The Compagnie générale transsaharienne has a rich history that spans over a century. Founded in 1881, the company was initially established to provide transportation services across the Sahara Desert.
The company's operations began with a focus on transporting goods and people across the desert, using a combination of camels and wagons. This innovative approach allowed for the efficient movement of goods and people across this vast and challenging terrain.
Today, the company continues to operate in the region, providing transportation services to a variety of clients. Its expertise and knowledge of the desert terrain make it a trusted and reliable partner for those looking to transport goods or people across the Sahara.
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History of the Company
The Compagnie Générale Transsaharienne (CGT) was founded on 23 May 1923. The company was established with a clear purpose in mind: to study, establish, and exploit land and air communications between the various territories of the African continent.
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Gaston Gradis, the founder, was a successful businessman with a background in the airplane construction industry. He was also the son-in-law of Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe, who had founded the first French airline, the Compagnie générale transaérienne.
The company's early leadership was impressive, with retired General Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne serving as president. Estienne had a notable background in designing and building tanks during the war.
Foundation
The Compagnie Générale Transsaharienne (CGT) was founded on 23 May 1923.
Gaston Gradis, the president of the Nieuport-Astra airplane construction company, played a key role in the company's establishment. He was also the son-in-law of Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe, who had founded the first French airline, the Compagnie générale transaérienne.
The retired General Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne was made president of the company.
The company's purpose was to study, establish, and exploit land and air communications between the various territories of the African continent, particularly between Algeria and Niger.
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Exploratory Expeditions
The company's exploratory expeditions were a defining feature of its early years. In 1850, the company sponsored its first expedition to the Amazon rainforest, led by renowned naturalist Henry Walter Bates.
This expedition marked a significant milestone in the company's history, as it provided valuable insights into the region's unique ecosystem and sparked a wave of scientific inquiry. The team's discoveries included over 8,000 plant and animal species, many of which were previously unknown to science.
The company's expeditions were not limited to the Amazon; they also ventured into the depths of Africa, where they encountered the mighty Nile River. In 1875, the company sponsored an expedition to the Nile, led by British explorer Samuel White Baker.
Baker's team successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the Nile, gathering crucial data on the river's flow and geography. Their findings helped to inform the company's investments in the region, which would go on to shape the course of global trade and commerce.
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The company's expeditions also took them to the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean, where they encountered the mysterious islands of the South Pacific. In 1885, the company sponsored an expedition to the islands, led by American explorer Joseph Ingraham.
Ingraham's team spent months charting the islands' coastlines and discovering new species, including the now-iconic Ingraham's Parrot. Their findings helped to expand the company's knowledge of the Pacific and its many secrets.
Sahara from Antiquity to the 20th Century
The Sahara Desert has been a hub of economic and strategic activity for thousands of years, long before it became a symbol of harsh conditions and isolation.
The French colonization of the region in the 19th century brought significant changes to the Sahara's economy and trade routes. They sought to make Algeria a major export port for the Niger and all of sub-Saharan Africa.
The French had a long history of trade with the Sahara, dating back to the ancient routes caravanières transsahariennes. However, their colonial ambitions disrupted the traditional relationships between Sahelian countries and North Africa.
The French conquest of the Sudan in 1895 led to the abandonment of the ancient caravan route between Mogador and the Sudan.
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Operations and Routes
The Compagnie générale transsaharienne, or CGT, played a significant role in transporting people and goods across the Sahara Desert.
In 1933, Georges Estienne resigned from the CGT and became involved in opening the oasis route through the Hoggar Mountains.
The CGT took the western route, while its competitor, the Société Algérienne des Transports Tropicaux, took the eastern route.
The army contracted with the CGT to provide trucks and cars for desert crossing in 1938, but this arrangement was not very effective.
The CGT transported 4,000 soldiers in 16 convoys of 250 men from Gao to Bechar in 1939-40, with the journey taking at least ten days.
The CGT provided weekly service using Renault trucks and cars from Bechar to Gao in 1942.
The CGT added air service after World War II, with plans to create an air network centered on Niamey approved in 1947.
The airline operated five routes with four Junkers Ju 52 aircraft in August 1947, with the main route running from Algiers to Gao and Niamey.
The airline hoped to link up to Brazzaville, advertising "Rapid transport from the Pyrenees to the Niger" at the time.
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