DHL Global Forwarding, Freight Celebrates Bicentennial Birthday
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, is celebrating its 200th birthday this year and is looking back at its founding, shortly after the Battle of Waterloo.
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, is the air, ocean and road freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group. It got its start in 1815 when 27-year-old Louis Danzas, a lieutenant in Napoleon’s army, entered the shipping and transport business. The company, Danzas, began by moving goods by horse and wagon between the cities of Basel, Switzerland, and Mulhouse, France.
DHL is commemorating its bicentennial birthday with the book “200 years of logistics — Danzas and DHL Shape an Industry.” The book traces the company’s origin in Alsace, France, to its global reach today.
"We are very excited to celebrate such a milestone anniversary for DHL Global Forwarding," Renata Mihich, managing director, DHL Global Forwarding Canada, said in a statement. "Marking our 200th anniversary clearly demonstrates the company's commitment to exceptional service to our customers."
The company began its first consolidated shipments in 1854 on the Zurich to Basel and Saint-Louis, France, route. In 1884, Danzas became responsible for international mail for the Swiss postal service and guaranteed 24-hour delivery for the route between Switzerland and England.
Danzas was acquired by Deutsche Post in 1999.
"The innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that kept the company at the top of the industry over the last two centuries is part of our DNA," Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, said in a statement. "We constantly work on ways to redefine logistics and create new approaches to improve supply chains, in order to drive global trade, connect people and foster prosperity across the world."
