Zeppelin Kommt! Children play a Zeppelin raid on London. Holding his bomb in the gondola is a doll of the airship's inventor, Count Zeppelin. The other children, playing the English, cower, and the British fleet — folded paper boats — remains in port. Prewar postcards celebrated the imposing airships and the excitement they generated with the same expression, 'Zeppelin Kommt!'. Postcard by P.O. Engelhard (P.O.E.). The message on the reverse is dated May 28, 1915.
P.O.E.? EnglandLondonZeppelin Kommt!Reverse:Message dated May 28, 1915Stamped: Geprüft und zu befördern (Approved and forwarded) 9 Komp. Bay. L.I.N. 5
". . .the threat of the Zeppelins compelled the British to set up a formidable Home Defence organization that diverted men, guns, and aircraft from other military fronts. For instance, by the end of 1916 no less than 17,341 officers and men were retained in Great Britain for antiaircraft defence. There were twelve Royal Flying Corps squadrons, comprising some 200 officers, 2000 men, and 110 aeroplanes. The antiaircraft guns were manned by 12,000 officers and men who might have been more profitably employed in France."
Germany lost six Zeppelins in raids on England from September to December, 1916, with limited serious damage to London or other major cities, and a relatively low number of civilian casualties. The German Naval Airship Service argued to keep the attacks going, but only one more airship would bomb London. Attacks in 1917 and 1918 would be by bomber airplanes.
The Zeppelin Fighters by Arch Whitehouse, pp. 162–163, copyright © 1966 by Arch Whitehouse, publisher: New English Library, publication date: 1978
1916-12-29, 1916, December, air defense, Zeppelin
