Hans Baur

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Hans Baur bigraphy, stories - German general

Hans Baur : biography

19 June 1897 – 17 February 1993

SS-Gruppenführer Hans Baur (19 June 1897 – 17 February 1993) was the Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler’s pilot during his political campaigns of the 1920s and 1930s. He later became Hitler’s personal pilot and leader of the Reichsregierung squadron. Captured by the Soviets at the end of World War II in Europe, he endured ten years of imprisonment in the USSR before being released on 10 October 1955 to the French, who then imprisoned him until 1957.

He died in Herrsching, Bavaria in 1993.

Early life

Baur was born Johann Peter Baur in Ampfing, Bavaria and educated at the Erasmus-Grasser-Gymnasium in Sendling-Westpark, Munich.

Later life and book

Baur returned to West Germany and in 1957 wrote his autobiography Ich flog mit Mächtigen, which liberally translates as "I flew with [the] mighty." The book was later lengthened and the title was changed to Zwischen Himmel u. Erde mit Mächtigen, which translates as "Between Heaven and Earth with [the] Mighty." The French translation is more softly titled J’étais pilote de Hitler: Le sort du monde était entre mes mains, which translates to "I was Hitler’s pilot: The fate of the world was in my hands."

The book contains a collection of eye witness accounts of Hitler’s daily activities and conversations and is unique because Hans Baur, as his private pilot and personal friend, was in Hitler’s presence practically every day from 1933 to 1945. The book contains an account of the events surrounding the arrest of Ernst Roehm, by Hitler himself, on June 30, 1934 at Bad Wiessee in which Baur took part. The book also tells of Baur’s dislike for Hermann Goering (whom Baur describes as a "thick headed glutton"). Hans Baur was one of the few people who were truly close to Hitler and was one of the people assigned by Hitler to cremate his remains. Baur was one of the last persons to see Hitler alive in the Berlin bunker. The book has since been translated into English and is a rare insider look into Hitler’s daily life and doings as leader of the German Reich.

Baur died in Herrsching, Bavaria, of old age ailments in 1993. For a time, his house in Herrsching served as a place of pilgrimage for many veterans of the war. He is interred in the family plot in the Westfriedhof in Munich.

Decorations and awards

  • Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class and 1st classes
  • Bavarian Medal for Bravery in Silver
  • Military Merit Cross (Bavaria)
  • Royal Bavarian Pilot Badge
  • Cup of Honour for the winner in a dogfight
  • Sudetenland Medal
  • Anschluss Medal
  • SA Sports Badge in Bronze
  • Julleuchter of the SS (16 December 1935)
  • Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (1941)
  • Order of St. Alexander (1941)
  • Sword of honour of the command staff RFSS
  • Honour Chevron for the Old Guard with star
  • Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy
  • NSDAP Long Service Award in silver and bronze
  • Danzig Cross, 2nd class
  • Order of the Crown (Romania, April 1942)
  • Order of the White Rose of Finland
  • Order of the Cross of Liberty, 2nd class with swords (Finland, 4 June 1942)
  • SS Honour Ring
  • Golden Party Badge of the NSDAP (1943)
  • Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, 1st class (1943)
  • SS civil badge
  • SS Long Service Award

Pilot to Hitler

Hitler was the first politician to campaign by air travel, deciding that travel by plane was more efficient than travel by railway. Baur first piloted him during the 1932 General Election.

Hitler obtained his first private aeroplane, a Junkers Ju 52/3m with registration number D-2600 (Werk Nr. 4021), in February 1933, on becoming German Chancellor. Powered by BMW 132 license-built Pratt and Whitney radial engines, it was named Immelmann II after World War I pilot Max Immelmann.Hoffmann, Peter (2000). Hitler’s Personal Security: Protecting The Fuhrer 1921-1945, p. 75 The Fuehrermaschine had a small folding table in Hitler’s favourite seat on the right, with a clock, altimeter and airspeed indicator on the bulkhead just in front.