian self-determination, organised by de Gaulle. The referendum was a long time coming and was followed by events like the Paris massacre of 1961, which saw hundreds of Algerians killed by the French National Police.
While 75% of voters supported granting the colony independence, many French politicians, military officers and everyday citizens strongly disagreed. This was the beginning of the OAS.
Desperate to keep Algeria under French rule, the group turned to terror. Bombings, assassinations, and sabotage were their tools of choice as they sought to destabilise the government. A plan to assassinate President de Gaulle himself was at the heart of their strategy.
The ambush at Petit-Clamart
The climax came on 22nd August 1962. Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, a French Air Force lieutenant colonel and avid supporter of the OAS, led the plot. The plan was simple. Ambush de Gaulle’s car on a quiet suburban road outside Paris and kill him in a hail of bullets.
Bastien-Thiry and his fellow assailants opened fire as de Gaulle’s black Citroën DS cruised down Avenue de la Libération in the Parisian commune of Petit-Clamart. Bullets riddled the car, shattering windows, puncturing tyres and rebounding off nearby buildings. But unlike the 1963 assassination of JFK in Texas, the attack failed spectacularly. 187 shell casings were later collected at the scene but amazingly, nobody was hurt. Unharmed and unfazed, de Gaulle later joked to his wife, ‘They are such bad shots. These people should learn to shoot.’
De Gaulle emerged unscathed, but the consequences were fatal for Bastien-Thiry. He was arrested, tried, and executed for his attempt on the president’s life. In fact, he was the last person to face a firing squad in France for a political crime.
Fact and fiction intertwined
Yes, Forsyth’s novel and his lone assassin protagonist are technically fiction, but the author draws heavily on the real-life motivations of the OAS and their attempt on de Gaulle’s life.
Who is the Jackal?
The ‘Jackal’ in Forsyth’s book is a hired gun contracted by the OAS to kill Charles de Gaulle. He’s methodical, meticulous and merciless. The perfect assassin, really. It’s a stark departure from the real events, where disorganisation and internal conflict plagued the OAS from the beginning.
The aftermath: a president undeterred
The failed assassination attempt at Petit-Clamart was a turning point. It galvanised public support for de Gaulle and bolstered his image as a fearless and unyielding leader, even when his life was on the line. He continued to lead France until 1969, with impressive stoicism and resilience that later became emblematic of his presidency.
The OAS, once seen as a serious threat, began to crumble. Morale plummeted and thanks to the relentless pursuit of the French security forces, the group was eventually dissolved.
Algeria gained its independence in July 1962, an event that marked a new beginning for the former French colony. Today the country celebrates Independence Day on 5th July, an official national holiday.
Legacy in literature and beyond
The Day of the Jackal might be a fictional thriller, but it immortalises a fascinating period of French history. Beyond the suspenseful plot, it reflects a nation wrestling with its own identity, a band of extremists willing to go to any length to achieve their goals, and a determined president committed to guiding his country through turbulent times. It’s not just a gripping read - it’s a reminder of the real-world drama and political tension that inspired it.
