Figure 1.--Hanna Reitsch is one of the most unique individuals in World War II. She was one of the two best known women in NAZI Germany. And amazingly she became one of the Luftwaffe's most feeless test pilots. And amazing accomplishment in hyper-masculin NAZI culture. At the same time the NAZIs were pursuing policies to restrict access to education and important roles in the New Order for women. Here we see her with her Iron Cross and a Luftwaffe award. The man with her with the brown uniform looks to be a Pary official not a soldier.

Hanna Reitsch was one of the two best known women in NAZI Germany. She stands out today because of her military role as a daring test pilot. Ironically the best known woman today, Hitler's mistress Eva Braun, was unknown to the German people. The other well-known woman was film maker Leni Riefenstahl. That was not that unusual as there were many women involved in theatricals. Military matters was a very different thing. The limited role of women of course was not just a NAZI cultural characteristic. Where the NAZIs differed from the rest of the world, is that they adopted polices, such as limiting female university admissions, designed to reverse the progress that German women had made. She was born into an upper-middle-class family in Hirschberg, Silesia (1912). She no doubt was a challenge to her conservative father. And from an early age not yet understanding the societal roles expected of girls, she became enamored with flying. As a girl her intense, determined personality was apparent. At age 4 years she attempted to jump off the balcony of her home to experience flying. She explained in her autobiography, "The longing grew in me, grew with every bird I saw go flying across the azure summer sky, with every cloud that sailed past me on the wind, till it turned to a deep, insistent homesickness, a yearning that went with me everywhere and could never be stilled." [Reitsch] She was also a fervent German patriot. She virtually worshiped Hitler and was a strong devotee of NAZI ideology. She became a famous stunt pilot before Hitler and the NAZIs seized power. Reitsch was similar in many ways to American female aviator Amelia Erhart, at least until Reitsch got involved with politics. And as a result she became a Luftwaffe test pilot--as far as we know the only World War II test pilot from any country. She was the only German woman to win the Iron Cross (first and second class). She made a spectacular flight into Berlin at the end of the war, just before Hitler committed suiside. She hoped to rescue her beloved Führer. She spent 3 days in the Führerbunker with him. He was adament about remaining in Berlin. She flew out the last Luftwaffe commandr just appointed by Hitler, Gen. Robert Ritter von Greim. A new commander was needed after Hitler charged Göring with trason and ordered him arrested. Hitler gave Greim the absurd order of launching a major bombing offensive against the Red Army.

Women in the Third Reich

Hanna Reitsch was one of the two best known women in NAZI Germany. She stands out today because of her military role as a daring test pilot. Ironically the best known woman today, Hitler's mistress Eva Braun, was unknown to the German people. The other well-known woman was film maker Leni Riefenstahl. That was not that unusual as there were many women involved in theatricals. Military matters was a very different thing. The limited role of women of course was not just a NAZI cultural characteristic. Where the NAZIs differed from the rest of the world, is that they adopted polices, such as limiting female university admissions, designed to reverse the progress that German women had made. There were of course other well known women in NAZI Germany, but most were from the theatrical community are those playing leadership roles in NAZI women's organizations. Most of the rest were women married to NAZI leaders.

Family

Hanna was born into an upper-middle-class family in Hirschberg, Silesia (1912).

Childhood

She no doubt was a challenge to her conservative father. And from an early age not yet understanding the societal roles expected of girls, she became enamored with flying. As a girl her intense, determined personality was apparent.

Flying

Hanna at age 4 years attempted to jump off the balcony of her home to experience flying. She explained in her autobiography, "The longing grew in me, grew with every bird I saw go flying across the azure summer sky, with every cloud that sailed past me on the wind, till it turned to a deep, insistent homesickness, a yearning that went with me everywhere and could never be stilled." [Reitsch]

Politics

Reitsch was also a fervent German patriot. She virtually worshiped Hitler and was a strong devotee of NAZI ideology.

Aviator

Reitsch became a famous stunt pilot before Hitler and the NAZIs seized power. Reitsch was similar in many ways to American female aviator Amelia Erhart, at least until Reitsch got involved with politics.

Luftwaffe

As a result of her reputation as a stunt pilot, Reitsch became a Luftwaffe test pilot--as far as we know the only World War II test pilot from any country.

World War II

Reitsch was the only German woman to win the Iron Cross (first and second class). She made a spectacular flight into Berlin at the end of the war, just before Hitler committed suiside. She hoped to rescue her beloved Führer. She spent 3 days in the Führerbunker with him. He was adament about remaining in Berlin. She flew out the last Luftwaffe commandr just appointed by Hitler, Gen. Robert Ritter von Greim. A new commander was needed after Hitler charged Göring with trason and ordered him arrested. Hitler gave Greim the absurd order of launching a major bombing offensive against the Red Army.

Sources

Reitsch, Hanna. The Sky My Kingdom (1955).

Created: 1:08 AM 9/24/2016
Last updated: 1:08 AM 9/24/2016