Author Description

Drawing on a unique collection of postcards and other period memorabilia, David Marks tells the story of the Zeppelin raids during the First World War. While the German Kaiser and his military advisers hoped that the Zeppelins would strike terror into the hearts of the British people, the book reveals that, despite their initial anger, frustration and demands for retaliation, the British proved to be immune to the Zeppelin as a terror weapon and even began to create comic postcards to mark their visits. Once the aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service had been deployed with ammunition that could bring down the Zeppelins, crowds of people would visit the crash sites to collect souvenirs from the wreckage - meanwhile, the Zeppelin-slaying pilots became overnight heroes. Drawing on the largest postcard collection of its kind as well as the author's expertise as a contributor to leading aviation historical societies, this book is a unique contribution to our understanding of the Zeppelin raids and their effects on Britain. Contextualising these often-comic postcards within the wider story of the First Blitz, David Marks demonstrates the power of their good-natured and simple humour in rallying morale, and reveals the stoicism and defiance that the British public displayed in the face of Zeppelin attack.