Max Pruss
Encyclopedia
Max Pruss was the commander of the LZ 129 Hindenburg
on its last voyage and a surviving crew member of the zeppelin
disaster.
(now Zgon, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland
). He joined the German Navy
in 1906 and completed airship training during World War I
, serving as an elevatorman on the German Zeppelins. Pruss received command of the Hindenburg in 1936 on the third flight to Rio Di Janeiro.
of 6 May 1937. This was his first time commanding a trip to Lakehurst. Pruss and several crew members rode the Hindenburg down to the ground as it burned, then ordered everybody out. He carried radio operator Willy Speck out of the wreckage, then looked for survivors until rescuers were forced to restrain him. Pruss, however, suffered extensive burns and had to be taken out by ambulance to Paul Kimball Hospital in Lakehurst. The burns were so extensive that he was given last rites, but although his face was disfigured for the rest of his life, his condition improved over the next few months. Pruss was unable to testify at investigative committees, but officially he was not held responsible. Pruss maintained that the disaster was caused by sabotage, and dismissed the possibility that it was sparked by lightning. Hugo Eckener
criticized Pruss's handling of the landing approach, expressing his belief that sharp turns ordered by Pruss caused gas to leak, although Pruss claimed that such turns were normal procedure, and that the stern heaviness experienced during the approach was normal due to rainwater being displaced at the tail. However, it has been suggested that Pruss believed in the sabotage theory because of the guilt faced due to this rushed landing.
as World War II
broke out. By this time he was already urging the modernization of Germany's remaining Zeppelin fleet, and during a 1940 visit of Hermann Göring
to Frankfurt Airport this was the subject of an alleged quarrel between Pruss and Göring. In the 1950s Pruss tried to raise money for new Zeppelin construction, citing the comfort and luxury of this mode of transportation. He died in 1960 of pneumonia after a stomach operation. Pruss would not see his dream realized until over 30 years later with the construction of a new airship at the Friedrichshafen
complex by Zeppelin Neue Technologie (NT)
.
, Pruss was portrayed by Charles Durning
. This portrayal is inaccurate because Pruss is portrayed as ignoring the advice of Ernst Lehmann, saying "I'll do the worrying on this trip". In the docudrama Hindenburg: The Untold Story
he was portrayed by Albert Welling
. In the 2011 RTL television movie he is portrayed by Jürgen Schornagel.
LZ 129 Hindenburg
LZ 129 Hindenburg was a large German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of the Hindenburg class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume...
on its last voyage and a surviving crew member of the zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
disaster.
Biography
Max Pruss was born in 1891 in Sgonn, East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(now Zgon, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). He joined the German Navy
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
in 1906 and completed airship training during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, serving as an elevatorman on the German Zeppelins. Pruss received command of the Hindenburg in 1936 on the third flight to Rio Di Janeiro.
Hindenburg disaster
Pruss was commander of the airship during the Hindenburg disasterHindenburg disaster
The Hindenburg disaster took place on Thursday, May 6, 1937, as the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, which is located adjacent to the borough of Lakehurst, New Jersey...
of 6 May 1937. This was his first time commanding a trip to Lakehurst. Pruss and several crew members rode the Hindenburg down to the ground as it burned, then ordered everybody out. He carried radio operator Willy Speck out of the wreckage, then looked for survivors until rescuers were forced to restrain him. Pruss, however, suffered extensive burns and had to be taken out by ambulance to Paul Kimball Hospital in Lakehurst. The burns were so extensive that he was given last rites, but although his face was disfigured for the rest of his life, his condition improved over the next few months. Pruss was unable to testify at investigative committees, but officially he was not held responsible. Pruss maintained that the disaster was caused by sabotage, and dismissed the possibility that it was sparked by lightning. Hugo Eckener
Hugo Eckener
Dr. Hugo Eckener was the manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin during the inter-war years, and was commander of the famous Graf Zeppelin for most of its record-setting flights, including the first airship flight around the world, making him the most successful airship commander in history...
criticized Pruss's handling of the landing approach, expressing his belief that sharp turns ordered by Pruss caused gas to leak, although Pruss claimed that such turns were normal procedure, and that the stern heaviness experienced during the approach was normal due to rainwater being displaced at the tail. However, it has been suggested that Pruss believed in the sabotage theory because of the guilt faced due to this rushed landing.
After the Hindenburg
Pruss returned to Germany around October 1937, where he served as commandant of Frankfurt AirportFrankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport may refer to:Airports of Frankfurt, Germany:*Frankfurt Airport , the largest airport in Germany*Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport, a general aviation airport*Frankfurt-Hahn Airport , a converted U.S...
as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out. By this time he was already urging the modernization of Germany's remaining Zeppelin fleet, and during a 1940 visit of Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
to Frankfurt Airport this was the subject of an alleged quarrel between Pruss and Göring. In the 1950s Pruss tried to raise money for new Zeppelin construction, citing the comfort and luxury of this mode of transportation. He died in 1960 of pneumonia after a stomach operation. Pruss would not see his dream realized until over 30 years later with the construction of a new airship at the Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
complex by Zeppelin Neue Technologie (NT)
Zeppelin NT
The Zeppelin NT is a class of airships being manufactured since the 1990s by the German company Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH in Friedrichshafen. The initial model is the NT07...
.
Portrayals
In the 1975 filmThe Hindenburg (film)
The Hindenburg is a 1975 American film based on the disaster of the German airship Hindenburg. The film stars George C. Scott. It was produced and directed by Robert Wise, and was written by Nelson Gidding, Richard Levinson and William Link based on the book of the same name by Michael M. Mooney .A.A...
, Pruss was portrayed by Charles Durning
Charles Durning
Charles Durning is an American actor. With appearances in over 100 films, Durning's memorable roles include police officers in the Oscar-winning The Sting and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon , along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be Or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two...
. This portrayal is inaccurate because Pruss is portrayed as ignoring the advice of Ernst Lehmann, saying "I'll do the worrying on this trip". In the docudrama Hindenburg: The Untold Story
Hindenburg: The Untold Story
Hindenburg: The Untold Story known in Germany as Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg and Die Hindenburg: die ungeklärte Katastrophe, is a two-hour docudrama about the disaster of the Hindenburg, and the investigation that followed. It aired on May 6, 2007 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the disaster...
he was portrayed by Albert Welling
Albert Welling
Albert Welling is a British actor. He has appeared in a number of television series including Cribb, Z Cars, The Sweeney, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Bretts, Inspector Morse and A Touch of Frost. His film credits include Cemetery Junction and Wilde...
. In the 2011 RTL television movie he is portrayed by Jürgen Schornagel.