Pierre-Jules Boulanger
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Jules Boulanger, often known simply as Pierre Boulanger (10 March 1885, Sin-le-Noble
, Nord - 11 November 1950) was a French
engineer
and businessman. He directed Citroën
as a vice-president and as chairman from 1935 until his death in a car accident. He was known to colleagues as PJB.
. He studied fine art, but gave it up so that he could work. He worked in the French military service from 1906 to 1908. He met Marcel Michelin (nephew of Édouard Michelin
). After military service, he went to the United States
where he undertook various trades. He returned to France in 1914 and was mobilized as corporal, becoming an aerial photographer. He performed well in the service and finished the war with the rank of Captain, decorated with the Military Cross and the Legion of Honour.
He started working for Michelin
in 1918, reporting directly to Édouard Michelin
, co-director and founder of the business. Boulanger joined the Michelin board in 1922, and in 1938, he became the company's joint managing director.
In December 1934, despite the assistance of the Michelin company, Citroën
filed for bankruptcy. In December 1934, Michelin, already the car manufacturer's largest creditor, became its principal shareholder. Boulanger became the assistant of Pierre Michelin, who was the chairman of Citroën. Pierre Boulanger became the vice-president and chief of the Engineering and Design department. He became president in 1937 after the death of his friend and kept his position until his death. He also jointly managed the Michelin company.
As part of the policy to reduce costs, wages were decreased and the launching of the 22 V8 was cancelled. The policy bore fruit and Citroën recovered.
In 1936, Boulanger initiated a project to create the TPV (short for 'Très Petite Voiture' meaning 'very small car'), which became 2CV
in 1948. His specification for the new model was characteristic of the man:
The 2CV was known for its great capacity of work and its absence of ostentation.
During the occupation of France in the Second World War, Boulanger refused to meet Dr Ferdinand Porsche
or communicate with the German authorities except through intermediaries. He organised a 'go slow' of production of trucks for the Wehrmacht
, many of which were sabotaged at the factory, by putting the notch on the oil dipstick in the wrong place resulting in engine seizure. In 1944 when the Gestapo
headquarters in Paris
was sacked by the French Resistance
, his name was prominent on a Nazi blacklist of the most important 'Enemies of the Reich' to be arrested in the event of an allied invasion of France
.
He died at Broût-Vernet
, Allier
, in a car crash in a Citroën Traction Avant in 1950, while on the main road from Clermont-Ferrand
(the home of Michelin
), and Paris.
Sin-le-Noble
Sin-le-Noble is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Notable people:* Pierre-Jules Boulanger, born in 1885 in Sin-le-Noble: contributed in the manufacturing of the 2CV.* Maurice Allard, bassoonist, born in Sin-le-Noble...
, Nord - 11 November 1950) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and businessman. He directed Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
as a vice-president and as chairman from 1935 until his death in a car accident. He was known to colleagues as PJB.
Biography
Boulanger was born in Sin-le-NobleSin-le-Noble
Sin-le-Noble is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Notable people:* Pierre-Jules Boulanger, born in 1885 in Sin-le-Noble: contributed in the manufacturing of the 2CV.* Maurice Allard, bassoonist, born in Sin-le-Noble...
. He studied fine art, but gave it up so that he could work. He worked in the French military service from 1906 to 1908. He met Marcel Michelin (nephew of Édouard Michelin
Edouard Michelin
Édouard Michelin was a French industrialist. He was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Édouard and his elder brother André served as co-directors of the Michelin company....
). After military service, he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he undertook various trades. He returned to France in 1914 and was mobilized as corporal, becoming an aerial photographer. He performed well in the service and finished the war with the rank of Captain, decorated with the Military Cross and the Legion of Honour.
He started working for Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
in 1918, reporting directly to Édouard Michelin
Edouard Michelin
Édouard Michelin was a French industrialist. He was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Édouard and his elder brother André served as co-directors of the Michelin company....
, co-director and founder of the business. Boulanger joined the Michelin board in 1922, and in 1938, he became the company's joint managing director.
In December 1934, despite the assistance of the Michelin company, Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
filed for bankruptcy. In December 1934, Michelin, already the car manufacturer's largest creditor, became its principal shareholder. Boulanger became the assistant of Pierre Michelin, who was the chairman of Citroën. Pierre Boulanger became the vice-president and chief of the Engineering and Design department. He became president in 1937 after the death of his friend and kept his position until his death. He also jointly managed the Michelin company.
As part of the policy to reduce costs, wages were decreased and the launching of the 22 V8 was cancelled. The policy bore fruit and Citroën recovered.
Citroën 2CV
The Citroën 2CV |tax horsepower]]”) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork, that belied the sheer...
in 1948. His specification for the new model was characteristic of the man:
The 2CV was known for its great capacity of work and its absence of ostentation.
During the occupation of France in the Second World War, Boulanger refused to meet Dr Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
or communicate with the German authorities except through intermediaries. He organised a 'go slow' of production of trucks for the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, many of which were sabotaged at the factory, by putting the notch on the oil dipstick in the wrong place resulting in engine seizure. In 1944 when the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
headquarters in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
was sacked by the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, his name was prominent on a Nazi blacklist of the most important 'Enemies of the Reich' to be arrested in the event of an allied invasion of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He died at Broût-Vernet
Broût-Vernet
Broût-Vernet is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, Allier
Allier
Allier is a department in central France named after the river Allier.- History :Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais.In 1940, the government of Marshal...
, in a car crash in a Citroën Traction Avant in 1950, while on the main road from Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
(the home of Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
), and Paris.