At the time of the Armistice the construction and operating companies employed 1,600 persons on their executive and engineering staffs and 12,000 workmen.
Many subsidiary companies were organized and operated, specializing in the various branches of Zeppelin work, experimenting and producing.
Many Subsidiary Companies
Zeppelin Village (Zeppelindorf), 1916.
Constructed by the Zeppelin Airship Building Company for its employees and their families.
| A Typical Double House. | A Typical Single House. |
These subsidiary companies are also controlled by the Directorate. They were not permitted to disintegrate during the difficult period following the war, but instead, have kept their personnel and facilities intact and are ready to continue the work which was interrupted by the terms of the treaty. They produce respectively motors, gas bags, propellers, gears, sheds and, in fact, everything pertaining to aerial navigation including airplanes, flying boats and parts.
The Construction Plants
The great construction plants are organized on the same principles as ship yards. Over them all is the General Director, Mr. Alfred Colsman, and Chief Engineer, Dr. Ing. Ludwig Dürr, the latter having been with Count Zeppelin since the first airship was started and to whom much of the credit must be given for the success attained.