Hans Baur SS Gruppenführer, pilot, Hitler's pilot Date of Birth: 19.06.1897 Country: Germany

Biography of Hans Baur

Hans Baur was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, serving as an SS Gruppenführer, pilot, and the personal pilot of Adolf Hitler. He was born in Ampfing, Bavaria and attended high school in Munich. In 1915, he was called to serve in the army and underwent artillery training before transferring to the German Air Force. Baur's experience and courage in aerial combat earned him the Iron Cross 1st Class.

After World War I, Germany disbanded its air force, and Baur found a position in the military courier service. In 1926, he became one of the first six pilots of the German airline Deutsche Luft Hansa. Baur joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in the same year. Adolf Hitler recognized the efficiency of air transportation and became the first political leader to actively use airplanes for travel. Baur had the opportunity to fly Hitler for the first time in 1932. In February 1933, when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, Baur became his personal pilot. He also became the leader of Hitler's personal squadron.

In 1934, Hitler reorganized the government, and Baur was appointed as the head of the newly created government squadron, Regierungsstaffel. In this role, Baur was responsible for selecting aircraft and pilots for Hitler and his closest subordinates. He managed a fleet of eight planes, each capable of carrying 17 passengers. As Hitler's influence grew, so did Baur's importance. Hitler valued Baur's technical expertise and even allowed him to recruit experienced pilots from Luft Hansa to join the squadron.

On January 31, 1944, Baur was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer, and on February 24, 1945, he was further promoted to SS-Gruppenführer. During the last days of the war, Baur remained with Hitler in his bunker. He even devised an escape plan for Hitler, but the Führer refused to leave Berlin. On April 28, 1945, Hitler offered Baur the chance to evacuate while it was still possible, but Baur chose to stay with Hitler until his suicide on April 30. By that time, their planned escape routes were no longer viable. In an attempt to flee the crumbling country, Baur was injured and ended up in a hospital, where he was captured by Soviet forces.

Baur was considered a valuable prisoner due to his close association with Hitler, and there were speculations that he might know the whereabouts of the Amber Room. He was held captive in the Soviet Union for ten years before being released to France in 1955. However, local authorities detained him for an additional two years. Upon his return to Germany, Baur published his autobiography, "Ich flog mit Mächtigen" ("I Flew with the Mighty"), which was later reprinted under the title "Zwischen Himmel u. Erde mit Mächtigen" ("Between Heaven and Earth with the Mighty"). Hans Baur passed away in 1993 in Herrsching am Ammersee, Bavaria, at the age of 96.