Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
Encyclopedia
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH is a German
company which, during the early 20th century, was a leader in the design and manufacture of rigid airship
s, specifically of the Zeppelin
type. The company was founded by Count
Ferdinand von Zeppelin
. 'Luftschiffbau' is a German word meaning building of airships.
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin manufactured many Zeppelin
airships for both civilian and military use over the next few decades. However, with the rise of the Nazis
in 1933, focus shifted to 'heavier than air' aircraft, due to their military superiority (though Zeppelins were used in a number of major propaganda campaigns to great effect). By the onset of World War II
, demand for the Zeppelins had waned. In fact the last active vessels (LZ 127 and LZ 130) were decommissioned early in the war and salvaged for their precious aluminium
.
From 1917 to 1940, the company worked with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
to build Zeppelins in the United States
and the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation
was created to facilitate the relationship. The partnership ended after World War II
began, but the American company continued to build airship
s under the Goodyear name.
(as well as the Henschel Raxwerke
) were involved with the V-2 rocket
, and on 25 July 1943, Duncan Sandys
reported that Friedrichshafen photos depicted rocket firing sites like Test Stand VII
at Peenemünde. Previously in June 1943, allied bombing during Operation Bellicose
had hit the Zeppelin V-2 facility, and production was subsequently moved to the Mittelwerk
.
The company continued during the war and disappeared sometime around 1945.
Almost 50 years later the company re-emerged again in Germany. The parent group company of the current Zeppelin maker was re-established in 1993 and the operating company producing the current Zeppelins was created in 2001.
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH still exists as of 2010, and is a major shareholder in the company ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH which is developing and producing the Zeppelin NT
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
company which, during the early 20th century, was a leader in the design and manufacture of rigid airship
Rigid airship
A rigid airship is a type of airship in which the envelope retained its shape by the use of an internal structural framework rather than by being forced into shape by the pressure of the lifting gas within the envelope as used in blimps and semi-rigid airships.Rigid airships were produced and...
s, specifically of the Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
type. The company was founded by Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Ferdinand von Zeppelin
Ferdinand von Zeppelin
Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin was a German general and later aircraft manufacturer. He founded the Zeppelin Airship company...
. 'Luftschiffbau' is a German word meaning building of airships.
History
Count von Zeppelin had been building various guidable rigid airship prototypes from as early as 1899. For the first few years, finance for the research was supplied by the count himself, by private donations, and even a lottery. With the growing success of each flight, public interest also grew. In 1908, the 'Zeppelin LZ 4' crashed during a high profile test flight. The failure was somewhat serendipitous, in that it caused a flood of public support. The ensuing donation campaign collected over 6 million German marks which was used to set up both 'Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH' and a Zeppelin foundation.Luftschiffbau Zeppelin manufactured many Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
airships for both civilian and military use over the next few decades. However, with the rise of the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
in 1933, focus shifted to 'heavier than air' aircraft, due to their military superiority (though Zeppelins were used in a number of major propaganda campaigns to great effect). By the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, demand for the Zeppelins had waned. In fact the last active vessels (LZ 127 and LZ 130) were decommissioned early in the war and salvaged for their precious aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
.
From 1917 to 1940, the company worked with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
to build Zeppelins in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation
Goodyear Aerospace
Goodyear Aerospace Corporation was the aerospace and defense subsidiary of Goodyear.-Early Years:The company began as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Aeronautics Department and renamed in 1917 as the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation set up to construct dirigibles for the US military...
was created to facilitate the relationship. The partnership ended after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began, but the American company continued to build airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s under the Goodyear name.
V-2 rocket production
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin stopped manufacturing in 1938 and operations by 1940. In the Autumn of 1941 the company had accepted contracts to produce V-2 rocket propellant tanks and fuselage sections. By 17 August 1942, the Allies had suspected that the Zeppelin Works in FriedrichshafenFriedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
(as well as the Henschel Raxwerke
Raxwerke
Raxwerke or Rax-Werke was a facility of the Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik at Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria. During World War II, the company also produced lamps for Panzer tanks and anti-aircraft guns...
) were involved with the V-2 rocket
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
, and on 25 July 1943, Duncan Sandys
Duncan Sandys
Edwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys CH PC was a British politician and a minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s...
reported that Friedrichshafen photos depicted rocket firing sites like Test Stand VII
Test Stand VII
Test Stand VII was the principal V-2 rocket testing facility at Peenemünde Airfield and was capable of static firing of rocket motors up to 200 tons thrust...
at Peenemünde. Previously in June 1943, allied bombing during Operation Bellicose
Operation Bellicose
The Operation Bellicose strategic bombing in World War II targeted the Nazi Germany Zeppelin Works in Friedrichshafen and the La Spezia, Italy, naval base and was the first use of shuttle bombing in World War II and the second use of a Master Bomber...
had hit the Zeppelin V-2 facility, and production was subsequently moved to the Mittelwerk
Mittelwerk
Central Works was a World War II factory that used Mittelbau-Dora forced labor in 2 main tunnels in the Kohnstein. The underground facility produced V-2 rockets, V-1 flying bombs, and other Nazi weapons.-Mittelwerk GmbH:...
.
The company continued during the war and disappeared sometime around 1945.
Almost 50 years later the company re-emerged again in Germany. The parent group company of the current Zeppelin maker was re-established in 1993 and the operating company producing the current Zeppelins was created in 2001.
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH still exists as of 2010, and is a major shareholder in the company ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH which is developing and producing the Zeppelin NT
Zeppelin NT
The Zeppelin NT is a class of airships being manufactured since the 1990s by the German company Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH in Friedrichshafen. The initial model is the NT07...
.
External links
- Operation Bellicose map from Newsweek 1943
- The Zeppelin museum in FriedrichshafenFriedrichshafenThis article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
- Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH — The original company, now developing the Zeppelin NT
- US Centennial of Flight Commission — The Zeppelin