Jean Bastien-Thiry

Jean Bastien-Thiry was a French military engineer and aviator who is best known for attempting to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962. Motivated by opposition to France’s support for the Algerian independence movement, Bastien-Thiry carried out a violent act that failed and resulted in his arrest and execution. His actions reflected the intense political and military tensions of the time, particularly France's struggle over its role in Algeria's independence. Bastien-Thiry’s case remains a notable example of political extremism and its consequences during a turbulent period in French history.