In 1888, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, began experimenting with a new type of aircraft. It was a large (125m in length), rigid-sided, cigar-shaped airship. It used 2 Daimler engines and contained individual cell compartments filled with hydrogen gas. Often von Zeppelin was ridiculed for his attempts. However, on July 2, 1900, the first Zeppelin took flight. The rigid design of the Zeppelin allowed it to be much larger and carry heavier payloads than any blimp, and it could fly almost as fast as any other plane of its time. The difference between a Zeppelin and a blimp is the fact that a blimp is not rigid but rather a bag of gas.
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin opened the doors of his own airship company is 1908 called Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, or Airship Zeppelin. At the advent of World War I, von Zeppelin was commissioned to produce Zeppelins for use in the war effort. Ninety-six such Zeppelins were produced. These Zeppelins were loaded with bombs and machine guns.
At the beginning of the war the Zeppelins were a highly feared entity. Initially there was no defense against the midnight raids of the giant monsters. In fact the Zeppelin played a large role in the Germans taking the fortresses at Liege. The under belly of the Zeppelin was painted black to disguise it the night sky. Often the Zeppelins would leave Germany at dusk, bomb England under the cover of darkness and return home, without incident. If English pilots chose to pursue the Zeppelins they were met with heavy machine gun fire.
Later in the war, however, the Zeppelins met their match (literally); incendiary ammunition. Bullets coated with phosphorous could ignite the cells containing hydrogen gas. Eyewitness accounts claim that when a Zeppelin burned it lit up the night sky. The Germans attempted to counter this lone weakness of the Zeppelin by creating super light-weight model known as the “Height Climbers”. The hope was that if the Zeppelin could rise to elevations above the capabilities of warring aircraft it would still be successful. However, this was not to be so.
In 1918, the Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI, prohibited Germany from producing airships of any kind. It seemed this would be the end of the Great Zeppelins. However the prohibition was lifted in 1926. Construction of new airships began immediately. The production of the ill-fated Hindenburg began in 1935.
The Battle of Haelen, also known as the Battle of Silver Helmets, was fought on August 12, 1914. The conflict was between the German cavalry and the Belgian cavalry. While the majority of German forces were battling to take the fortresses at Liege and move forward through Belgium, the German cavalry was sent to cross the Meuse River north of Liege and advance through Belgium at Louvain. The German cavalry fought under the command of General Georg von de Marwitz.
On the morning of August 12, the German cavalry arrived at Haelen and prepared to cross the bridge there. However, they encountered a prepared Belgian cavalry, fighting under General de Witte. The two cavalry fought throughout the day. The significant difference between the two cavalry was that the Belgian cavalry dismounted and fought as infantrymen.
The Germans launched numerous and repeated attacks against the Belgian forces but their sabers and lances could not hold against the unexpected Belgian rifle fire. The Germans fought until 6pm that evening having begun the attack around 8am. Frustrated Marwitz and the German cavalry were forced to withdraw from the bridge at Haelen that evening.
In all the Germans suffered nearly 1000 casualties that August day in 1914; 200 – 300 were taken prisoner by the Belgians, 150 were killed and 600 Germans were wounded. Belgian forces suffered approximately half that number in casualties.
The Battle of Haelen was a tremendous victory for the Allied Forces. Although the Belgians held the bridge at Haelen, the remainder of the German army won the Battle of Liege on August 16 and the German army continued their advance through and takeover of neutral Belgium.
The Battle of the Ardennes was fought between August 21 and August 23, 1914. It was among the Battles of the Frontier, of World War I. The battle was born out of confusion and the collision of French and German invasion forces in the Ardennes forest. The French had determined, through pre-war efforts, that German presence would be light in the area of the Ardennes. Using this information the French 3rd and 4th Armies determined to advance through the Ardennes and initiate an offensive attack on the Germans. In fact, the German 4th and 5th Armies were advancing through the Ardennes forest as part of an offensive attack.
The forest was thick with fog on the Morning of August 21, 1914. The two armies fell upon each other in the fog. Throughout August 21 the two armies fought in several minor battles; wherever they happened to stumble upon one another.
The following day the battle was fought on a grander scale. The French were heavily outnumbered. The 3rd and 4th French armies fought valiantly, advancing with bayonets. They believed their spirit would carry them to victory. However, the French quickly learned that spirit alone does not win a battle.
The Germans held superior tactical positions. The 4th and 5th German armies met the French bayonets with entrenched machine guns, and superior artillery. The French continued to fight for the honor of their country throughout the 22nd and 23rd of August suffering heavy casualties.
The French armies began a chaotic retreat late in the afternoon of August 23, 1814. The Third Army retreated to Verdun pursued by the German Fifth Army. The Fourth Army retreated to Sudan followed by their German counterparts.
The loss of the Battle of Ardennes was significant. The French suffered not only heavy casualties during the battle but also the loss of iron resources. In addition, the French lost the strategic positions needed to halt the German advance into France.