The actual site of the Hindenburg crash, at Lakehurst Naval Air Station (now part of Joint Base Lakehurst-Dix-McGuire) is marked with a chain-outlined pad and bronze plaque where the airship's gondola landed. It was dedicated on May 6, 1987, the 50th anniversary of the disaster. Hangar #1, which still stands, is where the airship was to be housed after landing. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
The film includes clips from the actual newsreel footage of the airship's explosion and fire. The recording played just before the closing credits is the actual eye-witness account of news reporter Herbert Morrison, describing the Hindenburg disaster.
Real-life tragedy nearly happened while filming the Hindenburg explosion. A full-scale section of the Hindenburg's nose was built for the film, to be destroyed by fire. Six stunt artists wearing fire-retardant gear were placed in the nose replica as it was set on fire. The fire quickly got out of control, causing several stunt artists to get lost in the smoke, damaging several cameras filming the action, and nearly destroying the sound stage. Some of the footage was used in the final cut, but the full sequence, as it had been planned, was not included.
The scenes of the airship crashing were filmed in black and white with hand-held cameras so they could allow incorporation of the actual newsreel footage of the Hindenburg crash.
The song sung in the Frankfurt beer hall is an English version of Horst Wessel, the theme song of the Nazi party. The scene was cut from one of the VHS releases.