Unsere Zeppeline (1938) - Construction of the LZ 130

Released a year after the Hindenburg disaster, this film documents the construction process of the next zeppelin, the LZ 130. At this stage seen in the film, she was to have been nearly identical to the LZ 129 (Hindenburg), with only a small number of minor improvements (notably, her tail fins were 60 centimeters shorter in addition to some slight changes elsewhere). Later redesigned with new passenger decks and tractor-type engine cars designed for helium, the LZ 130, named the Graf Zeppelin (II), would ultimately be the last zeppelin ever flown.
From the DVD "Zeppelin Filmdokumente," a three-disc box set of Zeppelin footage. Pitch and speed corrected to 24 frames per second and video upscaled to HD.
I've often seen similar footage been misused as the Hindenburg or even the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin. One distinction seen in this film is that many rings were constructed in a separate ring-assembly shed on the other side of the air field, and had to be hauled in by workers through rail tracks.

[@wolfganglupobuelter2912]

Was für eine Konstruktion und was für eine Technik. Wie die einzelnen Elemente zusammen geführt wurden. Was damals entstand war schon fenomenal. Leider kam es zu der Katastrophe in Amerika, wer weiß was da entstanden wäre wenn es nicht zu diesem Geschehen geführt hätte. Der Film ist eine einmalige und fantastische Dokumentation. Klasse.

[@HandattheHelm]

What beautiful, incredible footage, the sheer size and scope of the _luftschiff_ astounds. I also love the scenes of the massive prefabricated rings being carted over field while cattle graze on the grass, it's an amusing juxtaposition of industry and agrarian domesticity. Thanks for sharing!

[@7775Kevin]

So much time and materials to build a single ship. Amazing. All done by hand.

[@asteverino8569]

Great seeing the details of making parts and building this Zeppelin.

[@pauleveritt3388]

No subtitles and no English language narrator. This is an absolutely perfect piece to use to practice my German. The narrator speaks at a fairly slow pace and also speaks very clearly and well annunciated. Pass this along to anyone learning German.

[@lynnwoelflein]

But please be careful. The way the speaker pronounces the "R" isn't common in german anymore, cause of a certain someone. And the way he says "Ring" (it sounds like "Rink") isn't correct either. The "g" at the end is soft, like in english. I think it's like in every other language too. The accent changes with time and region a little bit. So in every other way I agree with you. To train your understandig in this language this video is really nice.

[@dorothygale5896]

Listening to details about airship construction and ordering bier and bratwurst at the local imbiss qwik are very different things.

[@pauleveritt3388]

@@dorothygale5896 True. I went to High School in Huntsville, Alabama. My first German teacher grew up in Frankfurt during WWII and several classmates spoke German at home and their fathers worked for NASA and were part of Von Braun's V2 rocket team in German. I studied Mechanical Engineering in college along with German as well. My college professor was a technical translator for Volkswagen of America, so this is a very interesting video for me.

[@RatPfink66]

@@lynnwoelflein Yes, you'd sound a touch ridiculous watching a US documentary from the '30s and coming out speaking like Alois Havrilla or André Baruch (neither of them native-born as it happens, but prominent announcer-narrators). I'm told many Austrians roll the R. Presumably that damned paperhanger had more than a little influence on public speakers in the Deutschtum of the era.

[@gregorydahl]

Enunciated

[@timflynn2136]

My father was a Machinist Mate on the USS Shenandoah ZR-1 Airship.

[@tomh6183]

That is absolutely fascinating,did he survive the breakup and crash?

[@knuthkneusel777]

Einmaliges Filmdokument ! Danke fürs Teilen Frank Lin !

[@williamyamm8803]

Impressionnant !!!

[@YourMom777-x3x]

Bring back the Zeppelins! They could be the modern cruise airships of the modern age!

[@MrCouchmen]

I would like to see Zeppelins in the air too. Aren´t we technically advanced enough to make airship which will not end up like Hindenburg?

[@Brando7867-j1u]

@@MrCouchmen lta reasearch is building new generation of zepplins but for disaster relief now these ships are about 123m long and with 20m diameter hulls, the company has bought multiple zepplin hangers for these ships and as for the funding it's coming from Google's sergey brin so it's happening cause he's an airship aficionado which is awesome, and I've seen pictures of there first one with its 3d printed skeloton and it's strange the way there building it, using a Ferris wheel roller system which allows the ships composite rings to be assembled on a platform that spins each ring to allow the engineers to assemble each piece on the hull like Legos which is crazy but awesome and as for completion judging by the photo's and the company looks to complete it by 2023 but giving the way there building the ship it maybe sooner and there was another frame being assembled next to the complete one.

[@Gioagla]

My godness....i have never thought i will see something like this....🌹💞🍀 I m speachless🙄🥺

[@henkknaap8781]

I find it more impressive than a rocket build now. I remember one seeing in the 50 ties, a little sound ..than I looked up Wow. I wish they would fly again,,,so beautiful and powerful .. Nobel !

[@randomdude6719]

This was amazing. I’m working on a project where I am building one of these in my survival Minecraft world and any insight on construction/ interior helps me create a more accurate zeppelin. This was fascinating and now I’m gonna go fill in more of my zeppelin seeya

[@ercost60]

Fantastic footage!

[@user-fr7fi3sv4h]

Excellent presentation!

[@abbyalphonse499]

Say what you like about the dangers Hindenburg, but if I had the chance to go on it, I would take it in an instant.

[@Adventure_Bum]

Yes! What a way to travel and what an amazing aircraft! Love the zeps, even the early ones!

[@markthompson8121]

Would you invest in a 21st century rebirth?

[@zuutlmna]

@@markthompson8121 Yes. that being big rigids, not hybrids.

[@stoopsyo]

Fabricated dangers they would only give them hydrogen the sky ships demanded helium

[@williamcampbell3681]

Cuz not many people died on the hinden burg so u don't have a good chance at dying and a good chance at living but being injured

[@Birkebeinern]

Now I got to see that the outer casing of the airship was tied by hand. It was new to me. Too bad these airships don't exist anymore.

[@craigfazekas3923]

Amazing to think that this was once considered a more viable form of transportation than the aeroplane.... Amazing footage !! 🚬😎

[@d.cypher2920]

Great video, thanks for sharing the info in the description as well. Very interesting.

[@moondog0468]

This is great! I have been into Zeppelins since I was a child. I knew about the LZ-130 and was further amazed when happening upon this documentary about it. I will say lastly, I have never been in a factory that had stuff being built up high where no one was wearing a hard hat. I know this from my experience working in industry and manufacturing; no hard hat = no entry. Go look at any construction site now, it is required upon entry. (go ahead... give my review a thumbs down. It will just hit you on the head when you give it to me... like that rivet in the video the guy was installing on the zeppelins support girder rails inside the ridgid ship.)

[@charleswatson1093]

@James Loftin German health and safety regulations in 1938 weren't as they are today.

[@josefiorenza6164]

Realmente impresionado con el documental, una hermosa e imponente obra de ingeniería

[@Camop-iz9kt]

Hard to imagine seeing something that big floating through the sky, with your own eyes.

[@Julia-fc4mp]

Even harder if you use someone else's eyes.

[@charleswatson1093]

@@Julia-fc4mp Good for you, Julia! You took the words out of somebody's mouth.

[@Julia-fc4mp]

@@charleswatson1093 that's a good one...I only caught This joke now ....talk about delayed geez!

[@charleswatson1093]

@@Julia-fc4mp Don't worry, Julia.

[@Adventure_Bum]

Fantastic footage in there. Thank you for uploading. I have a deep love of the Zeps, absolutely beautiful machines. If I could choose any career in the world and in history, I would choose Zeppeline Captain!

[@chirpycrow2061]

I certainly agree that zeps are graceful machines with a soul of a gentle giant like a whale. Airships in general are becoming more and more scarce to almost extinct for the past 25 years and that scares me. Not only do whales need our help from being wiped out, but, also the existence of the airship industry altogether. The skies look pretty empty and boring without them. Thanks to modern technology, airships are being replaced by drones and other things. Plus the high maintenance of operation with airships and soaring prices of helium, pretty puts airships out to permanent pasture.

[@Adventure_Bum]

@@chirpycrow2061 yeah, toi pricey for the modern world. They are missed 😪

[@chirpycrow2061]

@@Adventure_Bum I know right? Can only watch the same airships documentaries so many times! Lol..I seriously miss their presence 🥺😢

[@Adventure_Bum]

@@chirpycrow2061 thats what I do too. Occasionally I find some new footage I haven't seen. They have to be the most beautiful machines ever made

[@RatPfink66]

My dream job in aviation: officer on the "flying carriers" _Akron_ or _Macon._ Perhaps navigator or weather officer, perhaps trapeze pilot!

[@denisiwaszczuk1176]

how mant tickets would you need to even walk on that site today. unreal real men doing real work

[@AchimReinhardt1]

Vielen Dank!

[@jtjt6638]

i want giant airships to come back beacouse thear look nice

[@asteverino8569]

Great to see a German made film about the German Zeppelin. Point of view. POV.

[@ZCHRL4]

Absolute eye candy!!!

[@Ifoeese_Jackson]

That Airship looks Beautiful

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

Incredible!

[@marcelinosilva5027]

/M0ther_bra1ned/ falei agora toque para pausar

[@nasreensultana7946]

The DLZ 130 was actually the second Graf Zeppelin, unlike the first one, DLZ 127 which was the sister ship of the world's largest famous zeppelin, "Hindenburg".

[@kiwitrainguy]

At 2:52 you can see Hindenburg LZ 129 with Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 following behind it.

[@tanagerffolkes5180]

DLZ 130, the "Graf Zeppelin 2", was notably larger than her older sister, as she was designed to utilize helium as her lift gas, which has considerably less lifting capacity than hydrogen. If I recall correctly, was the "DLZ 130" not used commercially, but taken over by the Luftwaffe, painted with the standard German "Splinter" camouflage, used to probe Britain's RADAR defense network, before being ordered scrapped, along with her sister ship, on Hitler's order? Thus becoming the very last airship to fly?

[@rolleke1]

impressionnant la main d'oeuvre si nombreuses

[@j.vonhogen9650]

Amazing!

[@chirpycrow2061]

I may not understand the language used to narrate this film but, other than that, it's awesome! The footage, music and other historical goodies is what makes me want to watch it to death. This is one of my ultimate faves. Watching it now as I write this comment lol! God how I wish I could go back in time to see the real deal in person. Nice! Have any more airship videos? Please let me know. Thanks!

[@raymonddussault5277]

THE ZEPPELIN DAYS WITH HELIUM WILL MOT BE DANGEROUS WITH THE RIGHT GAZ THE LEGEND IS BACK.....

[@tanagerffolkes5180]

Burning hydrogen wasn't the most dangerous aspect of airship operations. The great American airships all flew on helium, and sadly, they all crashed. A big problem with airships in those days, was that they didn't have pressurized crew spaces, so they were unable to fly above the weather. With the exception of the US Navy's Zeppelin-built ship, the Los Angeles, all the American airships, and many of the British and Italian ships were lost to fierce storms. Airships don't like strong winds, and they really, really don't like getting wet.

[@HandattheHelm]

The first 3 minutes show footage of Hindenburg (and Graf Zeppelin 1!), you can tell by the engine cars and the location of the passenger balconies along the hull. I don't know at what point the Hindenburg-style engine cars (seen at 16:10) were redesigned and replaced, but Graf def never flew with them. The passenger quarters had to be completely redesigned and reduced to save weight, in anticipation of helium use, and the promenades were a strake lower along the hull, roughly a meter lower in height.

[@FrankyboyLegend]

The Hindenburg-style cars were redesigned in fall 1937 when the designers realized that the water recovery system (anticipated for changing to helium) would introduce too much drag according to wind tunnel tests. PS there exists some brief footage on board LZ 130. It has sometimes been shown in documentaries mislabelled as Hindenburg. Note the second hangar in the background which was only completed after the Hindenburg crashed. Although that was the newer hangar with a wooden floor, it was decided to move LZ 127 there in September 1938 and continue using the older hangar for LZ 130. drive.google.com/file/d/1wA2wYlAmli7_CG75oNQ4meRVexLqouc_/view?usp=sharing

[@monty2688]

I am going to work for Zepplin NT after the military (maybe) and design the new Hindenburg!

[@user-py5od6gq2m]

What you wanna rework in NT and other modern Zeppelins? Also what is your specialisation?

[@Ricovandijk]

Do you need a test pilot? I’m interested!

[@brodster7042]

Let’s hope it has helium this time

[@lt8789]

Amazing.

[@richardcurry4912]

Geniuses.

[@tomh6183]

Absolutely amazing and awe inspiring.The German’s had no equal when it came to engineering.

[@tanagerffolkes5180]

Hardly. They were more than equalled in many very important ways.

[@parteitagkonstantinthernen5191]

es ist nicht unwarscheinlich das diesen handwerk wieder goldenen boden findet,denn so ein riesen luftschiff braucht nur ganz wenig treibstoff um überall hin zu kommen . die schwehrer als luft luftfahrzeuge brauchen ganz viel brennstoff und machen ganz vie abgas co2!! DER NEUE GANZ GROSSE ZEPPELIN KÖNNTE GLATt SCHNELLER ALS 350 kmh fahren und glatt 300 menschen mitfahren lassen. der zeppelin müsste über 300 meterlang sein und 65 meter durchmesser haben.

[@701983]

"Ganz wenig Treibstoff" brauchen sie aber nur dann, wenn sie sehr langsam fahren und/oder auf Kurzstrecken, wo man auf Schlafkabinen und dergleichen verzichten kann. Die Hindenburg schluckte bei Normalfahrt (125 km/h) pro Passagierkilometer ein Mehrfaches an Treibstoff gegenüber einem modernen Verkehrsflugzeug. Man sollte den Energiebedarf der Flugzeuge für den Auftrieb nicht überschätzen und den Luftwiderstand von Luftschiffen nicht unterschätzen.

[@volkerleiste6191]

Und ist genauso zum Scheitern verurteilt wie der Cargolifter etc.

[@parteitagkonstantinthernen5191]

@@volkerleiste6191 wenn gemeint wird was früher nicht geht kann in zukunft ganz andere bedingungen haben,aber nur wenn weiter geforscht wird.

[@volkerleiste6191]

Tja, und dann der blöde Querwind, Böen und mit einem kalten Luftschiff (Traggas) in der Früh im Sommer über eine sonnenbeschienene Wiese fahren.... Und dann wundern sich die technisch völlig ahnungslosen Luftschiffjubler ( wie es zu dem Unglück gekommen ist)

[@volkerleiste6191]

@@parteitagkonstantinthernen5191 Ich nehme an Sie sind kein Ingenieur und Luftfahrttechnik haben nicht studiert - ebensowenig wie Strömungsmechanik.....

[@behrouzmovahed7525]

Great video 👌

[@Ricovandijk]

Amazing footage! I was clearly born in the wrong century :) I’d trade the 737 for this in a heartbeat.

[@MrDegsy69]

Just amazing! The workers rigging the frame look dwarfed almost like flies in a spiders web. What a terrible tragedy that Germany could not secure the helium it needed to make this completely safe. Some claim that the zeppelin skin was doped in nitro cellulose for rigidity and this is what burned so ferociously at the Lakenhurst tragedy.

[@ZCHRL4]

yes...aluminum powder in cellulose nitrate.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Three things burned in that crash: 1. Hydrogen, 2. Doped outer fabric, 3. Diesel fuel used for the engines.

[@tanagerffolkes5180]

We know exactly what the dope used on the Hindenburg was made of. We also have fairly large samples of the fabric that survived the crash. It's the powdered aluminum in the dope that made it so incredibly flammable. Finely powdered aluminum is practically an explosive, in itself.

[@Humbertusmarius]

Some shots show the Hindenburg engine cars, which were pusher rather than puller as in the Graf Zeppelin II. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[@FrankyboyLegend]

Air and Space '46 and Beyond The LZ 130 had pusher type engine cars installed initially. They can be distinguished from LZ 129 by the lack of dark spots on the scaffolding below them. They were redesigned to be tractor in November 1937.

[@Humbertusmarius]

Thanks! I didn't know that.

[@davidlogansr8007]

Air and Space '46 and Beyond I thought about that too when I saw it! Also, it looks like an early Television Camera at 7:35 ! My German is so poor I was only getting bits and pieces. I did enjoy the bit about a giant umbrella !

[@Dallas_K]

@@FrankyboyLegend That is interesting. I never knew that. Were the tractor type ever actually installed?

[@nealsausen4651]

One way to tell between push and pull is that the Hindenburg had its props mounted on the BACK of the engine nacille, while the LZ-130 Had its props Mounted on the front Of its nacelle!That’s one easy visible way to tell.

[@nealsausen4651]

Where can I purchase this 3 dvd box set “ Zeppeline filmdokumente”?! I can’t seem to find it on line, only Led Zeppelin DVD’s! Please help me (us) find this set!

[@FrankyboyLegend]

You could try Amazon or eBay. The proper title is "Zeppelin - Filmdokumente einer Legende". I got this from Book Depository last year. They shipped it for free to Canada although it took about 3 weeks.

[@nealsausen4651]

Charlie K : OK thanks!

[@andih.5818]

I'm proud to be a german, when saw this! Ingeneurstechnischehöchstleistung um 1920!

[@parteitagkonstantinthernen5191]

the new future after the plan, no weith ,no mutsch kirosin!

[@goofyahhahhproductions3266]

I would love to hear this in English

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

This is the largest aircraft ever yet everyone says antonov 225 is the largest

[@greenseaships]

That's for a couple of reasons- 1. The Antonov is heavier and some people use weight as a measure of an aircraft's size. 2. Zeppelins of this type no longer exist, but the 225 does.

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

@@greenseaships True, but people tend to forget about this zeppelin being the largest

[@Spacekriek]

@@greenseaships And now the 225 is also gone... very sad.

[@gregorydahl]

Angity Ding Dang ongn getting angbding lit .

[@mach5jeep]

NO computers.

[@user-md2pd8zz8g]

Bloody hell! Eifel tower is a toddler ....

[@christiantischer4772]

SEHR INTERESSANTE DOKU DAS WAR NOCH DEUTSCHE HAND ARBEIT

[@thomasbrinkmann6624]

Die hatten wirklich etwas auf den Kasten.

[@tc19948]

Thank you so much for this great post! Does anybody know a way to get an English translation of the subtitles?

[@FrankyboyLegend]

If you are using your computer, you can auto-translate the captions to English. It might not be 100% accurate but mostly seems fine. Bare in mind the German captions were auto-generated by KZbin with some of my own slight corrections, but I don't know German so there might still be some errors here and there.

[@Leon_der_Luftige]

@@FrankyboyLegend You can ask me if something is unclear.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

There are still Zeppelins nt, and they still fly...

[@701983]

Yes. But they are just "small" semi-rigid airships with seat rows for 12 passengers. No "real" Zeppelines in my view. But better than nothing.

[@user-wg1nx4vq9h]

🤣Du hast mich wieder nicht gefunden!❤

[@user-wg1nx4vq9h]

🤔Aber bitte nicht Rot über lackieren!Das ist von alleine Rot!

[@user-wg1nx4vq9h]

🤔 Zumindest nicht wenn du mit mir fliegst!Was du mit deinem Metall machst privat?Weiss ich ,da Platzt so macher Lack!

[@user-wg1nx4vq9h]

🤣Wenn man überlegt,wie lange du mich nicht im Mittelpunkt gefunden hast ,muss ich trennende lachen!

[@gregorydahl]

All those wires are going to poke holes in the gas bags inside of it

[@geraldcooper8527]

What to LZ 130.?

[@tonydonato2352]

I would love to see a return of the giant airships, but the hardcore kind--filled with hydrogen--none of this candy-ass "helium" crap.

[@monty2688]

Tony Donato but hydrogen is flammable...

[@conveyor2]

@@monty2688 But diesel and petrol are flammable...

[@monty2688]

@@conveyor2 We could re-direct the fuel line out of Harms way?

[@monty2688]

@Charlie K "You guys are getting Helium?" -Germany

[@Dave174385]

I doubt a hydrogen airship would get a certificate of airworthiness from any regulatory body. To be sure, Jet-A and 100LL are flammable fuels, but hydrogen is darn near explosive. It would be an experience if it were to happen though.

[@krugerfuchs]

That's before 1938 lehmann is in it

[@seyranfeyzullayev6325]

in those days the Germans were the smartest people on earth

[@Leon_der_Luftige]

Apparently not since they voted for fascism back then.

[@zanastumasonis]

eight million rivets...

[@davef.2329]

@ 2:50, Lenin having dinner onboard?

[@Willburys]

No Computer no Visualisierungprogram

[@ethanmcquat]

Können Sie englische Dubs bitte tun

[@jtjt6638]

can you danan animated verson

[@jtjt6638]

sorry a misspeld that comment

[@jtjt6638]

can you make an animated version

[@ethanmcquat]

Any English dubs Alle englischen Dubs

[@user-mp2el7ln1n]

English please

[@frankx210]

Could that many people be wrong? LOL

[@keithbird8910]

Impressive engineering but ultimately a pointless waste of money, manpower and material on an already outdated technology.