Airships in International Affairs 1890 - 1940

This book analyzes the unique psychological appeal of the airship worldwide and shows how this appeal was exploited for ulterior political purposes. They were used by Count Zeppelin to advance German militarism, American Admiral Moffett to fight US Army aviation ambitions, British Lord Thomson to foster Socialism and strengthen Empire ties, Mussolini to promote Italian Fascism, Stalin to foster world Communism, and Hitler to promote Nazi ideology. As airships roamed worldwide, they carried these political influences with them. This Book Emphasizes The Role Of The Airship As A Unique Attention-getting Device To Further The Political Ambitions Of Leaders And Nations. Unlike The First Spidery Airplanes, Monstrous Airships Were At Once A Sensation, Attracting Mass Enthusiasm, Awe And Wonder. These Positive Associations Were Exploited For Political Gain In The Interests Of Militarism And Commerce: In Germany By Count Zeppelin To Advance Militarism; In America By Admiral Moffett To Combat Army Aviation Ambitions; In Britain By Lord Thomson To Foster Socialism And Strengthen Empire Ties: In Italy By Mussolini To Promote Fascism; By Stalin To Spread World Communism; And By Hitler To Promote Nazi Ideology. As Airships Roamed Worldwide, So They Carried These Political Influences With Them.--jacket. The Airships -- Airship Personalities -- Introduction: Technology And The Human Psyche -- 1. Imperial German Precedents, 1890-1918 -- 2. Zeppelins In International Politics, 1919-21 -- 3. Zeppelin Reborn In America, 1922-24 -- 4. Airships In International Political Competition, 1924-28 -- 5. International Airship Hubris And Adversity, 1928-30 -- 6. A Buffeting For German And American Airships, 1931-35 -- 7. Airship Wonder Captured By Nazi Ideology, 1935-40. John Duggan And Henry Cord Meyer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-267) And Index. "This book emphasizes the role of the airship as a unique attention-getting device to further the political ambitions of leaders and nations. Unlike the first spidery airplanes, monstrous airships were at once a sensation, attracting mass enthusiasm, awe and wonder. These positive associations were exploited for political gain in the interests of militarism and commerce: in Germany by Count Zeppelin to advance militarism; in America by Admiral Moffett to combat Army aviation ambitions; in Britain by Lord Thomson to foster Socialism and strengthen empire ties: in Italy by Mussolini to promote Fascism; by Stalin to spread world Communism; and by Hitler to promote Nazi ideology. As airships roamed worldwide, so they carried these political influences with them."--BOOK JACKET. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction: Technology and the Human Psyche....Pages 1-18 Imperial German Precedents, 1890–1918....Pages 19-50 Zeppelins in International Politics, 1919–21....Pages 51-80 Zeppelin Reborn in America, 1922–24....Pages 81-103 Airships in International Political Competition, 1924–28....Pages 104-140 International Airship Hubris and Adversity, 1928–30....Pages 141-176 A Buffeting for German and American Airships, 1931–35....Pages 177-209 Airship Wonder Captured by Nazi Ideology, 1935–40....Pages 210-225 Conclusion....Pages 226-240 Back Matter....Pages 241-275 This book analyses the unique psychological appeal of the airship worldwide and shows how this appeal was exploited for ulterior political purposes. They were used by Count Zeppelin to advance German militarism, American Admiral Moffett to fight US Army aviation ambitions, British Lord Thomson to foster Socialism and strengthen Empire ties, Mussolini to promote Italian Fascism, Stalin to foster world Communism, and Hitler to promote Nazi ideology. As airships roamed worldwide, so they carried these political influences with them. The invention and development of the rigid airship in Germany, from its inception to the end of World War I, occurred in a context of unique circumstances which spanned a gamut of intensifying political repercussions.