In April 1940, Hermann Göring issued the order to scrap both "Graf Zeppelins" and the unfinished framework of LZ 131, since the metal was needed for the construction of airplanes. By April 27, work crews had finished cutting up the airships. On May 6, the enormous airship hangars in Frankfurt were leveled by explosives, three years to the day after the destruction of the "Hindenburg".