Children of December: Mighty SAGS!

Mighty SAGS! The Strong and the Tough

Sebastien Chabal - 8 December 1977

Charles De Gaulle - 22 November 1890

#4. Charles de Gaulle Was Impervious to Damage

Charles de Gaulle was the leader of the French resistance in World War II, founder of the French Fifth Republic and one of the most notorious presidents in the history of France (if not the most notorious). Oh, and there were 31 recorded attempts to assassinate him.

De Gaulle, seen here composed of (roughly) 7 percent shrapnel.

Seriously, at one point an actual SPECTRE-like terrorist organization was formed by his worst enemies, and one of their primary goals was to end de Gaulle's life. Despite the ever-present threat of death, de Gaulle remained a man of the people, constantly appearing in public, continually giving them new chances. Some of the brushes with death that de Gaulle survived:

* A full-on assault became a rampant gunfight between his supporters and Vichy troops during his return to France on the very last days of the war. During the shootout, de Gaulle walked around greeting people like he didn't even notice the bullets flying back and forth.

"Attention citizens: Running in fear from the explosions only makes them stronger."

* A French naval officer tried to shoot him during a rendition of "La Marseillaise." De Gaulle paid it no mind as another officer wrestled the shooter down, movie style.

* While driving, a huge bomb exploded the road ahead of him into a giant fireball. De Gaulle's comment to the chauffeur, as they were driving toward the fire: "Faster."

Finally, the assassins figured out that they were going to have to get serious about the job and went right for overkill. Several cars full of snipers with submachine guns, grenades and Molotov cocktails attacked de Gaulle's convoy. Twelve snipers bombarded the car with 140 bullets, obliterating his entourage.

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"Sorry I'm late, there was traffic. And also a dozen men with machine guns."

This time, of course, de Gaulle was doomed ... to once again barely notice the attack. His aide begged him to get down on the bench several times, until finally he agreed to lean slightly forward to humor the man. When the barrage was over, he just brushed his shoulders off and continued the trip.

But he couldn't hide from death's cold embrace forever. Charles de Gaulle died watching television at home, at 79 years of age.