Germany's Forgotten Aircraft Carrier

Graf Zeppelin docked in Stettin 1942

When one considers aircraft carriers in World War II, one usually thinks of the carriers of Britain, Japan, and the United States. However, did you know that Germany had an aircraft carrier too? She was named the Graf Zeppelin, after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. It was Germany's attempt to spread her naval arm outside the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic. Alas, it was not to be.

The Graf Zeppelin was ordered in 1935, as part of Germany's rearmament. It was an attempt to create a well-rounded navy, to fit in with the times where a biplane with a torpedo can sink the mightiest of battleships (much like Bismarck). Her hull was completed and launched in 1938. However, she was never officially commissioned.

Work to complete the Graf Zeppelin was on and off throughout the war. Work would only resume in 1942, when the power of aircraft carriers had been demonstrated numerous times before. However, other issues arose concerning the aircraft. It was initially thought that specially-designed carrier planes would be built. This was not possible, however, due to the already stretched aircraft industry in Germany building planes for ground-support and air superiority roles. The idea then came to modify existing planes to carrier duty. In the end, this did not work, and the Graf Zeppelin was an aircraft carrier without any planes.

The Graf Zeppelin was moved from port to port as needed when the Allies were advancing. Since she was never completed, she was not a big threat. There was only one air attack specifically against the Graf Zeppelin, but did not receive any confirmed damage. After the war, the Graf Zeppelin fell into the hands of the Soviets. For a time, there was a movement to finish the carrier and commission it in the Soviet Navy. However, this did not happen, and she ended up being towed out to sea and scuttled.

She was found, however, in 2006 by a Polish fishing ship. Subsequent dives to the wreck confirmed that it indeed is the Graf Zeppelin, sunk 264 feet down off the coast of Poland, where she remains today. Until next time, take care, and thank you.