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World War One: How the German Zeppelin wrought terror World War One: How the German Zeppelin wrought terror
(35 minutes later)
Before the 20th Century, civilians in Britain were largely unaffected by war, but this was to change on 19 January 1915 with the first air attacks of World War One by the German Zeppelin. Historian and aerial specialist Ben Robinson has traced the attacks for Inside Out East.Before the 20th Century, civilians in Britain were largely unaffected by war, but this was to change on 19 January 1915 with the first air attacks of World War One by the German Zeppelin. Historian and aerial specialist Ben Robinson has traced the attacks for Inside Out East.
The creation of Count von Zeppelin, a retired German army officer, the flying weapon was lighter than air, filled with hydrogen, and held together by a steel framework.The creation of Count von Zeppelin, a retired German army officer, the flying weapon was lighter than air, filled with hydrogen, and held together by a steel framework.
When the war started in 1914, the German armed forces had several Zeppelins, each capable of travelling at about 85mph and carrying up to two tonnes of bombs.When the war started in 1914, the German armed forces had several Zeppelins, each capable of travelling at about 85mph and carrying up to two tonnes of bombs.
With military deadlock on the Western Front, the Germans decided to use them against towns and cities in Britain.With military deadlock on the Western Front, the Germans decided to use them against towns and cities in Britain.
The first raid took place on the eastern coastal towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, on 19 January 1915.The first raid took place on the eastern coastal towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, on 19 January 1915.
'No military advantage''No military advantage'
Residents reported hearing an eerie throbbing sound above them, followed shortly afterwards by the sound of explosions in the streets.Residents reported hearing an eerie throbbing sound above them, followed shortly afterwards by the sound of explosions in the streets.
The full horror of aerial warfare was unleashed. When the smoke cleared, Britain's first ever air-raid causalities were revealed - 72-year-old Martha Taylor and shoemaker Samuel Smith.The full horror of aerial warfare was unleashed. When the smoke cleared, Britain's first ever air-raid causalities were revealed - 72-year-old Martha Taylor and shoemaker Samuel Smith.
Kate Argyle, from English Heritage, said: "There was no military advantage. It was all about instilling terror and really that's what these aerial bombardments did.Kate Argyle, from English Heritage, said: "There was no military advantage. It was all about instilling terror and really that's what these aerial bombardments did.
"The Zeppelins would come out of the dark - you couldn't see them and it was totally random. You didn't know if you were running towards danger or away from it.""The Zeppelins would come out of the dark - you couldn't see them and it was totally random. You didn't know if you were running towards danger or away from it."
The aim of the Zeppelins was clear - the Germans hoped to break morale at home and force the British government into abandoning the war in the trenches.The aim of the Zeppelins was clear - the Germans hoped to break morale at home and force the British government into abandoning the war in the trenches.
But there was not the sort of chaos and panic that the Germans had wanted.But there was not the sort of chaos and panic that the Germans had wanted.
"The people reacted very stoically, they got on with the job of clearing up - that British sense of not being fazed by this," Ms Argyle said."The people reacted very stoically, they got on with the job of clearing up - that British sense of not being fazed by this," Ms Argyle said.
As the people of Great Yarmouth counted their dead and injured, a second Zeppelin was already bombing King's Lynn.As the people of Great Yarmouth counted their dead and injured, a second Zeppelin was already bombing King's Lynn.
Propaganda valuePropaganda value
A further two people were killed, but once again there were no scenes of panic.A further two people were killed, but once again there were no scenes of panic.
Despite this, the propaganda value of the bombings was enormous. Now Britons were not only dying on the battlefields of Flanders but also in their beds at home.Despite this, the propaganda value of the bombings was enormous. Now Britons were not only dying on the battlefields of Flanders but also in their beds at home.
For the next couple of months Zeppelins would hit towns across the east - Southend, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds were all attacked and six more people were killed.For the next couple of months Zeppelins would hit towns across the east - Southend, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds were all attacked and six more people were killed.
But the Germans were still no nearer to breaking the British spirit, so they aimed for the capital.But the Germans were still no nearer to breaking the British spirit, so they aimed for the capital.
A house in Stoke Newington was the first ever in London to be attacked from the air, hit by an incendiary bomb.A house in Stoke Newington was the first ever in London to be attacked from the air, hit by an incendiary bomb.
Albert Lovell, who owned the house, dragged his family out before alerting the fire brigade.Albert Lovell, who owned the house, dragged his family out before alerting the fire brigade.
Aviation historian Ian Castle said: "There had been no raids before, there's never been anything like this. Suddenly a blazing bomb is coming out of the sky and setting light to a house, it's almost science fiction."Aviation historian Ian Castle said: "There had been no raids before, there's never been anything like this. Suddenly a blazing bomb is coming out of the sky and setting light to a house, it's almost science fiction."
The first death happened in Cooper Road at the house of a man called Samuel Legget who had five children. Three-year-old, Elsie, died on her bed.The first death happened in Cooper Road at the house of a man called Samuel Legget who had five children. Three-year-old, Elsie, died on her bed.
In 20 minutes a Zeppelin had dropped 3,000 pounds of bombs, 91 incendiaries that had started 40 fires, gutted buildings and left seven people dead. Not a single shot was fired in retaliation.In 20 minutes a Zeppelin had dropped 3,000 pounds of bombs, 91 incendiaries that had started 40 fires, gutted buildings and left seven people dead. Not a single shot was fired in retaliation.
From that day forward the Zeppelins were known as the "baby killers".From that day forward the Zeppelins were known as the "baby killers".
One person who remembers the attacks vividly is 102-year-old Doris Cobban from Bedfordshire.One person who remembers the attacks vividly is 102-year-old Doris Cobban from Bedfordshire.
She was only five-years-old and living in Lewisham when London came under attack.She was only five-years-old and living in Lewisham when London came under attack.
"I remember my father coming up to the bedroom and he picked me up and wrapped me in a blanket and he said 'this is history, you must see this'," she said."I remember my father coming up to the bedroom and he picked me up and wrapped me in a blanket and he said 'this is history, you must see this'," she said.
The airships were more than twice as long as a modern day Jumbo Jet and thousands of people took to the streets to see them.The airships were more than twice as long as a modern day Jumbo Jet and thousands of people took to the streets to see them.
"My mother took my elder sister who was two years older than I was by the hand and we went out into the road and he [her father] said 'look up there' and over London I saw this long thing and it looked like a huge cigar to me," Mrs Cobban said."My mother took my elder sister who was two years older than I was by the hand and we went out into the road and he [her father] said 'look up there' and over London I saw this long thing and it looked like a huge cigar to me," Mrs Cobban said.
"We were all out there - as far as I remember it was cheerful, but probably the grown-ups were absolutely petrified.""We were all out there - as far as I remember it was cheerful, but probably the grown-ups were absolutely petrified."
On 8 September, Germany's most successful Zeppelin commander, Kapitanleutnant Heinrich Mathy was to lead the most destructive attack of the war.On 8 September, Germany's most successful Zeppelin commander, Kapitanleutnant Heinrich Mathy was to lead the most destructive attack of the war.
Zeppelin shot downZeppelin shot down
London was ablaze, buildings were ripped apart and by the time the attack was over 22 people were dead, 87 had received horrific injuries and the Zeppelin had escaped into the night completely unharmed.London was ablaze, buildings were ripped apart and by the time the attack was over 22 people were dead, 87 had received horrific injuries and the Zeppelin had escaped into the night completely unharmed.
Gradually better defences were brought in to defend the skies, but it was another year before the tide began to turn.Gradually better defences were brought in to defend the skies, but it was another year before the tide began to turn.
At the beginning of September 1916 more than a dozen German airships headed for Britain in their largest raid.At the beginning of September 1916 more than a dozen German airships headed for Britain in their largest raid.
Bombs fell in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Kent but only one airship made it through to London.Bombs fell in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Kent but only one airship made it through to London.
It immediately came under heavy anti-aircraft fire and was shot down by 19-year-old Leefe Robinson. It immediately came under heavy anti-aircraft fire and was shot down by 19-year-old William Leefe Robinson.
While Britain celebrated, the Germans stepped things up with the so-called Super Zeppelins, but Britain had found the Zeppelin's Achilles heel - explosive bullets which could set the hydrogen alight.While Britain celebrated, the Germans stepped things up with the so-called Super Zeppelins, but Britain had found the Zeppelin's Achilles heel - explosive bullets which could set the hydrogen alight.
This would prove to be the Zeppelin's undoing.This would prove to be the Zeppelin's undoing.
During their brief, but deadly dominance the airships killed more than 500 people and injured more than a thousand in places all down the east of the country.During their brief, but deadly dominance the airships killed more than 500 people and injured more than a thousand in places all down the east of the country.
The last ever attempt to bomb Britain by a Zeppelin was over the Norfolk coast on 5 August 1918.The last ever attempt to bomb Britain by a Zeppelin was over the Norfolk coast on 5 August 1918.
Three years earlier, when a Zeppelin first appeared in the skies above Great Yarmouth, it was an invincible force, but now they were outclassed and dealt with swiftly.Three years earlier, when a Zeppelin first appeared in the skies above Great Yarmouth, it was an invincible force, but now they were outclassed and dealt with swiftly.
But the Zeppelin exposed those at home who were now as vulnerable as those on the front line. The government became acutely aware they needed an aerial defence system that operated in depth.But the Zeppelin exposed those at home who were now as vulnerable as those on the front line. The government became acutely aware they needed an aerial defence system that operated in depth.
It led to the formation of the RAF in 1918 and to the development of operations rooms such as the one at Duxford that proved so crucial in 1940 during the Battle of Britain and ultimately victory in World War Two.It led to the formation of the RAF in 1918 and to the development of operations rooms such as the one at Duxford that proved so crucial in 1940 during the Battle of Britain and ultimately victory in World War Two.