Hugo Eckener

Hugo Eckener (May 10, 1868–August 14, 1954) was the old man of the Zeppelin airship company.

Related Topics:
May 10 - 1868 - August 14 - 1954 - Zeppelin airship company

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He trained as an economist and was a correspondent for the Frankfurter Zeitung in 1905, 1906 and reported on the first flights of the LZ1 and LZ2.

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Eckener was responsible for training most of Germany's airship pilots

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both during and after World War I.

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After the War, Eckener replaced the aging Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin who

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had first pioneered the Zeppelin line of rigid airships.

Related Topics:
Zeppelin - Airship

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For many years, Eckener was head of airship operations. Eckener always

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made safety his absolute priority. His safety orientation had results.

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Under Eckener's leadership, the Zeppelin company had a perfect safety record with no passenger ever sustaining a serious injury on any of the more than 1 million air miles that the rigid airships flew.

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Eckener, a master of publicity as well as a master airship captain,

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made many record-setting trips and established the Zeppelin as a symbol of German pride and engineering.

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The popularity of the Zeppelin airships led to Eckener's own popularity.

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During the early 1930s, Eckener was one of the most well-known

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and respected figures in Germany. He was encouraged to run for the presidency

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to oppose the Nazis. Eckener declined, focusing on what he knew best,

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airships.

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Nonetheless, Eckener and the Nazis had a deep and mutual loathing. Eckener made no secret of his hatred of Hitler and the disastrous

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course he saw coming. Eventually the Nazis declared Eckener to be

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a "non-person" and his name was no longer allowed to appear in print.

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With the rise of the Nazis came the nationalization of the Zeppelin operation.

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The Nazis replaced Eckener with men who were compliant with their wishes.

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Seeking to please the Nazi regime, these newly promoted airshipmen

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did not always follow Eckener's well proven safety procedures. Many believe that the reduced focus on safety led to the Hindenburg Disaster of 1937.

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After the destruction of the Hindenburg, the rigid airship fell from

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favor and Eckener receded to the shadows. He survived WWII and

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died in 1954 at the age of 86.

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