Citroen half tracks also see Auto-History |
In the 1920's Citroen halftracks or Autochenilles, fitted with Adolphe Kegresse's rear tracks, took part in major expeditions in North Africa:
1922 December 17: Georges-Marie Haardt and 11 others crossed the Sahara Desert from Touggourt in Algeria to Timbuktu in Mali on 7 January 1923.
1924 October 28: Citroen halftracks traversed Africa from north to south, and finally arrived at the east coast on 26 June 1925. The trip was known as La Croisiere Noire - L. A11ison
1931-1932 Citroen-Haardt Expedition
On 4/4/1931 seven Citroen halftracks led by Georges-Marie Haardt departed Beirut in Lebanon heading for Beijing (at that time Peiping) following Marco Polo's route along the Silk Road in part. Seven other half-tracks left Tianjin (Tientsin) on the Yellow Sea to meet them.
Russia had withdrawn permission to drive through Turkmenistan at a late stage, so two of the vehicles were manhandled north into the Karakoram, crossing the Burzil Pass (13,755'), to Mishgar where they were halted by the terrain. The group proceeded on camels and horses to Kashgar (Kashi). They met the others and, despite arrest, bandits, rebels, and crashing through ice at a river crossing, went on to Beijing in the other vehicles, arriving 12/2/1932. Sadly, Georges-Marie Haardt died of pneumonia at the end of the expedition. (Williams '32). This trip was known as La Croisiere Jaune.
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