Shropshire Routes to Roots

1. Zeppelin beginnings

Introduction

Before the First World War the British public at home had been largely unaffected by overseas wars. The First World War and the Zeppelin airships changed this. The Zeppelin airships brought the reality and horrors of the war home to the British citizens.

Pre-First World War history of the Zeppelin

Count Ferdinand Zeppelin began developing his ideas for airships in 1897. By 1900 he had built his first airship and on the 2nd July 1900 it flew its maiden voyage. Before the First World War the Zeppelin airships experienced rapid development and by March 1909 the Germans had accepted the LZ-3 Zeppelin into army service. By the start of the First World War the German army had six military Zeppelins and the navy had one in use.

Description of the Zeppelin

The Zeppelin airships were 190 metre-long rugby-ball-shaped balloons filled with hydrogen. The Zeppelin airships built in 1914 could reach a maximum speed of 136 k.p.h. and reach heights of 4,250 metres. They carried 5 machine guns and could carry 2,000 k.g. of bombs.

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