The poster was alluding to air attacks that Britain was being subjected to.
For the very first time, civilians were under threat.
The German Zeppelin LZ 18 at Berlin-Johannistal, 1913.
Zeppelins were first flown commercially as passenger airliners in 1910.
Then the Germans discovered goldbeater’s skin, made from the intestines of cattle.
The cleaned gut is then stretched over a frame.
The living tissues in the sheets grew together making a seamless and Hydrogen proof join.
An engraving showing the goldbeating process.
An incredible amount of cow intestines were needed to make these gasbags.
Each butcher was required to deliver the ones from the animals he killed.
Agents exercised strict control in Austria, Poland and northern France, where it was forbidden to make sausages.
Women workers preparing the gasbag skins.
Photo:airshipsonline.com
Gasbags under construction and testing.
The defenders found them surprisingly difficult to shoot down, despite being essentially floating balloons full of inflammable gas.
Standard bullets and shrapnel made small holes causing inconsequential gas leaks.
But increased altitude brought extreme cold and decreased oxygen which in turn led to altitude sickness.
Besides, the wind was high and unpredictable at increased altitudes that made maneuvering the craft difficult.
Many Zeppelins got caught in strong winds during air raids and failed to reach their targets.
Workers inspecting the gasbags.
The remaining dirigibles were transferred to France, Italy, Britain, and Belgium in 1920.
During the war, a total of 84 Zeppelins were built, of which 60 were lost.
Half of this was lost to accidents.
