KMS Graf Zeppelin: Germany's Failed Aircraft Carrier
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Күн бұрынJoin us on a journey through history as we uncover the fascinating tale of Germany's first aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin. In this comprehensive video, we delve into the origins of German naval aviation, tracing its roots back to the early 20th century and exploring the ambitious plans that eventually led to the construction of the Graf Zeppelin.
The video begins by examining the historical context surrounding the development of naval aviation in Germany, from the pioneering days of reconnaissance airships to the conversion of merchant ships into seaplane carriers during World War I. Through meticulous research and analysis, we unravel the complexities of this early period and shed light on the pivotal role played by these innovative vessels.
As the narrative unfolds, we delve into the interwar years and the resurgence of interest in aircraft carriers under Plan Z, a naval expansion program initiated by the Nazi regime. Against this backdrop, the design of the Graf Zeppelin takes shape, drawing inspiration from successful carriers of other nations while incorporating unique German engineering principles.
Despite initial progress, the outbreak of World War II and shifting priorities present formidable challenges for the Graf Zeppelin project. We explore the setbacks and delays faced during the carrier's construction, from modifications to changes in armament, and the impact of Hitler's orders on its completion.
As the war escalates, the strategic importance of carrier-based aviation becomes increasingly apparent, prompting Hitler's directive for the Graf Zeppelin's completion in 1942. However, changing circumstances and subsequent orders halt construction, leaving the carrier's fate uncertain.
The video also delves into the Graf Zeppelin's wartime experiences, from its scuttling in 1945 to the Soviet Union's attempts to salvage the ship. Through archival footage, expert analysis, and compelling narration, we piece together the story of this forgotten vessel and its place in naval history.
With insights from historians and naval experts, we examine the legacy of the Graf Zeppelin and its impact on subsequent developments in naval aviation. Despite its untimely demise, the Graf Zeppelin remains a testament to the ambition and innovation of Germany's naval forces during World War II.
Join us as we uncover the untold story of Germany's lost aircraft carrier and gain a deeper understanding of its significance in the annals of maritime history. Don't miss this captivating exploration of one of the most intriguing chapters in naval warfare.
Intro 0:00
Disclaimer 1:45
WW1 2:24
Development 4:28
WW2 12:02
Conclusion 18:54
Sources/Other Reading:
www.amazon.com/German-Italian...
www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Carri...
www.amazon.com/Graf-Zeppelin-...
www.amazon.com/British-Battle...
www.amazon.com/s?k=british+ba...
www.amazon.com/British-Aircra...
www.amazon.com/World-Encyclop...
Video Information:
Copyright fair use notice. All media used in this video is used for the purpose of education under the terms of fair use. All footage and images used belong to their copyright holders, when applicable.
@ImportantHistory 3 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching everyone! I know not everyone likes the disclaimer I put in these harder to research videos so I placed a timestamp to skip through it. It's just a way so you all know that the information I present is hard to come by and there are conflicting sources.
@chrisreidland 3 ай бұрын
Really enjoy the content thanks!
@madsaadsa7647 3 ай бұрын
Greetings and salutations, as a disclaimer, I do not know what the qualifications are for a historian. However, as an avid consumer of war history, I know what gives me great enjoyment in the presentation of said material. You, my friend, have knocked the history ball out of the educational park! Love the channel content, keep up the great work mate!
@davidsauls9542 3 ай бұрын
Pronounce things however you wish! It is so nice to hear a real Human voice rather than a computer generated fake voice. You are real. You do make some mistakes, but you said you are no Historian. What you Are, is an enthusiastic young man who is getting other people interested in learning history !! That is beautiful !!
@ImportantHistory 3 ай бұрын
Thank you! I’m curious, are there really that many AI or text to speech channels out there there?
@davidsauls9542 3 ай бұрын
Oh yes, you are rare !@@ImportantHistory
@CliveN-yr1gv 3 ай бұрын
A ship is barely heard of other than than it was a massive white elephant. However it really did the Allies a favor by absorbing manpower and industrial resources. I love the mistake in calculating center of gravity leading to the addition of a bulge that was also a fuel reserve. Top research again here. I look forward to learning more about German naval aviation in future. Thanks again for an entertaining and informative documentary 🙏🏽👍🏽🚢
@BobSmith-dk8nw 3 ай бұрын
I started studying History when I was 11 years old - have continued to study it all my life. I'm 72 now. I spent 9 years of my life studying for it and have a Masters Degree in History. I made my career in computers because there was no money in History. Technology is hard. The Electrons are going to do what the Electrons are going to do - regardless of what you may want them to do - such as not kill you. The thing is - Electrons will not knowingly lie to you. This makes History harder. I.E. - If you look at the Little Big Horn campaign and Isandlwana - the lies and distortions perpetrated by such as Libby Custer and Chelmsford's apologists are insistent and determined. Careers were ruined over these recriminations. Trying to sort out what really happened from the partisan views attempting to inflict their POV on battles is extremely difficult. All the complaints you have about sources - are the same ones I have. So I have one thing to tell you. You ARE a Historian whether you like it or not. Welcome to the club. .
@aaronstreeval3910 3 ай бұрын
I failed to realize just how close graff zeppelin was to setting off into the Atlantic. A uss ranger and graff zeppelin showdown would have been epic
@dovetonsturdee7033 3 ай бұрын
Given the hopelessly unsuitable air group planned for the White Elephant, by the time the US entered the war, it would have been, like Bismarck and Graf Spee, simply a memory.
@MSMW23 3 ай бұрын
Noting how much trouble the Brits had with Seafires, one can imagine the attrition rate of the 109-T's in landing accidents.
@panic_2001 3 ай бұрын
We didn't have an Argus, Hosho, or whatever the name of the first American carrier was. Without experience, I imagine building an aircraft carrier in the 1930s would be extremely difficult.
@nashzahm 3 ай бұрын
Langley was America's first carrier, the first true fleet carriers we used were the Lexington and Saratoga.
@panic_2001 3 ай бұрын
@@nashzahm Exactly, “Langley” didn’t come to mind.
@nashzahm 3 ай бұрын
@@panic_2001Unlike Argus it got tossed to the scrap yard early because it was more of a ship to test carrier doctrine. Once Lexington was at sea that was all we needed.
@toawing 3 ай бұрын
Perhaps Germany should of converted a small carrier first. For testing only, to learn basic lessons and give pilots some experience. Of course this would likely need the timeframe stated in plan Z to get the actual carrier operational
@panic_2001 3 ай бұрын
@@toawing You are absolutely right. However, you need a corresponding platform (for a carrier) with the appropriate speed to realize such a project - it wasn't available back then (I think).
@constantius4654 3 ай бұрын
Another fantastic video. Thank you.
@kallekas8551 3 ай бұрын
Oh goody!! I have been waiting for this…👍👍👍
@volkerjahns2489 3 ай бұрын
ehm, sorry to say, but the "Lützow in the 1930s" in minute 17:20 is the Admiral Scheer after her reconstruction in the 1940s. After she has lost her pagoda mast which was similar to Graf Spee´s. Besides this i saw a lot of pictures and footage of Graf Zeppelin which were new for me, and i´ve seen a lot... ;-)
@DaveSCameron 3 ай бұрын
Don’t be sorry we’re all mates here and learn from one another, best wishes.
@volkerjahns2489 3 ай бұрын
@@DaveSCameron Best wishes back!!!
@ImportantHistory 3 ай бұрын
Yep, you're right. I was just trying to give context to the video and forgot to double check. Always appreciate someone correcting me on that!
@malcolmgibson6288 3 ай бұрын
Thanks for another interesting post.
@bigsarge2085 3 ай бұрын
Fascinating!
@lewis7315 3 ай бұрын
It was the people that failed rather than the ship. Just like why Russia never had an effective American style aircraft carrier during the cold war. They just did not promote and encourage the right type of people who could have made this a reality.
@DaveSCameron 3 ай бұрын
Wow thats deep… 🖐️
@Saffi____ 3 ай бұрын
They also just no longer care. China has proven that Russian ships and Kuznetsov-class carriers can do well, but the Russian government only wants the image not the reality as of right now. It's sad to see really.
@smparreira 3 ай бұрын
90% of russias borders are land based borders Mex/US/Canada are isolated from their enemies by water all around
@J.B.29 3 ай бұрын
Amazing. No matter what the topic,there is always someone like you who always has the need to trash Russians. Your contempt and loathing is one of Russia's greatest allies.
@Tundraviper41 3 ай бұрын
Although Strangely enough the Graf Zeppelin Design called for 8, 203mm in single casements in the hull. A bit of miscommunication and error when it came to redesigning the ship to have 8 150mm (6in) guns, the Error in the Design caused the Graf Zeppelin and her sister-ship to be fitted with TWIN casement 150mm guns instead of the single Casements, which doubled the Main surface battery to 16 guns in total by accident.
@billballbuster7186 3 ай бұрын
One major issue would be the use of land planes on an Aircraft Carrier. This idea did not work and the US Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy both designed all aircraft to naval specification. The Royal Navy had irons on both fires with specially designed naval aircraft as well as land planes, Spitfire and Hurricane. The Spitfire and Hurricane never really worked and these aircraft were largely replaced by American Wildcats, Hellcats and Corsairs. The Seafire, a navalised Spitfire was used in small numbers until the end of the war, but suffered many accidents.
@BobSmith-dk8nw 3 ай бұрын
This was not the RN that caused these problems for the FAA - it was the RAF. Like the Germans with the Luftwaffe - there was an idea that all the airplanes should be controlled by one service. This was monumentally stupid and resulted in the RAF foisting a number of poor designs on the FAA. They were ecstatic to get aircraft designed for Carrier operation from Grumman and Chance Vought. The RN is one of the two greatest Navies in the History of the world and many would say it is the greatest. Time and gain they have taken whatever fucked up shit their government chose to give them - and done the best that could be done with it. During the Age of Sail - the best ships in the RN were frequently those they captured from the French and Spanish as these nations had tried to build excellent ships. The British, with massive ship number requirements - didn't do that - and still don't. The latest Carriers Developed for the RN by their Government are one, continuous, rolling cluster fuck and - they're now considering selling one of them - or so I've heard. Still, the RN and FAA will do the best job that can be done with these ships - just as they always have. .
@billballbuster7186 3 ай бұрын
@@BobSmith-dk8nw It is true that up to 1938 FAA aircraft were ordered through the RAF, but the aircraft were designed for naval use and were sturdy and strong for Carrier landings. The were designed for night flying, something the USN and IJN did not do in WW2. The FAA did not come into its own until after WW2 with the Sea Fury, Attacker and Sea Hawk. Not heard anything bad about the Queen Elisabeth Class, they are equipped for CATOBAR should the need arise. They are very advanced ships for their size. But all Military equipment gets a bad press from the crazy Media which is "progressive left wing". Same happens with US Government military hardware but it works well in battle.
@evilfingers4302 3 ай бұрын
If the Graf Zeppelin had been completed, it wouldn't have lasted long in the Atlantic, its Fate would be same as the Bismarck, hunted down by every available ship of the Royal Navy, pounded on and sunk.
@kidmohair8151 3 ай бұрын
jollygood!carryon!
@bebo4807 3 ай бұрын
The Germans became obsessed with elevators on this carrier. Along with elevators for the aircraft no fewer than 67 crew elevators were installed in the ship.Due to their use many dockyard workers became obese and work slowed substantially. By late 1944 work ceased as workers were unable to complete tasks due to their inability to move about the ship without assistance.
@Bob.W. 3 ай бұрын
Lol.
@oxcart4172 3 ай бұрын
Very good! And you can easily find pronunciations in Google or KZfaq
@smparreira 3 ай бұрын
KM really needed small escort carriers ... lots of them preferably based on tanker hulls to support the wolf packs and raiders
@dovetonsturdee7033 3 ай бұрын
Allied escort carriers had a speed of around 19 knots. A similar German one (although, unlike the British & Americans, the Germans had no suitable merchant hulls to modify in any case) could not have avoided the vastly superior allied fleets. Moreover, what possible help could one have provided to either U-boats or merchant raiders?
@greycatturtle7132 3 ай бұрын
Impressive that they doesn't Try to covert her as a floating battery
@ImportantHistory 3 ай бұрын
A very interesting idea!
@greycatturtle7132 3 ай бұрын
@@ImportantHistory i mean if it floats then you can use it instead of scuttling or using as a blockship
@soco13466 3 ай бұрын
To use the BF109 on a carrier would require a new design of landing gear. As it was, the distance between the wheels was too small. A true carrier based plane is a whole different animal from land based planes. And Stukas? Good dive bomber, but easily shot down, and wasn't designed as a carrier type. Carrier planes must be of stouter design, in order to operate from a carrier, using catapults and arrestor cables. In WWII, it was GB, USA, and Japan who had proper planes for carrier duty.
@davidsauls9542 3 ай бұрын
Case . . ments; not Case Mates for the guns that were along the side
@bigwerve 2 ай бұрын
Was it not a converted bismark class battleship?
@ImportantHistory 2 ай бұрын
It was not, no.
@steveclarke6257 3 ай бұрын
The metaphore of GZ ....an example of German engineering seeking the perfect solution to all possibilities and achieving nothing as a result. Where as 85% effective solutions on multiple tasks, saves displacement and gives you flexibility, for example replace 150mm cruiser guns and the 88mm AA with 16x 128mm Heavy AA capable of giving you some anti-surface capabilities with the right ammunition....would save you both displacement and simply logistics.
@DaveSCameron 3 ай бұрын
Nein
@albertwolanski7688 3 ай бұрын
Oil fired boilers killed her. Germany had no fuel in the later stages of war.
@Brock_Landers 3 ай бұрын
It's sad that Germany was never able to build a proper aircraft carrier, but then again, we would've sunk it anyway...or our British brothers...😂😂😂 Germany f'cked up when they targeted our allies, but Japan REALLY f'cked up when they targeted our Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Just like Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said afterwards, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve". He was absolutely right. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor all we had done was to assist our allies with war armaments, but after we were attacked in 12/7/41 on our own territory and the deaths of thousands of our own, it filled every one of our countrymen with "terrible resolve" and we fought to bring the attackers to justice. It wasn't until the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima that the Japanese knew that they were absolutely defeated and could not possibly continue fighting. The surrender was fiercly contested by the Japanese military, but there was no way that they could continue with the war. They had no planes, no experienced pilots, and almost all of their frontline fighting men knew that they were fighting a losing war.
@DaveSCameron 3 ай бұрын
Happy St Patricks Day everyone.🙏☘️📚🇮🇪⚽️🥂
@Bingo551 3 ай бұрын
Mansion if they didn't build this in a few other battleships how many submarines would they have at the beginning of the war.. more than enough.. Smh.
@dagmastr12 3 ай бұрын
Sir.... You are a historian.
@ImportantHistory 3 ай бұрын
I appreciate it. But, that’s a cover so people understand that I’m trying my best as an amateur!
@DaveSCameron 3 ай бұрын
Let’s hope that ze Germans have learnt from their history and never name any future crafts Graf Zeppelin..
@jaybee9269 3 ай бұрын
The dirigible Graf Zeppelin LZ-127 was a aeronautical legend. First aerial transatlantic passenger service, more than one million miles travelled, circumnavigating the globe and so on. She was retired after nine years of service. But everyone remembers the Hindenburg.
@RayyMusik 3 ай бұрын
Neither Graf Zeppelin nor Blücher!
@CaptainSeato 3 ай бұрын
>has consideration for proper pronunciation, even if they cannot pronounce the names correctly That's head and shoulders better than the not-impartial-and-not-a-historian Drachinifel who, despite plenty of helpful resources for proper pronunciation of non-Royal-Navy ship names, steadfastly refuses to use the proper pronunciation.
@marksaunders1789 3 ай бұрын
You're there crying about pronunciations have you ever bought into consideration people having speech impediments it's absolutely pathetic that people cry over pronunciations
@phoenix211245 3 ай бұрын
Said by a person who can't write a sentence without grammar mistakes.
@austinblack7991 3 ай бұрын
I’m here because of azur lane
@elilla241 3 ай бұрын
Still lore...
@hectilliusthelegionary8496 3 ай бұрын
Fair enough
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