Photos Of The Hindenburg You’ve Probably Never Seen

On May 7th, 1937, the German airship, the Hindenburg, came crashing down in a spectacle that can only be described as horrific and tragic. The incredulous catastrophe has become known as the “Hindenburg Disaster”, and this historic calamity marked the end of the airship era. These rare photos of this massive zeppelin are both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

The Hangar

The German Zeppelin, LZ 129 Hindenburg safely sits tucked away in its hangar on May 11th, 1936. No-one would have ever imagined that one month later the airship would explode into a glowing fireball of disaster.

Dining In Style

The Hindenburg was in a league of its own. On board, passengers could have a full restaurant experience in the airship’s luxurious dining room, and they even had a special lounge where passengers could smoke. This photo is from April 1st, 1936.

Broadcasting Live

This rare image shows NBC’s Max Jordan conducting a live broadcast from within the airship on May 6th, 1936.

Landing Safely

Crew members on the ground assist crew members inside the airship to bring the Hindenburg to a safe landing in 1936.

The Future Crash Site

The Hindenburg zeppelin flies over Lakehurst, New Jersey, where it would come crashing down one year later. The size of the hangar needed for this aircraft was a lot larger than those designed for commercial jets of today.

Hindenburg Over The Sea

This breathtaking picture taken in 1936 shows the enormous shadow of the Hindenburg airship as it flies over the sea during one of its 63 flights.

Over Manhattan

The Hindenburg is photographed by another aircraft as it flies over Manhattan, New York. The airship was an attraction that brought onlookers onto the streets to admire its size and beauty.

First Landing

The Nazis were proud of the massive zeppelin that represented the grandeur of the Nationalist Party. This photographs shows the Hindenburg landed after its first flight on March 4th, 1936.

Moments Before Disaster

Bad weather had caused the flight from Frankfurt in Germany to be delayed hour after hour. Eventually when the ship made it to New Jersey, the day could not have looked more ominous. This picture shows the Hindenburg just seconds before it would erupt in flames.

Disaster Strikes

At 7:25pm in New Jersey, the Hindenburg caught fire. The 97 passengers on board were all at once put into life-threatening danger. Onlookers stared in horror as the airship burned.

Fleeing The Burning Wreckage

On the ground, landing staff and other spectators fled the scene as the Hindenburg zeppelin burned to the ground. Nobody could believe what they were seeing.

Burning Shell

It was at this moment that the eerie and famous newsreel by Herbert Morrison was recorded. His emotional report is symbolic of the tragic day. “Oh, the humanity!” “I’m gonna have to stop for a minute because I’ve lost my voice. This is the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

The Victims

Of the 97 passengers and crew members that were on board, 36 people lost their lives during the Hindenburg disaster. 13 of them were passengers, 22 crew members on board the ship, and one crew member on the ground.

Sailors Sent

Following the devastating crash the day before, American sailors and officials were brought in to recover whatever they could from the wreckage. An investigation into the incident was opened by the Board of Inquiry for the Department of Commerce.

Conspiracy Theories

To this day there are many different beliefs as to how the Hindenburg disaster occurred. While some believe that lightning or static electricity caused it, there are others who say that it was actually a sabotage effort by Nazi opponents.