Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12148

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Publication type: Journal Article

Bonnemain B.
[Usage of the so called inter-zones postcards during 1939-1945 war in favour of pharmacy : the case of Guerbet laboratories].
Rev Hist Pharm (Paris) 2007 May; 55:(353):57-68
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=17993174

Abstract:

The Second World War actually separated France into two regions and isolate France from the rest of the world. Communications, however, was still mandatory between pharmaceutical industry and its partners and clients. André Guerbet, CEO of his company, had the idea as soon as 1940 to use the so-called inter-zones postcards, the only authorized post documents to be send between occupied zone and free zone for several years, to communicate with his saleswoman from Marseilles, who will become the centre of activities with customers from the free zone and from other countries. It is also from Marseilles that active communications took place with foreign countries, especially the USA. These 219 exchanged inter-zones postcards will be useful until Paris’s liberation and will allow Guerbet laboratories to continue to produce and to sell its products during the war. It is also what made possible the American partner of Guerbet in the USA. Fougera, to start producing Lipiodol in America to guarantee product delivery to many countries that could not be reached from France.

Keywords:
Communication/history* Drug Industry/history* France History, 20th Century Postal Service/history* World War II*