On August 1, 1914, the distinction was made between In October 1916, the Feldluftschiffer were subordinated to the "Commanding General of the Air Force".
The Luftschiffer became the backbone of German aerial warfare in the first years of the War, conducting reconnaissance flights as well as the first bombings of cities, including Paris and London.
After three Zeppelins were shot down in the first month alone, the Luftschiffer were switched to naval surveillance, observing British ship movements, in which capacity they played a decisive role in the Battle of Jutland.
On January 19, 1915, the first bombs fell over Britain, when two Zeppelins dropped 50 kg explosives on villages outside Great Yarmouth.
After an accidental bomb-dropping on London, the Kaiser approved of raids directly against the city's urban center.
Large-scale introduction of fighter planes caused nearly half of the planned bombings to end in failure.