| April 6 |  |
Editor says, what if the Republic of Texas had exported helium to Nazi Germany? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the March 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1937, the United States Government was outraged to discover that Nazi Germany had formed a contractual agreement for the supply of helium, a byproduct of oil from certain geological strata located in the Republic of Texas.
Hindenburg DisasterIn an attempt to defuse the diplomatic dispute escalating between the three Governments, a technical statement was issued to the public by industry sources in Berlin. Hindenburg Airship Designer, Herr Fritz August Breuhaus and the former head of the Zeppelin Company Dr. Hugo Eckener presented reasoned arguments that supply was absolutely necessary to ensure the safe continuation of transatlantic passenger travel. Both Germans politely reminded Americans that helium had been selected for the lifting gas because it was the safest to use in airships as it was not flammable.
However the US Government had designated the gas as a material with "military value" and banned exportation under the Neutrality Act. Accordingly, Washington advised the German Embassy that henceforth airships fueled by helium would be denied use of the hangar and mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey (pictured).
For Germany, the cessation of the transatlantic lighter-than-air program was a transportation public relations disaster matched only by the Kriegsmarine sinking the Titanic. No longer would wealthy German Citizens travel in luxury to the East Coast. But it was not to be the last time that the swastika could be seen emblazening aircraft over New York City. Because the dispute was also just one step on the long road to war; within five years, anti-submarine patrol blimps were operated from Lakehurst and the only aircraft crossing the Atlantic were dispatched by the Luftwaffe.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Disasters Source: Wikipedia Labels: Hindenburg, Airship, Zeppelin, Fritz August Breuhaus, Hugo Eckener. Editor says, in reality the airship was re-engineered to use hydrogen which was considered a contributory factor in the disaster. Thanks to Scott Palter to contributing to certain facts in the preparation of the story.
~ Zeppelin wars! YES! I want to see military blimps!
~ Paging Mr. Turtledove...
~ US against Germany, wonder how the rest of Europe filled in: lots of neutrality, creating a nearly impossible-to-win trans-oceanic war, or if the Battle of Britain had gone very poorly (more zeppelins involved, eh?)
~ The North American coast was just about out of reach for the Luftwaffe, although they did get a few planes into US airspace (the CAP never spotted them as German, reporting them as "unknown.") Lighter-than-air by that time was considered too fragile for air-to-air combat.
~ As there were German flights during the war to and from Japanese Manchuria making a few planes that could reach the North American coast was not impossible. Germany trashed most of their ultra long range air programs for various stupid reasons [Adolph wanting 4 engine bombers to have dive bomb capability etc.].
~ Why would transatlantic travel via LTA craft screech to a halt? Clearly Germany is at peace with the UK and Canada, The Bahama's, Bermuda are all still available as destinations. Fly from Berlin to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then take a passenger plane to NYC if that is your final destination.
~ Zeppelins would have had limited military utility in an era in which airplane technology was advancing rapidly (jet fighters would first be used in World War II). However, if not for the Hindenburg disaster, the luxury pasenger trade might have revived in the postwar era as Germany's economy recovered.
A bigger problem with this scenario is the very existence of a familiar Nazi Germany in a world with an independent CSA. Surely that initial difference would haave affected, among other thngs, the course and aftrmath of World War I.
~ Maybe the RoT starts building airships of their own?
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