Zeppelin!: Germany and the Airship, 1900-1939

Rating:
Summary: Explores relationship between technology and culture
Review: Impressive to onlookers, gigantic in scope, and obsolete almost as soon as it was invented, few things capture the zeitgeist of the previous fin-de-siecle as does the zeppelin. Guillaume De Syon, an obvious enthusiast of an earlier era of flight, does a superb job in exploring the social and cultural history of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin's invention from its birth in the young nation of Germany to its death on the cusp of the Second World War.

Well-researched and properly critical, De Syon traces the cultural impact of the rigid airship through three German states: imperial, republic and fascist, examining the relationship between the zeppelin and the populace, many of whom would never get the chance to ride in one. In addition to the zeppelin's roles as transport, warship, exploration vessel and goodwill ambassador, De Syon illustrates its importance in German propaganda and kitsch.

More and more, scholars are coming to realize the interaction between technology and the culture that uses it, as put forth by thinkers such as Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman. De Syon's book is an excellent contribution to this growing field of study.

Rating:
Summary: Explores relationship between technology and culture
Review: Impressive to onlookers, gigantic in scope, and obsolete almost as soon as it was invented, few things capture the zeitgeist of the previous fin-de-siecle as does the zeppelin. Guillaume De Syon, an obvious enthusiast of an earlier era of flight, does a superb job in exploring the social and cultural history of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin's invention from its birth in the young nation of Germany to its death on the cusp of the Second World War.

Well-researched and properly critical, De Syon traces the cultural impact of the rigid airship through three German states: imperial, republic and fascist, examining the relationship between the zeppelin and the populace, many of whom would never get the chance to ride in one. In addition to the zeppelin's roles as transport, warship, exploration vessel and goodwill ambassador, De Syon illustrates its importance in German propaganda and kitsch.

More and more, scholars are coming to realize the interaction between technology and the culture that uses it, as put forth by thinkers such as Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman. De Syon's book is an excellent contribution to this growing field of study.

Rating:
Summary: "UP SHIP" - ZEPPELIN
Review: In the INTRODUCTION the author notes "... Germany in the first half of the twentieth century offers an especially valuable case study of the intersection of technology and culture." Readers often think of Zeppelin history solely in terms of the Hindenburg crash; but in Europe from 1908 to 1939, the Zeppelin was a powerful technological and cultural symbol that was manipulated during the Germany's Imperial, Weimar and Nazi eras for both political and business gain. The Zeppelin was a gigantic, magnificent machine and drew excited responses from all who witnessed it in flight.

The text gives a brief account of airship development focusing on Count Zeppelin's (a retired army officer) efforts to develop a rigid airship. Following the loss of Zeppelin's fourth airship, LZ 4, spontaneous public money donations provided funds for Count Zeppelin to continue his work. The approach of World War I finally drew military interest in the Zeppelin. The Zeppelin's military achievements were limited; but the allies hated it as a terror weapon thereby providing justification for the postwar dismantling of the Zeppelin Company. However, the tremendous technological development during the war indicated a bright future for the Zeppelin in luxury air travel and scientific exploration.

Count Zeppelin died in 1917 and Dr. Hugo Eckener became the postwar Zeppelin Company's leader. In the postwar period, the Zeppelin as a symbol of German technology and culture greatly increased. The author gives an excellent account of the Zeppelin Company working to survive and avoid dismantlement as required by the Versailles Treaty. The company first survived by furnishing a Zeppelin, ZR 3, to the United States as war reparations. Its delivery by a transatlantic flight in October 1924 was perceived as demonstrating that German technology, enterprise and workmanship lead to success. The author relates how the Weimar Republic capitalized on this perception. The author notes that in 1925 "...the issue of destroying the airship works dominated the Zeppelin company's concerns." Believing that a new airship would demonstrate the commercial feasibility of the transoceanic air travel, a public fund raising campaign for a new Zeppelin was initialed in August 1925. Less than half of the needed funds were raised. Government funds together with funds from Zeppelin subsidiaries supplied the balance of funds needed. The Versailles Treaty restrictions on airship building were lifted in 1926 and the new airship (LZ 127) was built. Christened Graf Zeppelin in July 1928 it became one of the most famous aircraft in history. The text narrates the career of the Graf Zeppelin during the declining years of the Weimar Republic including a 1929 round-the-world flight with only four stops and a 1931 scientific flight to the Arctic. Politics continued to be an ever-present companion in all activities.

Chapter 6 titled "Political Zeppelinism-Manipulating Airship Culture, 1933-1939" is most intriguing. The totalitarian Nazi regime had a problem dealing with the Zeppelin, a strong national symbol that predated them. Air Minister Hermann Goring hated them and Adolph Hitler didn't trust them. However, as the author notes "The political instrumentation of the Zeppelin had bound to occur for like all aspects of aviation, the Zeppelin fit in with the new regime's desire to demonstrate its interest in technological innovation." Hugo Eckener, once considered running against Hitler in the 1932 election, was losing his battle with the Nazi While the Nazi cared little for Eckener it was only logical that they follow his philosophy and try to turn the airship into a profitable venture. However, the Zeppelin as a symbol of German honor, culture and technology came to an abrupt end in 1937 with the destruction of the Hindenburg.

The Hindenburg's replacement, Graf Zeppelin II, made some propaganda flights, but unable to obtain helium from the United States, the Zeppelin era ended on 20 February 1940 when the Air Ministry ordered the destruction of the two airships, Graf Zeppelin and Graf Zeppelin II.

The author concludes the book noting, "Indeed, the Zeppelin offers an interesting case study of how society and technology play upon one another" adding "While Zeppelins served as nationalist icons from 1908 onward, under the Nazis their political use became blatant and conspicuous. The airship offered a seemingly perfect propaganda piece for the national Socialist leaders, appearing at Nazi rallies, whipping up nationalist enthusiasm before the arrival of Hitler."

This book is not your typical Zeppelin book that mostly dwells on the Hindenburg crash; rather it is a well-researched study of the interaction of technology and culture in a society. Finally, the "Essay on Sources and Methods" at the end of the book is very useful for the serious reader and merits close attention.