Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Graf von Zeppelin (1838–1917) was
the energetic founder of the Zeppelin Airship company. After receiving
an education at Ludwigsburg Military Academy, the University of
Tübingen and the Stuttgart polytechnic from 1853, he entered the
Prussian army in 1858 and went to the United States in 1863 to work
as a military observer for the Union army during the American Civil
War. Here, Zeppelin visited Thaddeus Lowe's balloon camp and then a
balloon camp where the German aeronaut John Steiner helped him.
Zeppelin actually made his first balloon flight in the state of Minnesota
before returning to Germany where he served in the Franco-German
War of 1870-1871
the energetic founder of the Zeppelin Airship company. After receiving
an education at Ludwigsburg Military Academy, the University of
Tübingen and the Stuttgart polytechnic from 1853, he entered the
Prussian army in 1858 and went to the United States in 1863 to work
as a military observer for the Union army during the American Civil
War. Here, Zeppelin visited Thaddeus Lowe's balloon camp and then a
balloon camp where the German aeronaut John Steiner helped him.
Zeppelin actually made his first balloon flight in the state of Minnesota
before returning to Germany where he served in the Franco-German
War of 1870-1871
He was retired from the military in 1890 at age 52 with the rank of brigadier general. This gave him
the free time to work on his airship ideas.
the free time to work on his airship ideas.
| The Flying Machine |
The Zeppelin airship company made its home in Friedrichshafen, a town in the proximity of
Ludwigshafen on the northern side of Bodensee in southern Germany near the borders with
Switzerland and Austria. Zeppelin, who was born in Konstanz, originally had his airships built in a
floating airship hangar on the lake which could be aligned with the wind to support the difficult
starting procedure.
Ludwigshafen on the northern side of Bodensee in southern Germany near the borders with
Switzerland and Austria. Zeppelin, who was born in Konstanz, originally had his airships built in a
floating airship hangar on the lake which could be aligned with the wind to support the difficult
starting procedure.
He began constructing his first guide-able rigid airship in 1899 following a design he had patented in
1895, a tubular aluminum frame which, instead of using sheets of metal as a cover, used a fabric
cover not intended to be gas-tight. The gas was enclosed in bags in compartments of the hull
separated by transverse aluminium girders.
1895, a tubular aluminum frame which, instead of using sheets of metal as a cover, used a fabric
cover not intended to be gas-tight. The gas was enclosed in bags in compartments of the hull
separated by transverse aluminium girders.
Zeppelin made three flights with the "LZ 1" over the Bodensee. The public was excited by the idea
and the second version of his airship was entirely financed through donations and a lottery, followed
later by a campaign which raised 6.5 million German marks to create the 'Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin
GmbH' and a Zeppelin foundation.
and the second version of his airship was entirely financed through donations and a lottery, followed
later by a campaign which raised 6.5 million German marks to create the 'Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin
GmbH' and a Zeppelin foundation.
Large production plants and workshops were soon developed, and several cities took part in the
building of airship hangars and a network to connect the large German cities on the airway.
Additionally, training centers for Airship pilots and crews were created and Zeppelin established the
Zeppelin Foundation, an institution which promoted social projects such as housing developments
and sports arenas. Up until 1914, the German Aviation Association (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-
gesellschaft or DELAG) transported 37,250 people on over 1,600 flights without an incident.
building of airship hangars and a network to connect the large German cities on the airway.
Additionally, training centers for Airship pilots and crews were created and Zeppelin established the
Zeppelin Foundation, an institution which promoted social projects such as housing developments
and sports arenas. Up until 1914, the German Aviation Association (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-
gesellschaft or DELAG) transported 37,250 people on over 1,600 flights without an incident.
Apart from the building of airships, aircraft construction also strongly interested Zeppelin, and in the
year 1907 he supervised the construction of an airplane and later a hydroplane. As World War I
began, Zeppelin advanced his ideas of enormous airplanes which could be used for bomber purposes.
The Zeppelin was too slow and explosive a target, and about 40 were shot down over London. In
June 1915, an enormous airplane of the "Gotha" type was built, a prototype of a long-range bomber
which was used with some strategic success. At the age of 79, Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin died in
Berlin in 1917 before the end of World War One. He fortunately did not live to watch his hard work
and immense contributions to aviation be shattered and stolen with German defeat.
year 1907 he supervised the construction of an airplane and later a hydroplane. As World War I
began, Zeppelin advanced his ideas of enormous airplanes which could be used for bomber purposes.
The Zeppelin was too slow and explosive a target, and about 40 were shot down over London. In
June 1915, an enormous airplane of the "Gotha" type was built, a prototype of a long-range bomber
which was used with some strategic success. At the age of 79, Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin died in
Berlin in 1917 before the end of World War One. He fortunately did not live to watch his hard work
and immense contributions to aviation be shattered and stolen with German defeat.
Although the Allies shut down the Zeppelin project
after World War One per the demands of the Treaty
of Versailles, and despite France having greedily
seized Zeppelin's prize dirigibles, airship construction
rebounded against all obstacles, and the Zeppelin
company worked hard to resume civilian flights
quickly. Faced with considerable difficulties, they
completed two small Zeppelins put into use by
August 1919, and in the following two years actually
transported some 4,000 passengers; However, in
1921, the Allied Powers decided to demand that
these two Zeppelins should be delivered as "war
reparations", albeit a bit late. Further Zeppelin
projects could not be realized at the time because of
the punitive Allied interdiction, and this temporarily
halted German Zeppelin aviation.
after World War One per the demands of the Treaty
of Versailles, and despite France having greedily
seized Zeppelin's prize dirigibles, airship construction
rebounded against all obstacles, and the Zeppelin
company worked hard to resume civilian flights
quickly. Faced with considerable difficulties, they
completed two small Zeppelins put into use by
August 1919, and in the following two years actually
transported some 4,000 passengers; However, in
1921, the Allied Powers decided to demand that
these two Zeppelins should be delivered as "war
reparations", albeit a bit late. Further Zeppelin
projects could not be realized at the time because of
the punitive Allied interdiction, and this temporarily
halted German Zeppelin aviation.
From this point on, development proceeded rapidly, and by 1900, Zeppelin had spent nearly a
decade working on his dirigible. Zeppelin’s success moved steeply upward from the year 1906, with
continued support from various lotteries and gifts from an ecstatically enthused public. The military
administration was soon buying airships, and in 1909, Zeppelins also were used in civilian aviation.
decade working on his dirigible. Zeppelin’s success moved steeply upward from the year 1906, with
continued support from various lotteries and gifts from an ecstatically enthused public. The military
administration was soon buying airships, and in 1909, Zeppelins also were used in civilian aviation.
It's history and industry made the town a target for
Allied air strikes, notably in "Operation Bellicose", in
the latter part of World War II which was supposed
to target outlaying industry. In a moonlight raid on
June 20/21,1943, 60 Lancasters attacked the
Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen using a feature
later known as 'the Master Bomber' technique. 10
per cent of the bombs actually hit factories.
Allied air strikes, notably in "Operation Bellicose", in
the latter part of World War II which was supposed
to target outlaying industry. In a moonlight raid on
June 20/21,1943, 60 Lancasters attacked the
Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen using a feature
later known as 'the Master Bomber' technique. 10
per cent of the bombs actually hit factories.
In the later first third of the 20th century, the
industry did manage to rebound, however, and once
again contributed significantly to Friedrichshafen's
prosperity, but the Zeppelin's era of glory ended with
the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937.
industry did manage to rebound, however, and once
again contributed significantly to Friedrichshafen's
prosperity, but the Zeppelin's era of glory ended with
the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937.
The rest fell squarely on the pretty old town's historical center, almost completely flattening it. At the
end of war, French Occupation Troops stole most of the Zeppelin Museum's valuable exhibits and
sent them back to France, just as they had done with actual Zeppelin airships after World War One.
Some have been returned. Friedrichshafen before and after British bombing, above
end of war, French Occupation Troops stole most of the Zeppelin Museum's valuable exhibits and
sent them back to France, just as they had done with actual Zeppelin airships after World War One.
Some have been returned. Friedrichshafen before and after British bombing, above