The Hindenburg Disaster (DVD)

**What Is It?**
The Hindenburg Disaster is a DVD remembering the incredible airship the "Hindenburg" This one disk DVD contains detailed accounts of eye-witnesses, real footage, real radio broadcasts and the court case and theories after the Hindenburgs disaster.

**The History Behind the Hindenburg**
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (I've double checked that spelling) was the brains behind this incredible machine. German ...
.../> In 1935 he go the chance of a lifetime to build the biggest airship in the world. The Hindenburg. It was a staggering 245m long and 41m wide which is longer than the titanic herself. In other words its slightly longer than 3 Boing 747's. So it's size was phenomial and it made it famous world wide. The Hindenburg was famously sponsered by the Nazis. This was when they weren't in power but the Hindenburg had the Nazi sign on the tail. This did ... more

**What Is It?**
The Hindenburg Disaster is a DVD remembering the incredible airship the "Hindenburg" This one disk DVD contains detailed accounts of eye-witnesses, real footage, real radio broadcasts and the court case and theories after the Hindenburgs disaster.

**The History Behind the Hindenburg**
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (I've double checked that spelling) was the brains behind this incredible machine. German born, Zeppelin always had a passion for airships and planes. He had been building airships since 1899 and was very keen and enthusiastic.
In 1935 he go the chance of a lifetime to build the biggest airship in the world. The Hindenburg. It was a staggering 245m long and 41m wide which is longer than the titanic herself. In other words its slightly longer than 3 Boing 747's. So it's size was phenomial and it made it famous world wide. The Hindenburg was famously sponsered by the Nazis. This was when they weren't in power but the Hindenburg had the Nazi sign on the tail. This did not impress a lot of Americans however.
So the Hindenburg was finished in 1936. It's first flight was a world wide media event. The claims are that the Hindenburg can cross the atlantic form Germany in only 2 and a half days compared to less than a week on a liner. Only the rich and important could afford a ticket which was about £200 which was a more than a whole years wage for some people.
It was designed to be luxury and that is what it was. About 50 passengers and 40 crew men could board at one time. It was the new 'fashionable' transport. It has made an amazing 27/8 trips to the United States and even Brazil from Germany. Then disater struck on the 6th of May 1937...

**The Disaster**
The end of the 28th trip was welcoming. The worlds press was ready to welcome the Hindenburg to the USA. Even though it had done it a handful of times it was still spectacular to Americans to watch. The trips were never usually eventful and this one was the same. There had been a lot of storms however which has delayed this flight by about 6 hours. It finally arrived in Lakehurst, New Jersey around 7 o'clock. Everything was normal and it was getting ready to land. It was starting to rain again but the journalists and reporters didn't care. Very suddenly, eyewitnesses spotted a fire at the rear of the Airship and it spread in seconds all over the ship. Highly flammable Hydrogen was used in the airship instead of helium as it was cheaper. So it caught alight and the Hindenburg was down in seconds. Ground crews and journalists were forced to watch as it crashed down to earth. Incredibly more than half survived from this fireball but 37 lost their lives. All that was left of this incredible ship was the metal frame that held it toghether. But how could this of happened?

**Why Is It So Famous?**
When the Hindenburg was released it was nicknamed "The Next Titanic" (which is strangely ironic) as it was the biggest airship, in that time, in the world. Everyone who saw it in the skies could would have had their breath taken as it filled the sky. But sadly the main reason it is remembered is because of the disaster, and not as the biggest airship in the world. Another reason it also became famous was because it was on eof the first human disasters to be recoreded on film and sound. This publicised it hugely and journalists where able to sell the films for $1000's. The films where broadcasted all over the world.
Another huge factor that contributed to Hindenburgs fame was the court case afterwards. Who done it? What done it? Was it a bomb? Was it an accident? This caused worldwide debates and theories occured. The DVD discusses different theories very well.

**The Mecanics Of the Hindenburg**
This incredible machine had an incredible amount of design and science put into it. First was the length which i have discussed which was 245m/805ft. It was stagerring that something that big could go in the sky. And with a width of 41m/135ft it was just huge! The gas used as i described before was hydrogen. The original design was to use helium. But it was a more expensive. Another point interestingly pointed out that helium had to be imported from USA and it had banned shipments to Germany. It however does not explain why but have done a little research (Thanks to Wilkipedia!) It says it was a military embargo ban. So the gas was changed from inflammable helium, to flammable (mixed with air) hydrogen. Having hydrogen did have its pro's as it was cheaper and because it is lighter than helium gave it more lift. The Hindenburg held a total of 200,000 m (cubed) of hydeogen. There where 4 diesel engines running the propellers and steering. Each engine had about 1,200 horse power each. Thats an amazing 4,800 horse power altoghether. It weighed around 110 tons in weight so it will need all that power. It had a very impressive top speed of 73 knots (or 135 km/h or 84 mph) which was very fast.

**Original Footage**
As i have explained one of the reasons that the Hindenburg became so famous was because it was filmed and people all over the world were able to watch it burning. Film was around but a lot of it was experimental. On the DVD there is one part were a passager had taken abourd his brand new film camera and was filming the passangers. Incredibly it survived the blast and was even able to help identify a victim. A lot of film taken from the ground was used in this DVD. Below i have a picture of one of the best angles of the ship on fire. Even though the quality wasn't great it is still very breath taking to watch and i was amazed how quickly the fire spread. All this footage would become on of the keys to finding out why the Hindenburg went on fire in the first place.

**The Accounts**
The accounts on this DVD is very impressive. There is one interesting bit were they interview one of the only living survivors from the crash who was only young when it happened. You could tell, even after these amount of years, he found it hard to talk about it. There were also accounts from engineers, journalists and historians which was very interesting. All seemed to have their own view but never strayed off to one side.

**Biased?**
It isn't at all. At the time relations between USA and Germany were straining so it can be easy to be biased toward one country. No one ever said it was the USA's fault or Germany's which i was happy about and felt i was getting a honest view. There was however a little biasedness against the Nazi symbol being used and promoted on the HIndenburg saying it really shouldn't have been done. Still that was the only thing i could spot.

**Different Theories Discussed**
This was one of the things that interested me a lot. Everyone being interviewed was asked about why they thought the Hindenburg went down. One interviewee, a historian said there was so much confusion. Some thought it was a bomb, some believed it was sabotage/deliberate and some thought it was just an unavoidable accident.
The main one to come out was the sabotage theory which was thoroughly discussed. I won't go into much detail as i would be sitting here for hours (watch the DVD!) but the idea was that either:
--An anti-nazi (communist?) planted a bomb but because the Hindenburg was late it went off when they were all inside.
--Someone has slashed one of the cells to let the hydrogen out so it would have exploded.
--Hitler himself planned the Hindenburg to go down in retaliation to anti-nazi views.
There are lots of others discussed as well but they were the main subtopics. There are also other therories as well:
--Engine Exhausts accidently sparked and caught the hydrogen and a reaction started.
--Structual Failure (considered to be most likely)
--There was already a small tear in the linign and hydrogen was slowly released until the pressure of landing made it release all the energy.
--A fuel leak from the engines and it was the vapour from the gasoline that caught alight and not the hydrogen
--Because it had been stormy and lightning there could have been a build up of static electrictity and it just burst the lining of the airship.
With great detail and discussion they give you a conclusion which i am not going to spoil!

**The Cover**
The famous Hindenburg herself high in the sky. With a musky, cludy backround to represent the sky. If you look closely at the illistration of the Hindenburg you can see the details like the Nazi logo and the numbers. Its a very bold title and i was able to relate with it easily.

**Running Time**
It runs for about 100 minutes (About 1 hours 40/5 minutes) so it is quite long. I paused it once or twice but i didn't feel it was to long.

**Price**
The RRP is £12.99 which isn't a bad price. I paid £8.99 for mine at Costco (with VAT) which i thought was a good price. A lot of DVD stores sell it in the history bit so have a look. A lot of internet based companies offer it as well for about £10.99. Have a search around.

**Whats Right With It?**
It is a very interesting and in depth story of this disaster which happened about 70 years ago but still the story goes on. It is one of the most iconic pre war inventions in my opioion. It deeply discusses views and has interesting stories about survivors accounts and theroies on why it happened in the first place. I liked this DVD as it was very imformative and fasinating. I really enjoyed it.

**Whats Wrong With It?**
If you don't like history or aren't keen on this sort of genre then this isn't for you. I think only people with an interest in history, vehicles, biographies and documentaries.

**Conclusion**
A great imformative DVD. Have learned a lot off it and have been trying to impress (anyone who would listen) with my intense knowledge. If you have to do an essay on this then this is a great resource. Or if your just interested in one particular angle of this then you'll like it. I'm definaltely recommending this to reviewers.

Janie x 

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