From the ashes of Echterdingen

The Count distraught

The Count was immediately sent for and, upon reaching the scene, lost all composure, “tears stream[ed] from his eyes as he stood in an attitude of despair before the shattered balloon.”²¹ Nothing was left for the Count to do, but return to the town of Friedrichshafen, the origin of the ill fated expedition and home to his workshop. In Friedrichshafen, festivities and celebrations had been planned. The town was gaily decorated with The town was gaily decorated with flags and a party atmosphere. flags and a party atmosphere. Since early in the morging automobiles arrived from every direction, trains brought tens of thousands of people from neighboring cities and towns, and local peasants arrived on foot, all intent on welcoming home the victorious Count and his marvelous airship. “In front of the principle hotel the military band was just on the point of beginning its concert when at 4 o'clock a man rushed excitedly from the office of a local newspaper and affixed a telegram on the blackboard at the entrance to the building.” Crowds of people rushed to read the latest news, expecting to find that the ship had left Echterdingen and would shortly arrive.²²

Disbelief at Friedrichshafen

To the dismay of some, and the disbelief of others, they learned that the great leviathan had been caught in a storm and destroyed. Consternation was immediately felt for the Count when it was report only that four men had been seriously injured. News quickly spread throughout the crowd and turned the atmosphere previously so intent on enjoying the “forthcoming jollification,” into one of deep despare and uncertainty. As the crowds began to return home, all thoughts of merry making now dashed, a carriage arrived carrying the Count's daughter. After she entered her father's office and was told of the terrible disaster, the crowds lingering outside the building heard her cry, “That will kill him,” followed by the bitterest of sobbing. Shortly after a second telegram arrived explaining the tragedy in more detail, the crowds of people dispersed for home. ²³

The phoenix born

With his creation consumed by flames, Count Zeppelin could have chosen to give up his search for mastery of air, and the fever surrounding the Zeppelin craze could have easily died with the ship, yet such was not the case. Like a martyr to a suppressed cause, the destruction of the LZ4 became a rallying point for the Count and the German people. In a show of deep appreciation and encouragement, thousands of dollars worth of funds were raised in order to help Zeppelin build another airship. Already by the next day 375,000 Marks had been raised by various voluntary means. Donations poured in by the thousands from all classes of Germany society. Attributing to the funds were the likes of the Berlin upper-class, Senator Pooseld of Luebeck, the Eesen Mine company, the citizens and city council of Cologne, numerous anonymous citizens, and even the Emperor William. ⁴

In response to Zeppelin's tragic loss, the Emperor sent a letter of condolence and encouragement. Striking in the letter and the response is the amount of patriotism displayed by the Kaiser and the Count. “I have heard with the deepest regret,” wrote the Kaiser in a telegraph, “of the destruction of your balloon by a storm, and I wish you to know of my cordial sympathy in your misfortune. All the more since I and all Germany thought we had every reason to believe we could congratulate you on the glorious realization of your splendid epoch making achievement. Nevertheless, what you have accomplished must be recognized as of the highest order, and this must be a comfort to you in this catastrophe.” In a later reply, Count Zeppelin acknowledged the Emperor's well wishes and patriotically proclaimed his intention of continuing the work of building airships. “Your majesty's telegram has turned my grief to joy,” wrote the Count, and “ I will gladly devote myself to your wishes and those of the German people and continue the construction of airships.” ²⁵ So great was the amount of money received from the German people, that Count Zeppelin founded an “institute for the investigation of the problems of air navigation in the interest of German industry, defence and science.” The Bank of Stuttgart held the donations, and by September 4, had already credited 500,00 Marks to the Counts name, with another 250,000 Marks subscribed, but not yet paid.²⁶

The crash at Echterdingen had the distinct affect of unifying Germany at a time when Germany was still struggling with the creation of their nascent nation. “With its impression of success instantly transformed into catastrophe, and its awareness of the Count's lonely work of nearly two decades turned to ashes, the German public released an avalanche of public compassion and financial consolidation.”²⁷

As a result of the public support recieved after the destruction of Echterdingen, Zeppelin was able to create Luftschiffbau Zeppelin company, the world's first military aircraft industry, in Friedrichshafen. But subsequent financial struggles, a result of the Count's continuous struggles to present the airship as a genuine benefit to the German army, necessitated the creation of another company to charter to a different aspect of the budding air travel enterprise. Four years after creating the first military aircraft industry, Count Zeppelin reluctantly allowed the first commercial airline to be born.²⁸