SENSITIVE HISTORICAL CONTENT – FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
This article discusses the last execution by firing squad in modern French history: the death of Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry on March 11, 1963. The content is presented for educational and historical documentation purposes, to provide a clearer understanding of the 1962 assassination attempt against President Charles de Gaulle at Petit-Clamart, the trial that followed, and the end of the firing squad as a method of execution in France. It is not intended to promote violence, endorse assassination, or support capital punishment.
The Last Execution by Firing Squad in France – Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry (March 11, 1963)
In 20th-century French history, this remains one of the most debated and significant cases. Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry was the organizer of the well-known assassination attempt against President Charles de Gaulle. He was the last person, and the only one under the Fifth Republic, to be executed by firing squad in France. His death marked the end of an execution method that had existed since the French Revolution and reflected de Gaulle's firm response to far-right groups opposed to Algerian independence.
Background: The Petit-Clamart Plot (August 22, 1962)
Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry (1927–1963) was a military aerospace engineer, a Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force, and a supporter of far-right political ideas. He joined the OAS (Organisation Armée Secrète), a group opposed to Algerian independence and to de Gaulle's policies. Bastien-Thiry viewed de Gaulle as having betrayed French Algeria by agreeing to negotiate with the FLN (National Liberation Front).
On August 22, 1962, Bastien-Thiry organized an ambush against President de Gaulle's motorcade at Petit-Clamart, near Paris. A group of gunmen attacked the black Citroën DS carrying the president. However, de Gaulle and his wife Yvonne escaped unharmed. The incident caused major public shock and led to stronger security measures for the French head of state.
Arrest, Trial, and Sentence
Bastien-Thiry was arrested on September 15, 1962, in the Paris suburbs. He was brought before the Special Military Tribunal in January and February 1963.
During the trial, he admitted his role in organizing the attack but argued that his actions were politically motivated. The proceedings lasted 18 days and drew intense public attention.
On March 4, 1963, Bastien-Thiry was sentenced to death, while several accomplices received life imprisonment or lengthy prison terms. President de Gaulle refused to pardon him, considering him the main instigator and a direct threat to the Republic.
The Execution on March 11, 1963
At 6:30 a.m. on March 11, 1963, at Fort d'Ivry near Paris, Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry was executed by firing squad according to the traditional French military method.
He was led into the courtyard wearing his Air Force Lieutenant Colonel's uniform. According to historical accounts, he refused a blindfold. The firing squad consisted of 11 men. After the shots were fired, he died at the scene, and his body was returned to his family for burial at Thiais cemetery near Paris.
The execution was carried out privately, without public display, filming, or a crowd. This reflected the more restrained approach of the French authorities during that period.
Why This Was France's Last Firing Squad Execution
After the Bastien-Thiry case, France gradually abandoned the firing squad as a method of execution. Between 1962 and 1981, the remaining executions were mainly carried out by guillotine.
On October 9, 1981, under President François Mitterrand and Justice Minister Robert Badinter, France officially abolished the death penalty. This marked a major turning point in the country's legal history.
Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry is remembered as the last person executed by firing squad in modern French history. His death closed a long chapter in the history of traditional military executions and reflected the deep political tensions surrounding Algeria during the de Gaulle era. The case remains debated among historians and the public to this day.
Main References:
Bastien-Thiry military trial records (Haut Tribunal Militaire, 1963), archived at the Service Historique de la Défense (SHD), Vincennes.
L'Attentat du Petit-Clamart – Philippe Broussard (2002).
De Gaulle et l'OAS – Jean-Jacques Jordi & Mohand Hamoumou (2010).
Contemporary newspapers: Le Monde, Le Figaro, France-Soir (March 1963).
La Peine de Mort en France – Robert Badinter (2007).
Archives Nationales – files on pardons and sentence enforcement, 1963.