Zeppelin vs British Home Defence 1915 - 1918

When Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin`s rigid airship LZ 1 flew over Lake Constance in 1900, it was the most advanced and impressive flying machine in the world: a colossal, lighter-than-air craft capable of controlled flight. In World War I, Zeppelins were first used in a reconnaissance role, but on January 19, 1915, Kaiser Wilhelm II authorized their use in bombing strategic targets in England. From then on, `Zeppelin` became synonymous with terror to the British, and, indeed, the airship`s effectiveness was more psychological than material. Using specially commissioned artwork, contemporary photographs, and first-hand accounts, this book tells the fascinating story of Britain`s first Blitz, from the airships who terrorized the public to the men who sought to defend the skies.