1. Johannes 'Hans' Baur was Adolf Hitler's pilot during the political campaigns of the early 1930s.
22 Facts About Hans Baur
1. 2.
Hans Baur began his aviation career as a flying ace in World War I Hans Baur later became Hitler's personal pilot and leader of the Reichsregierung squadron.
3.
Hans Baur was called up to the Bavarian Army in 1915, and trained in field artillery.
4.
Hans Baur then joined the Luftstreitkrafte as an artillery spotter.
5.
In 1918, Baur served in FA 295 as an Unteroffizier pilot of two-seater Hannover CL.
6.
Hans Baur was credited with six confirmed and three unconfirmed victories against French aircraft beginning 17 July 1918.
7.
Vizefeldwebel Hans Baur was awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Bavarian Silver Bravery Medal for attacking a French formation of seven and downing two of the SPADs that day.
8.
Hans Baur went on to become a courier flier for the Bavarian airmail service.
9.
In 1926, Baur became a pilot of Deutsche Luft Hansa.
10.
Hans Baur first served as his pilot during the 1932 General Election.
11.
Hans Baur was appointed head of Hitler's personal squadron, initially based at Oberwiesenfeld, Munich.
12.
Hans Baur was given the task of expanding and organising Hitler's personal squadron and the government "flying group".
13.
In 1934, Hans Baur was promoted to the rank of SS-Oberfuhrer.
14.
In 1942, an improved model of the Condor was put into use for Hitler's travels and Hans Baur continued to be his primary pilot.
15.
Hans Baur tested the aircraft, but Hitler never flew in it.
16.
Still by the end of the war, Hans Baur commanded a total of 40 different aircraft, including Ju 52, Condors, Ju 290 and the little Fieseler Fi 156 Storch.
17.
On 31 January 1944, Hans Baur was promoted to SS-Brigadefuhrer and major general of the police; and on 24 February 1945, he became an SS-Gruppenfuhrer and Generalleutnant of the Police.
18.
Hans Baur had devised a plan to allow Hitler to escape from the Battle of Berlin; a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was held on standby which could take off from an improvised airstrip in the Tiergarten, near the Brandenburg Gate.
19.
Hans Baur was taken to the Soviet Union, where he was subjected to interrogational torture.
20.
Hans Baur was of great interest to his Soviet captors, who believed he might have helped Hitler escape before the fall of Berlin.
21.
Hans Baur told the Soviets that he never saw Hitler's corpse and only learned of the details from other Nazis during his detainment.
22.
Hans Baur was one of the few people who was close to Hitler and was one of the last people to see him alive in the Fuhrerbunker.