Galerie

 

Involvement of the Graf Zeppelin II - The LZ-130:

Reports of finding propaganda cards or leaflets in public parks, gardens and open spaces in various East Anglican towns, including Lowestoft, were current in 1939. The finders understood the text, since it was in English, but the subject matter was strictly in the interest of the German Reich. The postcards, similar in format to reply—paid cards, bore two colored maps showing a “corridor” and its effect upon England and Scotland. Hull was designated as a mock Free Port, relative to Danzig’s position, with pertinent remarks. As seen in Figure , a hyphen is used between “POST” and “CARD”, and the address lines, layout and type faces indicate that its origin is continental, rather than of native (English) origins.

Several theories were floated as to the transport of the cards, if, indeed, they were German in origin. Legend described the distribution (1) by German merchant seamen, (2) by Luftwaffe planes flyin9 at high altitudes off-shore, and (3) by the LZ-130 (Graf Zeppelin II) flying radar checks along the English east coast. Reg Auckland, of the PsyWar Society, has advanced the latter theory. He states: If the LZ-130 were flying at the edge of the international three—mile limit, at a height of 4,500 meters, with an easterly wind of 10 m.p.h., the postcards would drift almost eleven miles before touchdown. With a 20 m.p.h. wind, the distance travelled could be 16 miles, since the free—fall time could last 70 minutes.

This theory is disputed by John Dugan and others, so we will try to resolve the issue while meeting in London in May, 1990. Below is an official chart from his LZ-130 book, showing Flight 24.

Credits and Acknowledgements:
We wish to acknowledge the work of Giles du Boulay, Roy Dodd, Frank Prosser, Werner Bohne, Bill Ruh (who braved the wilds of downtown Manhattan to retrieve the originals from The Vault), the Germany and Colonies Philatelic Society (U.K.) and the Germany Philatelic Society (U.S.A.) who made this possible. Books related are:

Hitler’s Free City - A History of the Nazi Party in Danzig, 1923-39
by Herbert S. Levine. Univ. of Chicago Press 1973.

LZ—130 — The Last of the Great Zeppelins - by Aleyn R. Jordan, 1977
LZ-130 Zeppelinpost — by John Duggan, 1989
History Gdansk - by Edmund Cieslak, 1988

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 67 - April - May - June - 1990, Page 28.