LZ 129 Hindenburg
The LZ 129 Hindenburg was a large German airship, built in 1936. It was named in honor of the German field marshal and statesman Paul von Hindenburg. Such airships are called Zeppelin. Along with another Zeppelin, LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin, it was the biggest airship in the world at the time it was built.
The Zeppelin gained lots of publicity and became very famous. The boxer Max Schmeling flew on it back to Germany after defeating Joe Louis in the United States. It was also present during the opening ceremony of the 1936 Summer Olympics which were held in Berlin. This attention was part of the Zeppelin company's plan to offer a fleet of their airships for trans-atlantic service.
The disaster
On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg was landing in New Jersey after a transatlantic flight, when it burst into flames. 36 people died and many were injured. The Hindenburg was destroyed by the burning of the hydrogen that was inside it. There are many opinions on what started the fire.
An announcer, Herbert Morrison reported the landing and then screamed and said, "Oh the humanity" after it caught on fire. Morrison's line is now famous around the world as well as photos and film footage of the disaster.
The rock group Led Zeppelin used a picture of the fire for the cover of their self-titled debut album.
LZ 129 Hindenburg Media
Hindenburg under construction
- For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme.
Lounge, with the world map painted on the wall
- Zeppelin Postkarte 1936 a.jpg
Hindenburg on its first flight on March 4, 1936. The name of the airship was not yet painted on the hull.
- Hindenburg D-LZ129-logotype.svg
Hindenburg's logotype (modern recreation)
- Zeppelin Reederei.svg
Flag of the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH
- Deutschlandfahrt leaflet 1936.jpg
Propaganda leaflet dropped from Hindenburg during the Deutschlandfahrt, quoting Adolf Hitler's March 7 Rhineland speech in the Reichstag
March 29, 1936 plebiscite ballot
- Zeppelin Passenger Pins.jpg
Zeppelin passenger lapel pins
- Hindenburg in Rio 1936.jpg
The Hindenburg after its first flight to Rio in April 1936. There is a temporary repair of the lower fin after the accident at Die Deutschlandfahrt.
- Live audio recording from the scene of the Hindenburg disaster 1937-05-06 19-25 EST.oga
Recordings on the scene of the Hindenburg disaster by Herbert Morrison for radio broadcasting.*For compete recording, see Herbert Morrison Hindenberg Radio Broadcast from Remember the Golden Days of Radio, narrated by Jack Benny and Frank Knight, LP vinyl re
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