Description:

HINDENBURG DISASTER: EUGEN NUNNEMACHER
Steward on the ill-fated airship Hindenburg, he survived the disaster with only minor burns after helping many others escape. Fine content, length A.L.S. 'E. Nunnenmacher', 7pp. 8vo., [Heidelberg], May 24, 1976, to Mr. Miller, in part: '...I am very sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot send you any artifacts of the Airship Hindenburg...all my souvenirs were destroyed during a bombing raid in Stuttgart-Bad-Cannstadt. Some of my former airship comrades were killed during the war...We met a few times after the war; once celebrating Dr. Eckener's 85th birthday, and once at his funeral...Now to answer your questions. The LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin was built and outfitted exactly like the Hindenburg with only a few deviations. With the demand for air travel increased, additional cabins were installed from 1936 to 1937 so that we were able to accommodate 60 to 70 passengers. The cabins and other living areas, like the dining room, recreation room, and smoking lounge were supplied with fresh air or heat by means of an electrical air conditioning system...The heating system was installed under the floor...What made air travel so pleasant was the complete quietness. We had very bad turbulence, especially over the North Atlantic, but we came through without any damage. Even through the most violent storms, the wine bottles remained standing on the table just as still as during a normal weather situation. Once, over Labrador, we were surprised by a seemingly unending snowstorm. The sky was as dark as if it had been the middle of the night...We had to use our echo-sounding apparatus to calculate our height, since we took this route for the first time and the maps had only incomplete detail over existing mountains. But we were fortunate enough to have our father, Dr. Eckener, on board with us. No other airship commander had such a nose for wind and air currents as he did. Everything went as planned and we arrived safe and sound in...In case of heavy thunderstorms, the antennae were pulled in and we made a little detour, but this was only done to keep from alarming the passengers. Lightening could not harm us because we had no contact with the ground and our own lightening rods gave us extra protection. I only worked on board the Hindenburg...[Captain] Lehmann picked me out of 2,000 applicants...After each arrival, we had a couple of days for ourselves and we made the most of it by seeing parts of America...We were invited everywhere by Germans and Americans alike...One time...we were received by Jack Dempsey at his restaurant, which was at the time that Max Schmeling came with us...to fight Joe Louis.'. Along with copies and translations of the correspondence leading up to this letter. Fine condition.

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June 16, 2023 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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