The Zeppelin Museum pursues a glocal, multi-perspective, and interdisciplinary approach in this special exhibition. Its own collection is examined in relation to its broader context and contrasts “perceived” narratives with historical research. In this way, the exhibition enables a differentiated view of the National Socialist period within the framework of historical continuities.

The analysis is structured along key events and key individuals. The former begin prior to the National Socialist era, as Zeppelin airships already benefited from political and emotional significance during the German Empire. In the First World War, they served as military instruments; in the Weimar Republic, they became symbols of technological progress and national aspirations. This adaptability made them effective tools of propaganda for the Nazi regime. Propaganda flights of the large Zeppelin airships to major political events function as central key events, as does the Lakehurst disaster, in which the LZ 129 Hindenburg—also a symbol of the Nazi state—was destroyed. Key individuals are presented through personal stories that open up a glocal dimension. Their experiences illustrate both continuities and transformations under the dictatorship. The museum’s own history is also critically examined, with particular focus on the company museum of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, newly built for Count Zeppelin’s 100th birthday and opened in 1938.

The exhibition presents around 200 objects, predominantly from the museum’s own collection, with a focus on historical photographs and archival materials. A comprehensive accompanying publication will be released for the opening, documenting new research findings.

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Contextualization and Reassessment

Art and educational program

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International Museum Day 2026

Vernissage | Perceived Truths. Zeppelins and National Socialism