The Hindenburg Disaster

This episode delves into the dramatic and tragic history of the Hindenburg, the largest rigid airship ever built, and its catastrophic disaster on May 6, 1937.

1. The Hindenburg was an ambitious project meant to showcase Nazi Germany's ingenuity and to revolutionize air travel.
2. Political and economic pressures forced the use of hydrogen instead of safer helium, contributing significantly to the disaster.
3. The Hindenburg disaster highlighted the risks of emerging technologies, especially when expedited or altered for propaganda.
4. The crash ended public confidence in airships, shifting the focus to developing safer and more reliable airplanes.
5. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of technological failures and the importance of rigorous safety measures.

1: Zeppelins of War

This chapter outlines the military origins of airships and their transformation into commercial vehicles post-WWI. The narrative describes how airships, initially a symbol of terror, became a beacon of technological progress.

• Lindsey Graham: "From instruments of war to icons of commercial travel, airships captured the world’s imagination."

2: The Rise of the Hindenburg

Focuses on the design and construction of the Hindenburg, reflecting the era's technological ambitions and the political machinations behind its development.

• Lindsey Graham: "The Hindenburg was to be the pinnacle of airship travel, promising luxury akin to ocean liners."

3: A Fiery Demise

Details the catastrophic final moments of the Hindenburg, capturing the immediate impact of the disaster on public perception and air travel’s future.

• Lindsey Graham: "The disaster was a pivotal moment, effectively marking the end of the airship era."

1. Respect the Fundamentals: Always prioritize fundamental safety over aesthetic or political considerations in design and engineering.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all technological innovations comply with international safety standards and regulations.
3. Risk Assessment: Regularly conduct risk assessments during the development and operational phases of any project.
4. Crisis Management Training: Equip teams with crisis management skills to handle emergencies effectively.
5. Public Communication: Maintain transparent and honest communication with the public, especially in the wake of a disaster.

May 6, 1937. The Hindenburg, the largest rigid airship ever built, and the pride of Nazi Germany, bursts into flames, killing 36 people. This episode originally aired in 2022.

People

Hugo Echner, Ernst Lehmann

Companies

Zeppelin Company

Books

None

Guest Name(s):

None

Content Warnings:

None

Lindsey Graham
It's August 15, 1918, at the Wellington Pier Pavilion in Great Yarmouth, England. In the final months of World War one, Birdie Cadbury, the heir to the Cadbury chocolate fortune, enjoys a night of music at a charity event. In addition to being a wealthy scion, Birdie is a pilot for the RAF, the Royal Air Force. But tonight, he tries his best to enjoy himself and forget the war that's been raging across Europe for years. But at about 08:45 p.m.

Bernie feels a tap on his shoulder. He looks up and sees an RAF orderly standing over him. The orderly whispers, you're needed at hq, sir. Immediately, Birdie stands and calmly walks out of the pavilion. Once he's outside, Birdie breaks into an open run as he and the orderly sprint for his parked Ford.

Nearby, the orderly tells Birdy that three german zeppelin airships have been spotted over the sea less than 50 miles away. Birdy hops into his car and speeds off. Minutes later, he arrives at an airfield and gets ready for flight. He and his gunner climb into their DH four aircraft and take to the skies. At 09:45 p.m.

Birdy spots the zeppelins flying in a v formation over the water. The airships alter course, start to climb, and birdie follows them. He pushes past an altitude of 16,000ft, and soon Birdy has one of the zeppelins in his sights. Incendiary bullets stream across the sky and pound the side of the zeppelin. Birdie watches a hole rips open the german airship.

Then he banks steeply away to safety as fire consumes the zeppelin, causing it to plummet into the sea. Throughout World War one, german zeppelins have plagued british cities. Airship attacks have led to many casualties, and theyve consistently struck fear and amazement into anyone whos seen them emerging from dark clouds. Unlike balloons, the rigid airships, or dirigibles, are steerable and supported by an internal framework. And to much of the british public, the zeppelins look like something out of a science fiction novel.

But by 1918, the british military has developed weapons to effectively combat german airships. The age of the militarized Zeppelin is coming to an end. But after the war, german engineers and designers will transform the wartime Zeppelin into a commercial aircraft meant to compete with the popular luxury ocean liners of the day. This effort will lead to the construction of the largest rigid airship ever built, the Hindenburg. In the 1930s, the Hindenburg will amaze onlookers all over the world and become a symbol of nazi ingenuity.

Many will come to believe the zeppelin represents the future of air travel. But those beliefs will be shattered when the Hindenburg crashes and burns, killing 36 people on May 6, 1937.

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Lindsey Graham
From noiser and airship I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is history daily.

History Daily Announcer
History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories. Of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is May 6, 1937. The Hindenburg disaster.

Lindsey Graham
It's October 13, 1928. Aboard the Graf Zeppelin, high over the Atlantic Ocean, Captain Hugo Echner tries to regain control as the airship flies into a storm at top speed. Hugo is tense but refuses to panic. He knows this airship better than anyone and is confident he can steer it to safety. In 1908, Hugo went to work for Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, inventor of the Ridgid airship.

After serving as an airship pilot instructor during the war, Hugo replaced the late count as the head of the Zeppelin company. Now Hugo is commanding this airship, the Graf Zeppelin, on its maiden transatlantic voyage, designed to show the world that german airships can usher in a new era of commercial travel. But just as Hugo gets control of the Graf Zeppelin, one of his crew runs in to deliver bad news. Winds have torn the COVID off the port fin. Hugo knows if they dont fix the problem, they could lose control of the ship entirely.

Hugo leaps into action. He orders four of his crew to attempt a daring inflight repair and sends out a distress signal while he tries desperately to maintain control of the aircraft. Soon, news of the distress signal gets picked up by the press and stories circulate about the impending doom of the Graf Zeppelin. But the crew makes the necessary repairs. And Hugo successfully leads the airship and.

His crew safely out of the storm. Two days later, on October 15, the Graf Zeppelin lands at the United States naval base in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Hugo fears the bad press has dashed any hope of selling the public on his vision of luxury airship travel. But to his surprise, the american people give him and his men a heros welcome. The city of New York throws them a parade, and many Americans who gather to see the airships arrival feel as though theyre witnessing the future.

And on both sides of the Atlantic, investors take notice. When Hugo returns to Germany, money flows into the Zeppelin company to support the construction of the next generation of german airships. Hugo wants to use that money to produce a dirigible unlike anything the world has seen. But Hugo has his work cut out for him. As much as he loves airships, he knows the current designs are deeply flawed and accident prone.

In October of 1930, Hugo learns of a recent british airship incident that killed several passengers and crew members. Hugo investigates the crash and discovers that it wasnt the impact that killed them. Instead, it was the hydrogen, the lifting agent on most airships that caught fire and led to the deaths on board. So Hugo decides the Zeppelin companys next great airship will use a non flammable lifting agent, helium. But theres only one place to get America, the worlds only major source of helium at the time.

But Hugo also knows securing the helium from America will not be an easy task. The United States monopoly on the gas gives the country a huge advantage over its european rivals. And to keep it that way, the american government banned the exportation of helium in 1925. Still, Hugo has figured out a way to work around the law. He plans to cozy up to as many politicians and wealthy businessmen as it take to get the helium he needs.

And in the fall of 1931, construction begins on the LZ 129, which will come to be known as the Hindenburg. It will be the largest rigid airship ever built, roughly 804ft long, three times longer than a modern Boeing 747, and only 80ft shorter than the Titanic. And indeed, luxury ocean liners serve as the inspiration for the Hindenburgs interior. If everything goes according to plan, first class or a deck, passengers will enjoy fine dining, live music, an opulent lounge and well appointed sleeping cabins. But in 1932 and 33, nothing goes as planned.

The depression has caused economic woes in America and Europe since 1929. Throughout these years, the Zeppelin company weathered the storm with past profits and a steady flow of new investments. But eventually, the depression catches up with the firm. Investors flee, and the Zeppelin company's once full coffers run dry. In the face of this difficult economic reality, construction on the Hindenburg stalls.

But then, in 1934, Hugos Hindenburg is rescued by nazi minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. Goebbels believes the Hindenburg will be a symbol for nazi innovation and power. He gives millions of german marks from his nazi propaganda department to Hugos company in order to finish the Hindenburg. And not to be outdone by Goebbels, fellow nazi leader Hermann Goering funnels even more nazi money into the program. But these political investments come with strings attached.

The Nazis are willing to support Hugo's company financially, but they want control over how the money is spent. And they have no interest in paying the Americans the vast amount it would require to get the helium Hugo needs for the Hindenburg. Hugo is forced to accept the fact that helium is off the table. The Hindenburg will be a hydrogen airship, just like the zeppelins that came before. But that's not the only change in store.

By the time the Hindenburg is ready to fly, Hugo will be cast aside by the nazi regime, and Joseph Goebbels will take full control of his creation.

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Lindsey Graham
It's March of 1936 at Zeppelin company headquarters. Hugo storms into the office of Captain Ernst Lehmann, yelling before the door even closes behind him, Hugo accuses the captain of jeopardizing the Hindenburg and the future of the entire Zeppelin program. In preparation for its first transatlantic test flight, the Hindenburg was scheduled to fly endurance trials, a necessary safety precaution. But Captain Lehmann, at the request of Goebbels, cancelled the trials and instead took the Hindenburg on a nazi propaganda flight. During the trip, the Hindenburg was damaged in a storm.

As he roars at Captain Lehmann, Hugo argues that the damages suffered on the propaganda tour could delay Hindenburgs first major journey across the ocean. Captain Lehman listens quietly as Hugo's tirade reaches its peak and finally comes to an end. Lehman knows full well that Hugo is not really in charge of the project. He ceded control the moment Joseph Goebbels put nazi money into the company. Hugo lost even more say so when Hermann Goering got involved and started making changes.

Goering split the Zeppelin company into two separate entities, one to build airships and one to operate them. The Nazis then stripped Hugo of much of his power and put Captain Lehman in charge of operations. And the captain isnt one to deny a direct request from Joseph Goebbels, even if it does jeopardize the safety of the Hindenburg. Soon enough, Goebbels learns about Hugos outburst, and the propaganda minister makes it clear that Hugos name and image are no longer to be used in any german press covering the Hindenburg or anything else. For all intents and purposes, Hugos leadership of the project he conceived and spearheaded is done.

With Hugo sidelined, Goebbels now has free reign over the entire Zeppelin program and complete control of the Hindenburg. Goebbels quickly has the airship decked out with nazi swastikas and uses the ship to inspire crowds across Germany and drop nazi leaflets from the sky. But Goebbels doesnt just want to impress the german public. He wants to impress the entire world. Throughout the spring and summer of 1936, Goebbel focuses on what he believes will be his greatest propaganda triumph to date the Berlin Olympics.

And he wants the Hindenburg to be part of the show. On August 1, 1936, Goebbels hopes come to fruition. The picture of the opening of the 11th and greatest Olympic Games of modern times is one that will live forever in the memories of those who had the privilege of witnessing them. The giant Hindenburg points the way to the arena. A runner with a flaming torch, which was lighted in Athens, birthplace of the Olympic Games, arrives at the lust garden to be saluted.

After german Chancellor Adolf Hitler officially opens the games, the Hindenburg performs a low level flyover of Olympic stadium in Berlin. The zeppelin is a huge hit with the crowd, and soon images of the great airship adorned with nazi insignia appear in papers and newsreels around the globe. The Hindenburg then captures the attention of wealthy travelers and american and european transportation companies alike. The nazi party decides its almost time for their modern air travel marvel to make its commercial transatlantic debut. On May 6, 1936, the Hindenburg sets out from Germany for the United States on its first passenger flight across the North Atlantic.

Even though the Nazis have sidelined Hugo, much of his vision for the Hindenburg is still intact. The wealthy travelers and reporters on the flight take in original works of art on the a deck. They eat sumptuous meals in the ships restaurant, and they listen to music played on a specially designed lightweight piano. The flight even features the first catholic mass ever conducted in the air. The Hindenburgs first trip to the United States is a success.

Passengers discover they can enjoy a taste of the high life just like they would on a luxury ocean liner. But they can make the crossing in two and a half days or less, instead of the five to ten days the journey takes on the water. As 1936 comes to a close, the Hindenburg makes its 34th trip across the Atlantic. Over 3500 passengers have flown on the airship, and interest from the public and the press only continues to grow. The Hindenburg marks the dawn of commercial luxury air travel, just as Hugo dreamed.

But just one year to the day after the Hindenburgs first passenger flight across the North Atlantic, that dream will come to a horrific, fiery end.

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Lindsey Graham
It's almost 07:25 p.m. On May 6, 1937, at an airfield in Lakehurst, New. Jersey, reporter Herbert Morrison pulls his topcoat. Tight to protect his twill suit from the rain. He shields his eyes from the heavy drops and gazes out toward the horizon.

Herbert looks back to his engineer Charlie, and gets a sign that theyre ready to record. Herbert has been sent to New Jersey to cover the Hinderburg landing for radio station WLS in Chicago. Herbert doesnt have the capacity to broadcast live, but hes going to record material that can be used for a delayed radio broadcast later. And soon enough, Herbert sees the Hindenburg approaching. He sets the scene, commenting on the.

Beauty of watching the zeppelin come into dock. But then something goes wrong. Herbert struggles to relay what he's watching. It burst into flint. Get it shot it.

Herbert Morrison
Get this shot. It's frightening and it's cranking. It's crashing. Terrible. Oh, my.

Get out of the way, please. It's running, bursting into flames, and it's falling on the mooring path. And all the folks agree that this is terrible. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the world.

Four or 500ft into the sky. It's a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen. It's smoking its flames now, and the frame is crashing to the ground. Not quite for the mooring mass of the humanity.

Lindsey Graham
It takes only 90 seconds for the Hindenburg to crash to the ground and burn to ash. Remarkably, many of those on board leap out of the ship in time to save themselves. 62 people survive, but 13 passengers, 22 crew members, and a groundworker all perish. Captain Ernst Lehmann will be counted among the dead when he succumbs to burns and injuries. The following day, hearing the news of the Hindenburgs immolation, some in the nazi party claim the airship must have been attacked.

But an american investigation shows the disaster was an accident. For his part, Hugo Echner agrees. After reviewing the evidence, he suggests that a pilot maneuver most likely caused a bracing wire on the ship to snap and then slash open a gas cell. Hugo suggests that hydrogen was then released into the air and ignited by an electromagnetic discharge. Many will argue that if helium had been used instead, the disaster would have been avoided.

The destruction of the largest rigid airship ever built doesnt end Zeppelin flights immediately, but it casts a dark cloud over the the budding industry. By the end of the 1930s, as airplanes become safer and faster, commercial air travel moves on from the now obsolete saplings. Hugo's vision of a sky filled with airships will never come to pass in no small part due to the Hindenburg's fateful end on May 6, 1937.

History Daily Announcer
Next on History daily, May 7, 1994 Edvard Munch's painting the screen is recovered, undamaged, after being stolen from the National Gallery of Norway.

Lindsey Graham
From noiser and airship, this is History daily. Hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham. Audio editing and sound design by Molly Bach. Music by Lindsey Graham. This episode is written and researched by Michael Federico.

Executive producers are Steven Walters for airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.

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