Editing Hugo Eckener

{{Short description|Manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox aviator
|name= Hugo Eckener
|image= Hugo Eckener.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=Picture of Dr Hugo Eckener in 1924
|caption= Hugo Eckener in 1924
|full_name= Hugo Eckener
|birth_date= {{Birth date|df=y|1868|8|10}}
|birth_place= [[Flensburg]], [[North German Confederation]]
|death_date= {{Death date and age|df=y|1954|8|14|1868|8|10}}
|death_place= [[Friedrichshafen]], [[West Germany]]
|death_cause=
|resting_place=
|resting_place_coordinates= <!-- {{Coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark}} -->
|monuments= Hugo-Eckener-Schule, Hugo-Eckener-Saal (both Friedrichshafen)
|nationality= German
|spouse= Johanna Maaß (1871–1956)
|relatives= [[Alexander Eckener]] (brother)
|known_for= Airship designer, pilot, company manager
|first_flight_aircraft= LZ 8, [[Deutschland II]]
|first_flight_date= 16 May 1911
|famous_flights= [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#First intercontinental passenger airship flight|1928 first intercontinental passenger airship flight]], [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Round-the-world flight (1929)|1929 flight around the world]] (the only such flight by an airship, and the second by an aircraft of any type) and [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Polar flight (1931)|1931 Arctic flight]]
|license_date= 1911
|license_place=
|air_force=
|battles=
|rank=
|awards=
|website= <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''Hugo Eckener''' ({{IPA|de|ˈhuːɡo ˈɛkənɐ}}; 10 August 1868 – 14 August 1954)<ref name=Schwensen>[[#Schwensen|Schwensen]]</ref><ref name="Adam289">[[#Adam|Thomas Adam]]. p. 289</ref><ref name="ostsee">[[#ostsee|ostsee.de]]</ref> was the manager of [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin]] during the inter-war years, and also the commander of the famous ''[[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]]'' for most of its record-setting flights, including the first [[airship]] flight around the world, making him the most successful airship commander in history. He was also responsible for the construction of the most successful type of airships of all time. An anti-Nazi who was invited to campaign as a moderate in the German presidential elections,<ref name="Schwensen" /><ref name="SPDEsser">[[#SPD19320218|Social Democratic Party of Germany 18 February 1932 p. 12]]</ref><ref name="Adam290">[[#Adam|Thomas Adam]]. p. 290</ref> he was blacklisted by that regime and eventually sidelined.

== Background ==
[[File:Eckener Haus (Vorderansicht).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Birth house]]
Eckener was born in [[Flensburg]] as the first child of Johann Christoph Eckener from Bremen and Anna Lange, daughter of a shoemaker.<ref name=Schwensen /> As a youth he was judged an "indifferent student",<ref name="Schwensen" /><ref name="Adam289" /> and he spent summers sailing and winters ice skating.<ref name="Schwensen" />

Nevertheless, by 1892 under Professor [[Wilhelm Wundt]], Eckener had earned a doctorate "magna cum laude"<ref name="Schwensen" /> in what today might be deemed experimental psychology<ref name="Adam289" /> at [[Leipzig University]].

Eckener then began his military service in the [[List of Imperial German infantry regiments|Infantry Regiment 86]] in Flensburg.<ref name="Schwensen" />

Eckener's early career was as a journalist and editor; by August 1893 he was working for the ''{{lang|de|Flensburger Nachrichten}}'';<ref name="Schwensen" /> in October 1897 he married Johanna, daughter of the publisher family Maaß.<ref name="Schwensen" /> He later became a correspondent for the [[Frankfurter Zeitung]]<ref name="Adam289" /> in 1905 and 1906, whilst writing a book on the social effects of [[capitalism]].

== Pre-war airship activities ==
Asked to cover the first flights of the [[Zeppelin]]s [[Zeppelin LZ 1|LZ 1]] and [[LZ 2]], Eckener was critical of both airships' marginal performances, but praised [[Count]] [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]]'s dedication to his cause. Because several scientists and engineers had criticized his airship plans, the Count sought to speak to Eckener. Eckener was so impressed by him that during October 1908 he agreed to be a part-time publicist for the Zeppelin Company.<ref name=Schwensen /> He became extremely interested in airships, and joined the company on a full-time basis.

His aptitude at flying was noticed early on in his career, and he became an airship captain, obtaining his airship license in 1911.<ref name="ostsee" /><ref name="Adam290" /> However, when Eckener attempted his first flight on 16 May 1911 in the [[List of Zeppelins#LZ 8|LZ 8]], christened ''Deutschland II'', he decided to launch it in a strong wind, which pushed the craft into the hangar wall, damaging it seriously.<ref name=Brandes>[[#Brandes|Brandes 2004]]</ref> Nonetheless, he became a very successful airshipman.

== World War I ==
Eckener was responsible for training most of Germany's airship pilots both during<ref name=Brandes /> and after World War I. Despite his protestations, he was not allowed on operational missions due to his value as an instructor.

== Head of the Zeppelin Company ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00645, Probefahrt des Zeppelin-Luftschiffes Z.R. III.jpg|thumb|right|Eckener (marked with an x) test flying the LZ 126 in August before delivery to the United States in October 1924]]
After the War, Eckener succeeded Count [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]], who had died on 8 March 1917. After considerable conflict with Zeppelin's business manager, [[Alfred Colsman]], who wanted to replace the production of airships with production of other (and likely more profitable) products, Eckener was able to keep the Zeppelin factory at Friedrichshafen on Bodensee ([[Lake Constance]]) in [[Württemberg]], southern Germany, from being retooled. Colsman left the company soon afterwards.

Under the [[Treaty of Versailles]], Germany was forbidden to construct airships of the size needed<ref name="Adam290" /> to operate the profitable trans-Atlantic service that was Eckener's goal. However, after much skillful lobbying, Eckener persuaded the U.S. and German governments to allow the company to build [[USS Los Angeles (ZR-3)|LZ 126]], later rechristened the USS ''Los Angeles'' (ZR-3), for the [[United States Navy]] as part of Germany's war reparations. In 1924, Eckener commanded the zeppelin on its delivery flight to [[Lakehurst, New Jersey]].<ref name=Schwensen /><ref name="Adam290" /> The ''Los Angeles'' became the longest-serving rigid airship ever operated by the United States Navy.

== The golden age of the rigid airship ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12053, Rudolf Lasarewitsch Samoilowitsch und Hugo Eckener.jpg|thumb|right|Russian polar researcher [[Rudolf Samoylovich|Rudolf Lazarevich Samoylovich]] (left) prior to leading the [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|''Graf Zeppelin'']]'s scientific polar flight, with Eckener in Friedrichshafen, July 1931]]
Refused funds by the penniless [[Weimar Republic|Weimar government]], Eckener and his colleagues began a nationwide fund-raising lecture tour in order to commence construction of ''[[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]]'', which became the most successful rigid airship ever built.

The first flight to America was fraught with drama. Near Bermuda on the outbound flight the airship was nearly lost after becoming caught in a severe storm during which [[:File:DLZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Fabric.jpg|fabric was ripped]] off the left fin. The ship was saved only by Eckener's skilled piloting and the courage of his son, [[Knut Eckener]], and other crew members who climbed out onto the fin to repair the damage.<ref>Channel 4 History. [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/a-b/airships2.html The Airships]</ref> Upon arrival in America, a country which Eckener grew to love, he and the crew were subject to the first of two New York ticker tape parades.

Eckener captained ''Graf Zeppelin'' during most of its record-setting flights, including the [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#First intercontinental passenger airship flight|1928 first intercontinental passenger airship flight]], the [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Round-the-world flight (1929)|1929 flight around the world]] (the only such flight by an airship, and the second by an aircraft of any type) and the [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Polar flight (1931)|1931 Arctic flight]].

[[File:Interrupted Flight 1929.jpg|thumb|Cover autographed by Eckener flown on the nearly disastrous "Interrupted Flight" in May/August 1929.]]A master of publicity as well as a master airship captain, Eckener used the ''Graf Zeppelin'' to establish the Zeppelin as a symbol of German pride and engineering.

After these flights the public treated Eckener as a national hero.<ref name="Adam290" /> During the early 1930s, Eckener was one of the most well-known and respected figures in Weimar Republic Germany. In the [[1932 German presidential election|1932 presidential election]] Eckener was a potential unity candidate against Adolf Hitler, encouraged to campaign by leaders of both the SPD and the Zentrum, but he bowed out when [[Paul von Hindenburg]] decided to run for a second term.<ref name="Schwensen" /><ref name="SPDEsser" /><ref name="Adam290" /><ref name=Brandes /> However, his potential candidacy had already angered the [[Nazi Party]].<ref name="syon2002p176">[[#syon2002|de Syon]], p.176 "opponent of the economic policy of autarky and of the regime's Jewish policies" ... "incensed by the new flag order"</ref> In supposed anger and fear of Eckener, Hitler's de facto deputy, [[Hermann Esser]], once called him the "director of the flying [[Weisswurst]]",<ref name="SPDEsser" /> a greyish-white [[Bavaria]]n [[sausage]].

== Sidelined ==
The Nazis came to power in January 1933. A planned arrest of Eckener in 1933 was blocked by Hindenburg. Hitler met Eckener only once, in July 1933, but the two barely spoke.<ref name="Schwensen" /> Eckener did not make any secret of his dislike of the Nazis<ref name="syon2002p176" /> and the disastrous events he foresaw. He criticised the regime frequently, and refused to allow the Nazis to use the large hangars at [[Frankfurt]] for a rally. Eventually the Nazis declared Eckener to be ''[[persona non grata]]'' and his name was no longer allowed to appear in print.

During the 1930s, the Nazi government [[Nationalization|nationalized]] the Zeppelin operation under the name [[Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei|Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH]] (DZR). The Nazis sidelined Eckener in favour of men who were more compliant with their wishes. In their haste to please the Nazi regime, these newly promoted airshipmen did not always obey Eckener's safety procedures. For example, the maiden voyage of the ''Hindenburg'' nearly resulted in disaster when Captain [[Ernst A. Lehmann]] brought the ship out in strong winds in order to undertake a Nazi propaganda flight. The ship was damaged, and there was an argument between Eckener, Lehmann and the Nazi propaganda ministry.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/16/archives/eckener-command-unaffected-in-row-he-will-bring-the-hindenburg-here.html?scp=1 "Eckener command unaffected in row"], ''The New York Times''. 16 April 1936. Page 8.</ref>

Hugo Eckener had always made safety his absolute priority during his many years managing airship operations. With Eckener's management, the Zeppelin company had a perfect safety record with no passenger ever sustaining a serious injury on any of the more than 1 million air miles that the rigid airships flew, until the [[LZ 129 Hindenburg|''Hindenburg'']] disaster of 1937.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hugo Eckener (Inventor and Zeppelin Commander) |url=https://www.onthisday.com/people/hugo-eckener |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=On This Day |language=en}}</ref> Eckener was in [[Graz|Graz, Austria]] when he heard news of the [[Hindenburg disaster]] on 6 May 1937. In the official inquiry he concluded that a static spark ignited leaking hydrogen in the aft section of the ship. The leak would have been caused by a sharp turn, which he believed overstrained a bracing wire, causing it to snap and rip open an adjacent gas cell.

After the destruction of the ''Hindenburg'', the nearly-completed [[LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin II|LZ-130 ''Graf Zeppelin II'']] was redesigned as a helium-filled ship, although, owing to geo-political considerations, the American helium was not available.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin |url=https://www.airships.net/lz-130-graf-zeppelin/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Airships.net |language=en-US}}</ref> Thus the ship never began commercial service. However, under the command of Captain Albert Sammt, who had previously survived the fiery destruction of the ''Hindenburg'', albeit with severe burns, the ship performed an espionage mission off the coast of Great Britain, intended to investigate the [[Chain Home|radar defences]].<ref>[[#Sammt|Sammt 1988]]</ref> Eckener, however, had by this time little influence on the Zeppelin Company.

==After World War II==
Eckener survived World War II despite his disagreements with the Nazis. Post-war, he was involved in a plan by the [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] Zeppelin Corporation to build large rigid airships, but the project came to nothing.

In 1945, Johannes Weyl and Eckener co-founded the ''{{lang|de|[[Südkurier]]}}'' regional newspaper and Eckener started writing for German-French co-operation.<ref name="Schwensen" /><!-- at start only 4 pages per issue and once or twice weekly due to French restrictions on paper, daily by 1953 --><ref name="ostsee" /> In November 1945 Eckener was confronted with the charge of collaboration with [[Nazi Germany]]. In 1947 the French occupying powers fined him {{Reichsmark|100,000|link=yes}}. Many personalities lobbied for Eckener's [[Political rehabilitation|rehabilitation]].<ref name="syon2002p207">[[#syon2002|de Syon]], p.207 "convicted of helping the war effort ... lost civil privileges in 1948 for five years ... 100,000-mark fine"</ref> The judgement was rejected in July 1948 and Eckener was rehabilitated.<ref name="Schwensen" />

Eckener's home town of Flensburg had a Danish-oriented majority in its council since 1945, with the goal of unification with Denmark. Eckener remained active in local politics campaigning for a German majority in Flensburg, while at the same time, during a "thundering" one-hour speech in 1951, warning against small-mindedness in border concerns.<ref name="Schwensen" />

Eckener died in Friedrichshafen on 14 August 1954, four days after his 86th birthday.<ref name="Schwensen" />

==Legacy==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
[[File:BremenHoetgerHdG09.jpg|thumb|The [[Glockenspiel House]] in [[Bremen]]'s [[Böttcherstraße]] displays this panel as part of 10 from [[Bernhard Hoetger]]'s 1934 "ocean-crossing" set]]
Eckener was responsible for many innovative aviation developments, notably the trans-Atlantic passenger services offered by the airships ''Graf Zeppelin'' and ''Hindenburg''.

Since his death his achievements have been remembered by airship enthusiasts and historians. Additionally, the town of [[Friedrichshafen]], scene of his many triumphant homecomings in ''Graf Zeppelin'', has recognised his memory by naming a large new conference centre after him.

==Bibliography==
Eckener wrote or contributed to 24 publications,<ref>[[#PND|German National Library]]</ref> including two books in English:<ref>[[#Nustede|Nina Nustede]]</ref>
: Eckener, Hugo: Count Zeppelin. The Man and his Work. London: Massie Publishing Company, Ltd. 1938.
: Eckener, Hugo: My Zeppelins. London: Putnam 1958.

==In popular culture==
Eckener features as a character in the 2004 short story "The Eckener Alternative" by James L. Cambias, the 2012 novel ''Flight from Berlin'' by David John, and in the novels ''Vango: Between Sky and Earth'' (2010) and "A Prince Without Kingdom" (2011) by Timothée de Fombelle. Eckener also appears as a character in the 2018 novel 'Beneath Gray Skies', by Hugh Ashton.

==See also==
* [[List of Zeppelins]]
* [[List of covers of Time magazine (1920s)]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* <cite id="PND">{{German National Library portal|118528750}}</cite>
*{{cite web |first=Broder |last=Schwensen |title=Hugo Eckener Leben und Tat des Flensburger Luftschiffers 1868 - 1954 |date=August 1996 |url=http://www.flensburg-online.de/geschich/eckener1.html |language=de |quote=zusammengestellt und kommentiert vom Städtischen Archivdirektor Broder Schwensen, Flensburg August 1996 |ref=Schwensen}}
*{{cite book |title=Zeppelin!: Germany and the Airship, 1900–1939 |first=Guillaume |last=de Syon |isbn=0-8018-6734-7 |date=2002 |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |ref=syon2002}}
* {{cite web |first=Nina |last=Nustede |title=Englische Auswahlbibliographie zu Zeppelin |url=http://www.zeppelin-museum.de/uploads/media/Zeppelin_Englisch.pdf |access-date=4 October 2009 |ref=Nustede |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144215/http://www.zeppelin-museum.de/uploads/media/Zeppelin_Englisch.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} - select English-language bibliographic list on the Zeppelin
* {{cite book |first=Thomas |last=Adam |author2=David Murphy |title=Germany and the Americas: culture, politics, and history; Germany and the Americas: culture, politics, and history; Transatlantic relations series; Volume 1 of Germany and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History : a Multidisciplinary Encyclopedia |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |date=2005 |isbn=1-85109-628-0 |pages=289–290 |ref=Adam}}
* {{cite web |title=Glossen; Erscheint Nach Bedarf |work=Sozialdemokratischer Pressedienst |publisher=[[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] |date=18 February 1932 |language=de |url=http://library.fes.de/spdpdalt/19320218.pdf |quote={{lang|de|Esser sorgt vor. Der Nazimann Esser hat einen Zorn auf Dr. Eckener gefasst, weil er für Hindenburg eingetreten ist. Esser fürchtet Eckener auch noch, weil er einmal als Kandidat gegen Hitler genannt wurde. Kann man wissen, was noch kommt? Also gedachte Esser, Herrn Eckener vorsorglich durch einen fürchterlichen Schlag zu erledigen. Da nannte er ihn in einer Münchener Versammlung den "Direktor der fliegenden Weisswurst".}} |pages=11–12 |access-date=4 October 2009 |ref=SPD19320218}} - scans of original [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] press publication, translation: [[Hermann Esser|Esser]] makes provisions. The Nazi Esser vented his anger on Dr. Eckener because Eckener has stood up for Hindenburg. Esser also fears Eckener because he was once named as a candidate against Hitler. Who knows what is still to come? Therefore, Esser providently intended to smash Herr Eckener with a dreadful blow. In a Munich meeting he called him the "Director of the Flying White Sausage".
* {{cite web |first=Markus |last=Brandes |title=Ada English - Autographs of Count Zeppelin and Hugo Eckener |url=http://www.autogramme.ch/html/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128160400/http://www.autogramme.ch/html/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=29
|archive-date=28 November 2007 |ref=Brandes}}
*<cite id=Sammt>Sammt, Albert. 1988. ''Mein Leben für den Zeppelin'', Verlag Pestalozzi Kinderdorf Wahlwies 1988, {{ISBN|3-921583-02-0}} - [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223849/http://www.luftschiffharry.de/doku/LZ_130_Spionagefahrt.pdf pages 167-168] extract covering LZ 130's spying trip from 2 to 4 August 1939, (German) (pdf)</cite>

==Further reading==
;Books
* Botting, Douglas. ''Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine'' (2001) Harper Collins {{ISBN|0-00-257191-9}}
* Dick, Harold G. / Robinson, Douglas H.: ''The Golden Age of the Great Passenger Airships. Graf Zeppelin & Hindenburg''. Washington, D.C./London 2nd edition 1987.
* Meyer, Henry Cord: ''Airshipmen, Businessmen and Politics 1890–1940''. Washington/London: Smithsonian Institution Press/Airlife Publishing Ltd. 1991. with chapters: Eckener's Struggle to Save the Airship for Germany, 1919–1929; Politics, Personality, and Technology: Airships in the Manipulations of Dr. Hugo Eckener and Lord Thomson, 1919–1930.
* Payne, Lee: ''Lighter than Air. An Illustrated History of the Airship''. London: Thomas Yoseloff Ltd 1977. with chapter: Hugo Eckener and the Graf Zeppelin.
* Provan, John: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/LZ-127-Zeppelin-story-airship-vol-1-ebook/dp/B006FKHCBY ''LZ-127 "Graf Zeppelin" The story of an airship vol.1''] Amazon e-book
* Robinson, Douglas H. ''Giants in the Sky: A History of the Rigid Airship'' (1973) University of Washington Press {{ISBN|0-85429-145-8}}
* Vaeth, J. Gordon. ''Graf Zeppelin - The Adventures of an Aerial Globetrotter'' (1959) Muller, London
* Whitehouse, Arthur George Joseph. ''The Zeppelin Fighters'' (1966) Robert Hale Limited {{ISBN|0-7091-0544-4}}
;Online
*{{OL author|1631921A|cname=Hugo Eckener}}
* {{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Grossman |title=Airships: A Hindenburg and Zeppelin History Site / Hugo Eckener |url=http://www.airships.net/hugo-eckener |publisher=Airships.net |access-date=6 October 2009}} illustrated brief biography
* {{cite web |title=Airship&nbsp;— Knut Eckener |url=http://www.summitmemory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fulton&CISOPTR=175&CISOBOX=1&REC=16 |publisher=summitmemory.org |quote=Knut Eckener and the Zeppelin mascot, 'Vee-Dol', a chow puppy who was carried on the German zeppelins to ward off bad luck. |access-date=6 October 2009 |ref=summit1}}&nbsp;— photograph
* {{cite web |title=Airship&nbsp;— Knut Eckener |url=http://www.summitmemory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fulton&CISOPTR=152&CISOBOX=1&REC=17 |publisher=summitmemory.org |quote=A portrait of Knut Eckener. |access-date=6 October 2009 |ref=summit2}}&nbsp;— photograph

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|bullet=none}}
* {{20th Century Press Archives|FID=pe/004466}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eckener, Hugo}}
[[Category:1868 births]]
[[Category:1954 deaths]]
[[Category:Circumnavigators of the globe]]
[[Category:German airship aviators]]
[[Category:LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:People from Flensburg]]
[[Category:Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company people]]
[[Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:German aviation record holders]]
[[Category:German anti-fascists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cothenius Medal]]