What Was the Hindenburg?

What was...?

by Janet B. Pascal, David Groff (Illustrations), Kevin McVeigh (Illustrations)

At 800-feet long, the Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built--just slightly smaller than the Titanic! Also of a disastrous end, the zeppelin burst into flame as spectators watched it attempt to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937.

In under a minute, the Hindenburg was gone, people jumping from windows to escape. However, only 62 of the 97 crew members and passengers on board survived. The exact cause of the disaster is still unknown and remains a fascinating historical mystery perfect for this series.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Biography, Science

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Janet Pascal, author of many YA biographies and Viking’s senior copy-editor, lives in New York, New York.

Reviews

[Jasmine Ariti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved learning about the history of airships and the difference between lighter-than-air flight (airships like Zeppelins and blimps) and heavier-than-air flight (airplanes). How else would I have gotten this knowledge, if not from a really good book written for 11-year-olds? I probably wouldn't have, because reading a detailed, adult-sized book about Zeppelins sounds like a punishment to me. I loved this book and I love this series overall (the "Who Was?" and "What Was?" books). It's really enriching my life to get a broad, generous, and sweet nightly education from these books.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirigible, blimps, zeppelins, rigid and semi-rigid airships? Uh, yeah, I know them. 💅

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my son and we were both completely captivated by all the airship information. It was honestly hard to put down, and I learned a lot.

[Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read about the history of the Hindenburg and zeppelins.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much of the book was spent on how airships were created in the first place. About three-fourths. I feel like only the last 10 pages were actually about the Hindenburg.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out that Zeppelin was the guy who first made these flying things and that's why they're called "zeppelins." Who knew!

Also turns out, I find the engineering aspects, even at a child level, exceedingly dull. I just really don't care how and why they came to be.

I learned that Hitler kinda took control of the company because he wanted props. He basically used them fly around and drop down leaflets telling everyone how amazing he was.

After WWI Germany had to surrender all their aircraft, including the zeppelins. They were also forbidden from building any aircraft. So, the zeppelin company asked if they could build for the US and the US government was like, "Dude, yeah!" And they built a zeppelin that merrily traveled across the US showing everyone how cool the US government was.

The US got to use helium in their zeppelin because, apparently, the US controls most of the world's helium supply. Helium is much safer than hydrogen. Well, when Germany was allowed to start building zeppelins again and Hitler was like, "MINE!" the US refused to share their helium because Hitler was so yucky. (I fully support this.) So, Germany was forced to use hydrogen, which is exceedingly flammable and ultimately led to the disaster.

I also learned that the Hindenburg was more horrific to people because people heard it on live radio and there was also film of it. People hadn't really been that up close and personal to disaster before. I didn't know there was a video so I watched it on YouTube and it was pretty disturbing and sad.

Something else I didn't know, was that people don't really know what caused the disaster. The Germans thought it was sabotage because of anti-Nazi sentiment, but I don't want to believe that because I don't think killing innocent civilians is a great way to protest Nazis. A US commission thought that it was caused when the Hindenburg made a funky turn. Possibly a wire came lose and sparked setting off the hydrogen.

There was lots of information about the different types of zeppelins too but because I found that so incredibly boring I don't really remember it.

Another great installment in this excellent series for children.

[Gabe Perko]

The Hindenburg
By:Janet B. Pascal

The major event of the book is building zeppelins for wwI. The zeppelin company wanted everyone in Germany to have zeppelin just like we have cars. The only bad thing about the zeppelins were they costed a ton of money. The government also had to agree with how the zeppelins were to be built. Over 5 years count zeppelin had realized that the Germany government agreed to go on the airship called the Hindenburg what they did not know is they were about to be in an disaster. In 1936, it took off it was heading to Germany while they were coming back to Germany the Hindenburg blew up and only a couple of people survived.

In the Hindenburg the most depressing moment was when the Hindenburg blew up while tons of people were in there and most of them all died. what I would do to change this book is ti include more details about how they built the zeppelins.

I think who else might like this book is someone who is into nonfiction books.

[Kristi Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What was the Hindenburg? is a title in the Who Was…? And What Was…? series of books. This title includes sixteen pages of photos related to the Hindenburg, along with a great deal of background information on “lighter than air” and zeppelin crafts. This book explains in some detail the Hindenburg disaster, but it is not the entire focus of the book. The words of Chicago reporter, Herbert Morrison are quoted in the text along with photos of the actual disaster. This may be disturbing to some younger readers, but it may also be a reason to capture the attention of reluctant readers.

These informative texts are written for mid-elementary aged students. Each book covers one specific person or topic in great depth, but in an enjoyable manner. Throughout the book, in usually a one-page mini essay, additional information - related to the spotlight topic - is presented in order to provide a more broad understanding of the main person or topic. The books do not read like encyclopedia articles, but provide historically accurate details.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the late 1970s to early 1990s I conducted oral histories for a history class in high school. During this time period I began asking my parents questions about their lives prior to being married. Two things that stick out in my mind were my Dad telling me the exact location he was sitting in my great grandmother's house when he heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The other memory was of Mom telling me about the news of the Hindenburg explosion both of which were announced on the radio and both had influenced their young lives. Mom remembered that she had heard the reporter telling people about the experience first hand. This shaped both of their lives since prior to that time most disaster stories were told after the disaster. This book explains how the world changed over time from the first balloon up to the zeppelin classed flying aircrafts. I learned many things about this part of history. It is a fascinating time explore.

[Ms. Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1930s, people imagined a future where most air travel would use giant, lighter-than-air balloons called zeppelins. These sleek, aluminum and cloth beauties would drift gently through the sky ferrying people all over the world. That changed on May 6, 1937, when the Hindenburg, a large, luxurious zeppelin caught fire over the landing field. Reporters and crews caught the destruction live for radio listeners (and, later, newsreel viewers) all over the world. This book looks at flight and the age of the zeppelin, as well as discussing the mysteries related to the disaster.

Great for anyone interested in flying, history, or disasters. Part of a series.

[lunarlibrarian]

This is my favorite kids nonfiction book series out there. Well-written, helpful graphics, and just the right size to load you with information without losing your interest. My students read one after another after another..... And I do too.

Learning about zeppelins is fascinating! After reading it, I basically gave a long book report to Dan because airships are too interesting to NOT talk about.

[Lucas F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pretty good book because it was a interesting book. If you like the what was book you might this book because it is a goo interesting book. This book talks about the Hindenburg and what happened to it and what it was.

[Kama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informational Nonfiction
Grade level: 2-3

I liked learning about this because it was something I had not known before. I think it’s important to know about things in history that are no longer a part of today’s society.

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I swear. Hitler and the Nazis ruined everything. Jerks. These air ships were amazing. But the crash was horrible. It all could have been solved if they used helium instead. Actual footage of the crash can be watched on YouTube

[North Landesman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeppelins are fascinating. The first ever airline was created by Count Zeppelin called DELAG. The Germans even bombed London in WW1 with Zeppelins. While the crash is grisly and dark, the book functions as an outstanding history of the Zeppelin.

[MJ Belo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as entertaining as the others. While it was filled with facts and things I never knew, it couldn't keep my interest. The part I found most interesting was the fins. I always wondered why the fins had swastikas because America loved the Hindenburg and hated the Nazis.

[Chelsea Sipes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading "Flight of Dreams" right now and was looking for some simplified history of the Hindenburg and I found exactly that. The Hindenburg was so interesting and the survival rate of the accident was crazy, the whole thing amazes me and I enjoyed this quick read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to learn the history behind the Hindenburg Disaster. I didn't know a lot of the details, but this book was a quick and easy-to-understand overview of it.

[Eleanor Whisenhunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book because I didn’t know a lot about the Hindenburg before I read this, so it’s really good also, I love the who was or what was that have pictures in it like actual real pictures that’s really cool.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest mysteries had such an unusual beginning. I really enjoyed learning about how the Hindenburg came to be and what its end might have been caused by.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting topic. This has happened with other “Who Was” books: it just didn’t seem to flow well between the text and the sidebars/photographs.

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking Day 2023--Germany

[Bennett Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short story with some history. What could be wrong

[Summer Cromartie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing was a bit choppy, but it's a really great book with lots of great information. My first experience with this series, and it was good!

[Andrew Kueber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hindenburg is a big zeppelin made by Germany. But when they found out that hydrogen is a flammable gas they had to use something that isn't because just one spark meant everything was gone after that. there are many zeppelins that have gone down but the Hindenburg is the most famous. after Hitler took over the Zepplin company the USA stopped giving helium so they went back to doing hydrogen. Then the Hindenburg took place flying from Germany to the USA when they made it to new jersey they crashed and only there were a few survivors.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first airship disaster to be caught on film and reported on step-by-step makes The Hindenburg disaster one which went down in history as memorable. What Was the Hindenburg? is full of facts that lead up to the tragedy, including how it was built and by whom. These giant forerunners of modern aviation had a lot going for them, but they also had an inherent danger for passengers and crew. Adding to the gruesome appeal of this tragedy is that the cause of the fire was never determined, even to this day. Surrounding it, however, are all sorts of theories. Since the disaster, the appeal of this monstrous airship diminished and modern airplanes then took the place of quick travel around the globe.



Includes a Timeline of the Hindenburg, a timeline of the World, bibliography, and website.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Was The Hindenburg by Janet B. Pascal is about how a 804 feet ballon exploded just before landing killing many people. Before the explosion The Hindenburg had traveled over 1,000,000 miles and it carried over 34,000 passengers. The Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen in stead of air because hydrogen is 1/6 the weight of air. What caused the Hindenburg to burst into flames is still a mystery to this day.

I like this book because it had 16 pages full of real photos of the Hindenburg. I thought this was very interesting because it gives you a good image in your mind to think of what the Hindenburg was like.

I would recommend this book to fifth through eighth grade kids. The book is very descriptive and has lots of information about the Hindenburg.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a challenge with my students that I would read 20 books before we returned on August 8; my 20 books were to be about books we could discuss, either from the school library or the class library.
This is book 5. (I need to read!)

Built on primary resources, this piece of non-fiction describes Germany's early flight adventures with the zeppelins, including its most famous one, the Hindenburg. It also captures the beginning of Hitler's grasp for power and how he used the Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg for propaganda. But the explosion is still one of today's mysteries.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think it was awesome because i learned lots of stuff i didn't know before.
At 800-feet long, the Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built--just slightly smaller than the Titanic! Also of a disastrous end, the zeppelin burst into flame as spectators watched it attempt to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937. In under a minute, the Hindenburg was gone, people jumping from windows to escape. However, only 62 of the 97 crew members and passengers onboard survived. The exact cause of the disaster is still unknown and remains a fascinating historical mystery.

[Andrew Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is 5 stars because this book is everything is should have been. It was the perfect length, concise, very informative, interesting, added a lot of context to the history of the Hindenburg, included photographs and illustrations. It was like a wikipedia article bundled up into a 100 page book. I want to give it 4 stars because I only "really liked it"...but in my mind the book was flawless and therefore deserved a perfect 5 star rating