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The History of DHL Group

More than 500 years of postal history - from the founding of the modern postal system to the establishment of the world's leading logistics group.

2024 - 2011

Strategy 2030 – Accelerate sustainable growth

Cargo ship in the harbor

The Group acquires J.F. Hillebrand Group

Accelerated roadmap to decarbonization

DHL ecommerce delivery

GoTrade - Through trade to prosperity

New division DHL eCommerce Solutions

CEO Frank Appel

Group commits to net zero emissions logistics by 2050

DHL Group headquarters

UK Mail acquisition

Opening ceremony

DHL expands global hub for the Americas

DHL Express North Asia Hub

Market position in Asia expanded & All mail centers modernized

GARD trainer and crew

GARD expands disaster management

2010 - 2001

CEO Frank Appel

Strategy 2015 & Sale of Postbank

Leipzig/Halle air hub & Climate protection program GoGreen

DHL Innovation Center

Opening of the DHL Innovation Center

DHL Group Employees

"First Choice" service campaign

The Group acquires Exel & Majority of Deutsche Post shares held privately

Postbank goes public

DHL in a new design

A new brand for the worldwide express and logistics business

Deutsche Post acquires DHL

Annual General Meeting

Deutsche Post AG's first Annual General Meeting after the IPO

2000 - 1969

Deutsche Post AG goes public

Danzas container

Acquisition of Danzas and AEI & Acquisition of Postbank

Letter sorting machine

"Letter 2000" concept becomes reality

The age of globalization dawns at Deutsche Post

Parcels on conveyer belt

Fast parcel delivery thanks to extensive investment

Deutsche Post AG, Deutsche Postbank AG & Deutsche Telekom AG

Stamp on the occasion of German reunification

East German Deutsche Post is incorporated into Deutsche Bundespost

Politicians and managers

Deutsche Bundespost Postdienst, DBP Postbank & DBP Telekom

DHL in China

DHL offers parcel delivery

DHL expands its network

Founders of DHL

Founding of DHL

1950 - 1490

Deutsche Post motorcycle courier and VW Beetle

Founding of Deutsche Bundespost

Motorcycle couriers

Deutsche Reichspost is founded as an independent enterprise

Post and telegraph office

Under Bismarck, the Empire's post & telegraph administration is united

Portrait of Heinrich von Stephan

Foundation of the Universal Postal Union by Heinrich von Stephan

Portrait of Louis Danzas

Founding of Danzas

Prussian state postal service

Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia founds Prussian state post office

von Taxis crest

Franz von Taxis founds the modern postal system

Photos from 1950, 1924, 1876, 1874, 1646, 1490: © Museumsstiftung Post und Telekommunikation