The Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH), founded in 1908 in Germany by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, was a pioneer company renowned for its airships and transoceanic commercial air service. A new company, Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei, was formed in March 1935. Zeppelin airships were used for passenger transport by the Hamburg-Amerika Linie. This collection consists of various items relating to Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei and the Hamburg-Amerika Linie including baggage labels, brochures, and a ticket for passage on the Hamburg-Amerika Linie issued to Ida Sprowley for travel round trip from/to Friedrichschafen via Switzerland.
The Zeppelin Company, founded in 1908 in Germany by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, was a pioneer company renowned for its airships and transoceanic commercial air service. Ferdinand von Zeppelin had been experimenting with rigid airships since the late 1800s and the Zeppelin LZ 1 made its first flight in 1900. Further models followed until the LZ 4 was introduced in 1908. The LZ 4 crashed during a test flight which led to an outpouring of support and monetary donations from the public and made possible the founding of the Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH). In 1934 Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels offered two million marks of his ministry's funds for the Zeppelin Company. This infusion of money led to the virtual takeover of the company by the state. The new company, Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei, was formed in March 1935 with Air Ministry General Field Marshall Herman Goering serving as the president of the company. Zeppelin airships were used for passenger transport by the Hamburg-Amerika Linie.
Identifier
NASM.XXXX.1138
Creator
Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei Company
Date
1930s
Provenance
Unknown, material found in collection, NASM.XXXX.1138.
Extent
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
Archival Repository
National Air and Space Museum Archives
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of various items relating to Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei including three baggage labels for the Hamburg-Amerika Linie; a baggage label for the Kurgarten Hotel in Friedrichschafen, Germany (the hotel was owned by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH); three brochures for the Hamburg-Amerika Linie; and a ticket for passage on the Hamburg-Amerika Linie issued to Ida Sprowley for travel round trip from/to Friedrichschafen via Switzerland.
Arrangement note
Collection is arranged by type of material, and chronologically within each type as far as possible.
Rights
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Restrictions
No restrictions on access
Citation
Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei Memorabilia Collection, NASM.XXXX.1138, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.