Johannes 'Hans' Baur was Adolf Hitler's pilot during the political campaigns of the early 1930s.
22 Facts About Hans Baur
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 of great interest to his captors, who believed he might have flown Hitler to safety before the fall of Berlin.
20.
Hans Baur was taken to the Soviet Union and imprisoned there for ten years before being released on 10 October 1955.
21.
Hans Baur returned to West Germany and in 1957 wrote his autobiography Ich flog die Machtigen der Erde.
22.
Hans Baur was one of the few people who was truly close to Hitler and was one of the last people to see him alive in the Berlin bunker.