General Charles de Gaulle had long been associated with Citroën cars: after the German surrender, on 25 August 1944, he triumphantly entered Paris standing on a Traction Avant adorned with the Lorraine cross painted on the side. Nearly two decades later, on 22 August 1962, it was a Citroën DS19 that saved his life.
En route to Villacoublay airbase, his car was ambushed at Petit-Clamart by a yellow Renault van and another blue vehicle: 187 shots, fourteen of which hit the presidential car, puncturing the bodywork and flattening two tyres. The driver sped away carrying the General to safety. The dramatic images of the bullet-riddled car with two flat tyres racing ahead, had a worldwide echo: they became incredible publicity for the Citroën DS19 and the General showed his gratitude to that car by organizing a parade with dozens of black Citroën DS, a symbol of French “grandeur”.
