History of Europe

Hitler's aircraft carrier:Graf Zeppelin

by Janine Kühl, NDR.deOn December 8, 1938, the "Graf Zeppelin" was launched in Kiel. But the aircraft carrier is never used.

On December 8, 1938, the Nazi regime celebrated the launch of the aircraft carrier "Graf Zeppelin" with drums and trumpets. The German military leadership had high hopes for the aircraft carrier with the provisional designation A, which Deutsche Werke AG (DKW) in Kiel began building in November 1935. When planning their armaments, the Germans orientate themselves on traditional fleets such as the British.

British allow aircraft carrier construction

However, since the end of the First World War, the German Navy has been subject to severe restrictions due to international agreements. In the summer of 1935, Hitler signed a naval agreement with the British that officially allowed the construction of two aircraft carriers. The sister ship B is to be built by the Friedrich Krupp Germania shipyard in Kiel, but this project soon comes to a standstill. The battleship "Bismarck" will be completed there instead.

Hitler and Göring being launched

It took three years until aircraft carrier A was finally launched in December 1938. Some 100,000 onlookers come to Kiel to see the spectacle, to which Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and numerous guests from politics and business have traveled. Hella (Helene) von Brandenstein-Zeppelin christens the ship after her father:"Graf Zeppelin". In his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring held the christening speech. After the ceremony, tugboats pull the colossus to the equipment quay.

From freeze to freeze

But then the project falters. The Second World War begins with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The Navy's priorities shifted in favor of submarine construction, so that the expansion of the "Graf Zeppelin" was not resumed until March 1942 at Hitler's behest. The ship has bulging attachments on the hull to protect against torpedoes.

At the same time, the Luftwaffe began developing the Junkers "Ju 87" and Messerschmitt "Me 155" carrier aircraft. 40 planes should find space on the carrier. But the planning for the superstructure is delayed because the development of the aircraft is progressing rapidly and the Air Force and the Navy are always reporting new types. The dimensions of the superstructure, the length of the runway and the required spare parts are constantly changing.

The following year, work on the "Graf Zeppelin" finally came to an end. After Hitler ordered on January 26, 1943 to decommission all large warships, the shipyard stopped all work on the ship on February 2, 1943.

A floating spare parts store

The 263 meter long and 36 meter wide giant was towed to Stettin in April 1943 and moored in the Oder delta. From then on, the Navy uses the "Graf Zeppelin" to procure spare parts for other warships. When the Soviet troops continued to advance in April 1945, the ship was to be rendered unusable as booty. A demolition squad sets the stripped-out aircraft carrier aground in the shallow estuary. In addition, the drive system is destroyed.

Soviet barge

About the further history of the "Graf Zeppelin" one can only speculate. What is certain is that the Soviets will refloat the ship in March 1947. It now serves as a housing ship for one unit. This should take a close look at the construction documents of the aircraft carrier and other captured ships.

Lost for 59 years

There are different theories about what happened next. The historian Ulrich Israel has dealt extensively with the history of the "Graf Zeppelin". He assumes that the ship served the Russians as an experimental target. Accordingly, they towed the giant out of the port of Swinemünde for a launch attempt on August 14, 1947 and initially detonated several bombs on board. Israel says the Graf Zeppelin only sunk after it was shot down by torpedoes. Another thesis says that the aircraft carrier hit a mine while being towed towards Russia. Still others claim the ship sank in a storm due to being overloaded with loot.

Polish oil company discovers the wreck

The whereabouts of the "Graf Zeppelin" remained unclear until the summer of 2006. In July, employees of the Polish oil company Petrobaltic came across a wreck during a research trip. It is about 55 kilometers from the Polish Baltic Sea port of Wladyslawowo at a depth of 80 meters. Some quickly assume that Hitler's aircraft carrier has been found. Confirmation comes shortly thereafter from the Polish Navy, which employs sonar surveys and sends divers to the wreck. After 59 years, the whereabouts of the "Graf Zeppelin" have now been clarified.