TheAuthor.AlthoughtranslatedhereasLieutenant-General,Baur’sultimaterankofGeneralleutantwasinfacttheequivalentofAirViceMarshalintheRAFandMajor-

GeneralintheUSAAF.

IWasHitler’sPilot

Thiseditionpublishedin2013byFrontlineBooks,animprintofPen&SwordBooksLtd,47ChurchStreet,Barnsley,S.Yorkshire,S702ASwww.frontline-books.com

Copyright©FrederickMullerLtd,1958Introduction©RogerMoorhouse,2013

TherightofHansBaurtobeidentifiedastheauthorofthisworkhasbeenassertedbyhiminaccordancewiththeCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988.

9781783469826

PublishingHistory

ThefirstGermanedition,IchflogMächtigederErde(‘IFlewwiththeWorld’sPowerful’),waspublishedbyPröpster,Auflagein1956.ThefirstEnglishedition,Hitler’sPilot,waspublishedbyFrederickMullerLimited,Londonin1958.Thisedition,publishedbyFrontlineBooks,London,containsanewIntroductionbyRogerMoorhouse.

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinorintroducedintoaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyform,orbyanymeans(electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise)withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Anypersonwhodoesanyunauthorizedactinrelationtothispublicationmaybeliabletocriminalprosecutionandcivilclaimsfordamages.

CIPdatarecordsforthistitleareavailablefromtheBritishLibrary

Formoreinformationonourbooks,pleasevisitwww.frontline-books.com,emailinfo@frontline-books.comorwritetousattheaboveaddress.

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TableofContents

TitlePageCopyrightPageIntroductionPARTONE-TheFirstWarintheAirPARTTWO-TheGermanLufthansaPARTTHREE-WithHitlerOverGermanyPARTFOUR-TheSecondWorldWarPARTFIVE-InRussianHandsIndex

Introduction

‘BUTFORTHEwar,’HansBaurwritesattheopeningofthismemoir,‘Imighthavespenttherestofmylifeinanoffice.’BorninsouthernBavariainthefinalyearsofthenineteenthcentury,BaurenjoyedanunremarkableyouthgrowingupinMunich,untiltheoutbreakofwarin1914transformedhislifeirrevocably.ForcountlessmillionsofothersacrossEurope,theFirstWorldWarmarkedadefinitecaesura:whetherinthewantonslaughterofthebattlefields,orthepoliticalandeconomicmaelstromthatfollowed.ButforBaur,thewargavehimaskillandacareerthathewouldotherwiseneverhavepossessed–thatofflying.

ServingasapilotontheWesternFront–where,withsixvictories,hetechnicallyqualifiedasan‘ace’–Baurquicklyshowedanaturalabilityandunderstandingofthepilot’sart,notleastinthefactthathesurvivedthewar,nomeanfeatinthoseearlydaysofaerialcombat.Inthepost-waryearsheroseswiftly,buildingareputationforsafetyandpunctuality,andwasappointedasoneofthefirstcadreofsixpilotsofthenascentLuftHansain1926.Healsoearnedanumberofhonoursandaccolades:pilotingthedebutoftheBerlin–Munich–Romeroutein1931,forinstance,andflyingoveronemillionkilometresfortheairline.

ThusitwasthatHansBaurcameintocontactwithAdolfHitler.Duringtheelectioncampaignsof1932,inwhichtheNaziswereexpectedtomakesignificantgains,HitlerwaspersuadedthatheneededmoreimaginativemethodstoreachhisaudienceeffectivelyandBaurwassuggestedassomeonewhoseflyingexpertisecouldhelphimtocampaignbyair.Thoughsuchastepwouldbequitenormalforanymodernpolitician,itisworthmentioningthatitwasanextremelyradicalandinnovativeideaforthe1930s,whenflyingwasstillverymuchinitsinfancyandwasseenbymanyasimpossiblydangerousandexotic.Whereashisopponentswoulduseradioorgiveset-piecespeechestothepoliticalandmediaelite,Hitlerthusoptedtomakeseveralgrandstandspeechespernight,travellingbetweenengagementsbyair.Itwasnotonlyamoreefficientuseoftime,itwasalsoapropagandacoup,markinghimoutwiththeGermanelectorateasathoroughlymodern,forward-lookingpolitician,readytoembracenewtechnology.

Whentheelectioncampaignsof1932weresuccessfulfortheNazis,Hitlerwasdulypersuadedofthepoliticaleffectivenessofcampaigningbyair,notleastbecausehehadovercomehisownconcernsaboutthesafetyofairtravel.SoimpressedwasHitlerwithBaur’sproficiency,indeed,thathewouldneverflywithanotherpilot.Withthat,Baurquicklybecameafixture,andwasappointedasHitler’spersonalpilotinFebruary1933.ThusbeganapersonalandprofessionalrelationshipthatwouldlastuntilHitler’sdeathtwelveyearslaterin1945.Baur–abluff,no-nonsenseBavarian–wouldbecomeoneofHitler’sinnercircle,oneofhisintimates,someonetowhomtheFührerregularlyentrustedhislife.

Baur,therefore,wasinanunusualpositionwithintheThirdReich–similartothatofHitler’sphotographerHeinrichHoffmann–inthatforallhisclosenesstoHitler,hewas

neitherpoliticallynorprofessionallyentirelydependentuponhim.Histhoughtsandobservationsmightthusbeconsideredrelativelyfreeofthecomplicatinginfluencesofpolitickingandnakedambitionthatcouldcolourotheraccounts.CertainlyBaurenjoyedtheprestigethathisroleasHitler’spilotbroughthim,andinthesepagesheclearlyrelishesthetimehespentflyingthemostprominentmenoftheReichanditsAllies:Göring,MussoliniandKingBorisIIIofBulgariaforemostamongstthem.Itistelling,forinstance,thattheoriginalGermaneditionofthisbookwasentitledIchflogMächtigederErde(‘IFlewtheWorld’sPowerful’).

Baurwasalsoaneye-witnesstomanyoftheseminalmomentsinthehistoryoftheThirdReich,includingtheNightoftheLongKnivesinJune1934,Ribbentrop’shistoricflighttoMoscowin1939toconcludetheNazi–SovietPactandthefeveredaftermathofHess’sflighttoBritaininMay1941.Ononelevel,then,hismemoircanbereadsimplyasanengagingchronicleofthosetumultuousyears,albeitobservedbyonewhowasveryclosetotheepicentreofNazipower.Onanotherlevel,itisaportraitoftheworkingsofthatinnercircle:thecharactersandthepettyrivalriesthatmadeuptheThirdReichasseenfromwithin.

Thereareanumberofhighlights.One,certainly,isapassingreferencethatBaurmakeswhichwouldhaveprofoundconsequencesandspawnoneofthemostfamouscontroversiesofthetwentiethcentury.Onpage177,Baurnotesthat,whilstHitler’seffectswerebeingevacuatedfromtheReichChancelleryinApril1945,oneoftheaircraftusedforthepurposefailedtoarriveatitsdestinationinsouthernGermanyandwaspresumedcrashed.WhenthislosswasreportedtoHitler,hewas‘veryupset’,statingthat‘extremelyvaluabledocuments’wereaboardtheplane,whichwould‘showposteritythetruthof[his]actions’.Thatsinglereference,extrapolatedandexploitedbyalatergenerationhungryfor‘Hitleriana’,wouldprovidethefactualseedforthe‘HitlerDiaries’forgeriesoftheearly1980s.1

AnotherhighlightisBaur’sdramaticaccountofhisescapefromHitler’sbunkerattheendofthewar:creepingwithBormann,StumpfeggerandothersthroughtheBerlinundergroundsysteminavainattempttoevadetheclosingSovietforces.Thepassageisalsonotableasitisoneoftheveryfeweye-witnessaccounts(alongwiththoseofArturAxmannandHeinzLinge)thatrelatetoMartinBormann’sfate,whichuntilcomparativelyrecentlywasstillshroudedinmystery.

LikeBormann,BauralsofailedtoescapetheSovietsinBerlininMay1945.Seriouslyinjured,hewascapturedclosetotheLehrterStation,therebybeginninghislongperiodincaptivity.AsoneofHitler’sformerinnercircle,BaurwasofparticularinteresttotheSoviets,whowerekeentoinvestigatethesuggestionthathemighthaveflownHitleroutofthebeleagueredBerlin,andthathemayhavehadconnectionstolootedart,particularlythefateofthefamed‘AmberRoom’.BaurwouldproveadisappointmenttohisSovietinterrogators,however,notonlybecauseofhisdoggedinsistencethatHitlerhaddiedintheBerlinbunker,butalsobecauseofhisapparentignoranceofthebroaderpoliticsoftheThirdReich.Intheory,atleast,incapturingHitler’spilotBaur,hisvaletHeinzLingeandhischauffeurErichKempka,theSovietshadsecuredauniqueinsightintotheworkingsoftheThirdReichandthecharacterofitsleader,andtheyplannedtoexploittheirthreecaptivestocompilea‘HitlerBook’forStalin’spleasure.Baur,however,wasswiftly

droppedfromtheproject,ashisknowledgewasnotconsideredtobesufficientlydetailed.2

AsBaurmighthaveputithimself–hewasapilot,notapolitician.Yet,hewaskeptcaptivefortenyearsbytheSovietsuntilhisreleasein1955.Itisperhapsalittlehardtoseewhatcrime–otherthanguiltbyassociation–mighthavemotivatedsuchpunishment,andBaurcertainlyexcelsinplayingtheroleoftheinnocent,politicalingénueinthisvolume.BaurclaimedelsewherenottohaveknownabouttheHolocaust,forexample,untilafterthewar,and,eventhen,nottohavebelievedit.3And,inhisdefence,onemightaddthatproximitytoeventsisoftenaslikelytoresultinmyopiaasininsight.

Asever,ofcourse,thereisanothersidetothestory.Itisnotable,forinstance,thatBaurjoinedtheSSin1933,thoughthismightbedismissedasanhonoraryranktomarkhispositionastheFührer’spilot.WhatismoreinterestingisthatBaurwasalsoacomparativelyearlymemberoftheNaziParty:joiningin1926,longbeforeitwas‘fashionable’andlongbeforehisfirstmeetingwithHitler.ItisalsoinstructivetonotethatBaurwouldlaterbecomeoneoftheunofficial‘keepersoftheflame’,alongwithKempka,LingeandHitler’sformersecretaryJohannaWolf,whomaintainedafierce,uncompromisingloyaltytotheirformeremployer.4Aslateasthemid-1980s,forexample,BaurwasstilllaudingHitleras‘atrulyremarkableman’and‘akindandconsiderateman’toanyonewhowouldlisten.5Again,thismightbedismissedsimplyasanenduringfealtytothemanwho–morethananyother–hadshapedBaur’scareerandhislife,andanaturaldesirenottodisavowthoseheady,formativeyearsjustbecausetheyhadbecomepoliticallyembarrassing.However,itdoescertainlyhintthattherewasmore‘depth’toBaur’spoliticsthanhewaspreparedtoadmittohisSovietinterrogators.Intheabsenceofanyfurtherevidenceeitherway,itislefttothereadertodecideforhimselfthedegreeofBaur’scomplicityandtheshadeofhispoliticalconviction.

Asidefromsuchcomplexities,thisisnonethelessafascinatingandilluminatingmemoirbysomeonewhomovedinHitler’sinnercircleandwhoenjoyedhisunalloyedtrust.HansBaurisanaffableguidethroughtheturbulent,momentousyearsoftheThirdReich.Thoughhedoesnotengagewiththeissueatallinthisbook,histonesuggeststhathehadfewregretsfromhistimeflyingforthemostpowerfulmenintheworld.Afterall,thealternativemighthavebeentospendhislifeinanoffice.

RogerMoorhouse,2013

PARTONE

TheFirstWarintheAirIWASBORNinAmpfingnearMühldorfontheRiverInninsouthernBavariaintheyear1897;butwhenIwasonlytwoyearsoldmyparentsmovedtoMunich.IbeganmycareerasacommercialapprenticeinKempten,andbutforthewarImighthavespenttherestofmylifeinanoffice.

IwasseventeenwhentheFirstWorldWarbrokeout.Awaveofpatrioticenthusiasmwentthroughthecountry,sweepingmewithit,andIvolunteeredforservice.Tooyoungandnotbigenoughtocarryaheavypack,wastheverdict.Andthiswaswhatfirstturnedmyattentiontotheair–afterall,airmendidn’thavetocarrypacks,soIdecidedtotrymyluckagain,intheairthistime.AndtomakequitecertainmyapplicationwouldnotgetlostanywhereonthewayIwrotedirecttotheKaiser.Ididn’tgetareplyfromtheKaiser,butaletterdidcomeafterawhilefromtheairforcedepotatSchleissheiminformingmethatforthemomenttheyneedednofurtherrecruits;if,however,atanytimeinthefuture…

ThatwasinSeptember1915.Iwaitedimpatientlyforaboutamonth,andthenIwrotetotheKaiseragain.InduecourseanotherletterarrivedfromSchleissheim,andthistimeIwastoldtoreporton25November,whichIdidwithtremendousenthusiasm,quiteconvincedthatwithinafewweeksIshouldbeintheair.

AsaveryrawrecruitIwasgiventwomonths’training–butnotintheair–andthenpostedtoBavarianAirDetachment1B.WhenIarrivedIwaswelcomedamiablyenough,butmyextremeyouthinducedageneral‘Germany’slasthope’sortofatmosphere,whichwasn’tveryencouraging.

AfterseveralmonthsintheofficeIaskedmycommandingofficerwhetherIcouldn’tputinalittletimeintheeveningswiththeplanes–andwithagrinheagreed.AfterthatIwasallowedtohelpthemechanicscleantheengines.Thatwasn’tmyideaatall,butatleastIwasactuallynearertheplanesthanbefore.Fromtimetotimenoticescameinaskingforvolunteersforflyingservice,andasIwasintheofficeIsawthemfirst,soonedayIapproachedmycommandingofficeragainandaskedhimtoletmevolunteer.Afterawhilehegaveway,andsentmeofftoVerviens,wherethevolunteersweresifted.Therewereonehundredandthirty-sixofusinall,andmostoftheotherswerebig,strappingfellowswhomademefeelverysmall;manyofthemwerealreadyveteranswithdecorations.Buttoeverybody’ssurprise,fourweekslater‘PioneerHansBaur’(thatwasmyexaltedrank)receivedinstructionstoreporttotheAirTrainingSchoolatMilbersthofen.

Iwasalreadykeenlyinterestedintechnicalmatters,andIhadlearnedagoodbitatSchleissheim,soIfounditeasyenoughtoreachthetechnicalstandardrequired.AfterthatcameactualflyingtrainingatGersthofen,wherewewereformedintogroupsofsix,eachunderaninstructor.Iwasthefirstofmybatchtotakemysolotest–afterIhaddoneonly

eighteenflightswithaninstructor;theusualnumberwasbetweenthirty-fiveandforty.Sofarwehadlearnedonlytake-offsandlandings,andnowIenquiredfromamoreadvancedpupilhowyouspiralled–ourinstructorhadn’ttoldusanythingaboutthat.

Whenapupilmadehisfirstsoloflightnoothermachinewasallowedintheair;everyoneconcentratedonthetest,anditcreatedquiteatenseatmosphere.IdidmineinanAlbatrosswithahundred-horsepowerengine,areliabletrainerwhichdidaboutseventy-fivemilesanhour.Ifeltcalmandconfident,andItookoffwithoutincidentandwentuptoabouttwothousandfivehundredfeet.Ihadneverbeenupsohighbefore–notmorethanathousandfeetwiththeinstructor.ThenIshutofftheengineanddidexactlywhattheadvancedpupilhadtoldme.TurningleftIspiralledround,andwhenIthoughtIwasdippingalittletoomuchIeasilycorrectedit.Itwasallquitesimple,andataboutsixhundredfeetIflattenedout,flewmyobligatoryroundandthenmadeaperfectlanding.

MyinstructorwasfarmoreexcitedaboutitthanIwas,andhedidn’tknowwhattodo:dressmedownorpraiseme,sohedidbothalternately.ThesecondandthirdtestsIdidwithoutthespiral,andwiththatIqualified.Iwasobviouslycutoutforapilot.AfterthatIwassentasanobservertoanartillerytrainingschool(wheretheyusedliveshells)totaketheplaceofapilotwhohadbeenkilledinacrash.Iwastheresixweeks,andafterthatmyapplicationtobepostedonceagaintomyold1BwasgrantedandIwasbackagainonactiveservice–andnotintheofficethistime.

MyfirstninedaysinFrancewerespentchasingmyoldcomradesaround,becausetheywereconstantlybeingtransferred,butIcaughtupwiththematlast,andthistimemyreceptionbytheoldhandswasenthusiastic.Therewasaparticularlygoodreasonforit,becauseIhadbeenreportedkilledinacrash.Thevictimturnedouttohavebeenacomradeofthesamename.

Itwassomedaysbeforetheweatherbecamefitforflying,butatlastIwasabletogetintotheair.ItwasaDFW,andIputitthroughitspacesverythoroughly,tryingouteverythingIhadlearned.WhenIcamedowntoaperfectlandingthegroundpersonnelandtheobserverscheered,thoughtheotherpilots,mostlystrangerstome,weren’tsoenthusiastic.Afterthattherewasnoshortageofobserversanxioustogointotheairwithme,foranobserveriscompletelydependentonhispilot.

AfewdaysafterthatcamethebigGermanoffensive,andIflewanarmouredinfantry-supportmachine.Nolessthanfivethousandgunshadbeenmassed,anunprecedentednumberforthosedays,andtheyputupacreepingbarrage,whichwasprobablyourchiefdanger,forwenaturallyhadtoflyverylow.Heavymistmadevisibilitypoor,butfromtimetotimewecouldseethetrenchesbelow.Ourmenweregatheringintheiradvancedpositions,buttherewasnosignoftheFrench,andtheirfront-linetrencheswereempty.Nodoubttheheavybarragewaskeepingthemintheirdugouts.

AfteraboutthreehoursofflyingbackwardsandforwardsalongthefrontlineweflewoverintoFrenchterritory,andtherewesawlongcolumnsofmen,andhorse-drawncartsandlorries.Wedecidedtomachine-gunandbombthem,our‘bombs’beinghand-grenadesinclustersofsix.Ourattackproducedapanic;horsesreared,cartsoverturned,andthecolumncametoahaltinconfusion.Ofcourse,weweresoonunderheavyfire,andourwingswereriddled.Myenginewashit,too,andwehadtogetbackbehindourownlines,

whichwejustsucceededindoing;butinlandingIhitatelegraphpole,andthemachineturnedupsidedown.FortunatelymyobserverandIsustainedonlysuperficialinjuries,butwehadtotrampabouttwelvemilesbeforewecouldfindatelephonetoletoursquadronknowwhathadhappenedtous.Inadditiontoouraccident,oursquadronhadlosttwootherplanesandtheircrews.

AfterthatIspentafewdaysatbaseandthenreturnedtoduty.Thisusuallyconsistedoftwoandsometimeseventhreeflightsaday,eachofbetweenthreeandfourhours,sowewerekeptbusy.Sofarourmachineshadnotbeensuitableforaircombat,butnowwewereequippedwiththeHannoveraner,theCL.3a,asmallandreliabledouble-deckerpoweredbya185-horsepowerArgusenginecapableofaspeedofoverahundredmilesanhour,veryfastforthosedays,andarmedwithtwomachine-guns,onefiredbythepilot,theotherbyhisobserver.UptotheendofthewarIshotdownnineFrenchplanes,whichwasthetopacerecordforpilotsflyingartilleryobservationandinfantry-supportplanes.Butoneofthemgavemethefrightofmylife.Weshotitdowninpoorvisibility,andasitcrashedwesuddenlythoughtitwasoneofourown.FortunatelyitturnedouttobeaFrench‘Breque’,andwediscoveredthatwehadmistakenablackandwhitesquadronmarkingontheplane’srudder,forthefamiliarblackandwhiteGermancross.

Thewarendedon9November.AsSquadron-LeaderIwasinstructedtotakebackmysquadronfromSedan,wherewewereatthetime,toFürthinBavaria.Theweatherwasverypoor,andvisibilitywaslow,butasfarasIwasconcernedthatwasn’tthetroubleatall.Wehadmachine-gunbeltsinacasebetweenmeandtheengine,andthearmourerhadforgottentochockthemsothatthemunitionscasedidn’tslip.Itdid,andIcouldnolongercontroltheplaneproperly.WhenIrealisedthatIwaslosingheightandpracticallyoutofcontrol,Ididmybesttoland,butwecrashed.Myobserverwasflungclearandcameoffwithafewscratches,andFrenchpeasantswhohadbeenatworkinthefieldsranupandreleasedmefromthewreckage.Wesetfiretotheplaneanddidtherestofthejourneybycar.Butwhenwegottotheoldimperialcitynotoneoftheotherplaneshadarrived.Theyhadallbeencompelledtomakeforcedlandingsonaccountoftheweather.

PARTTWO

TheGermanLufthansaAPERIODOFuncertaintyandimpatientwaitingfollowed,forIdidn’tknowquitewhattodo,buton15January1919,thefirstmilitaryair-mailservicewasfounded,andoutoffivehundredBavarianwartimepilotssixwerechosen–ofwhomIwasone.TheEntentePowersallowedustenoldRumplerC.1s,eachpoweredbya150-horsepowerengineandcapableofjustoverninetymilesanhour–nothingextraordinary,butgoodenoughtostartwith.LateronwewereallowedacoupleofFokkerD.7s,thelastwordinone-seaterfighterplanes.Iwasdelightedtotrythemout,andthiswastheplanewithwhichIfirstloopedtheloop.

ThesewerethedaysoftherevolutioninGermany,withaSovietGovernmentinFürthandanotheroneinMunich,andforatimeIservedasapilotwiththeFreeCorpsfoundedbyRittervonEpp;butthingsgraduallysettleddownagain.SovietGovernments–atleastinGermany–becameathingofthepast,andthegreatideanowwastoearnaliving.Whatotherwaywasthereformebutintheair?

BythetermsoftheVersaillesTreaty,Germanywasnotallowedtomanufactureplanes,andtheauthoritieshadtoobtainEntentepermitsforanytheyhadinuse.Suchpermitswerenoteasytoget,evenforcivilairlines.Forexample,theBavarianLuft-Lloydwasallowedfourmachines,andtheRumplerAirLine,whichhaditsheadquartersinAugsburg,thesamenumber.TheRumplerplanesmaintainedaserviceAugsburg–Munich–Fürth–Leipzig–Berlin.

Iappliedforapilot’sjobwiththeBavarianLuft-Lloyd.On26October1921,Ireceivedmycivilair-pilot’slicence(Number454)fromtheReichMinistryofTransportandon15April1922,IbecameapilotfortheBavarianLuft-LloydinMunich.Therewerethreeofusinall:Kneer,Wimmerandmyself,andevenin1922wehadonlyoldwartimemachines:threeRumplerC.1sandanAlbatrossB.2.TheRumplerswerepoweredbyBenz150-horsepowerengines,whilsttheAlbatrosshadaMercedes120-horsepowerengine.

Beforetheofficialopeningofthenewline,WimmerandImadeatrialflighttoConstance.Wehadbeenintheairaboutanhourwhentheenginebegantoknock.IadvisedWimmer,whowaspilotingtheplane,toland,butwedisagreedaboutthecauseofthetroubleandhedecidedtoflyon.WeactuallygotasfarasFriedrichshafen,butthentherewasabigbangandthecabinfilledwithsmoke.Mydiagnosishadbeenright,butWimmermanagedtocrash-landus.Hewasuninjured,butIgotanastybangintheface.Unfortunatelytheplane,aRumpler,wasatotalwreck,andthismeantthatwenowhadonemachinelessfortheline,forinthosedaysreplacementswerealmostimpossibletoobtain.

However,withthethreeoldmachineswehadleftwedidmanagetorunafairlyregulardailyservicetoConstance,adistanceofonehundredandtwelvemiles;amerenothing

nowadays,butwiththemachineswehad,andagainstconstantwestwinds,itwasquiteanachievement.Eachofushadhisturnofdutyeverythirdday.IfwewereunluckywegottheAlbatross,anoldtrainingplanewithatopspeedofaboutseventy-fivemilesanhour–whichmeantthatwhenwehadtoflyagainstheadwindsoffiftyorfifty-fivemilesanhour,whichwasoftenthecaseinthespringandautumn,wewerereallydoingonlyabouttwentyortwenty-fivemilesanhour,sothatfivehoursandmorefortheshortjourneywasnothingunusual.Butwecouldn’tcarryenoughpetrolwithusforsuchflyingtimes,andthismeantthatwehadtomakeintermediatelandingstotankup,whichdelayedusstillfurther.

Itsoundsalmostunbelievablenow,andpresent-dayairlinepilotscanhavenoconceptionofthedifficultieswehadtocontendwith.Ourfirstpassengershadtobetough,too,andIoftenfeltsorryforthemastheysattherewrappeduplikeArcticexplorers.Therewasnoroomintheplaneevenforwhatlittleluggagetheywereallowedtotake,andithadtobestrappedonoutside,whereitbroketheairflow.Insummer,thoughtheflyingtimewasshorter,theoldengineswouldoftenloseoil,andheadwindswouldsprayitbackintothepassengers’faces.Thewindscreenwassmallandrightinfront,sothatwhenweflewthroughrainandhail,as,ofcourse,weoftenhadto,thepassengersgotitfullintheirfaces,anditwasasthoughtheywerebeingscourged.Suchexperiencesweren’tparticularlygoodpublicity,either,andveryoftenamanwhohadchanceditoncedecidedthathe’dgobytrainnexttime.Butwedidourbestforourpassengers,andintheend…

Latein1922weobtainedthefirstplanethatwaseverspecificallybuiltasapassenger-carryingmachine.ItwastheJunkersF.13.Ithadapropercabinwithfourpassengerseats,andastherewasasecondseatbesidethepilot–inthosedayswedidn’thavemechanicswithus–itcouldcarryfivepassengers.Inthefollowingyear,JunkersLuftverkehrtookoverourBavarianLuft-Lloyd.ProfessorJunkerswasaimingataTrans-EuropeanAirlineUnion,andhesucceededinlinkingSwitzerland,Hungary,Latvia,Estonia,SwedenandAustriawithGermanyintoareallybignetworkofairservices.

Progresswasfairlyrapidnow:newservicestoVienna,ZürichandBerlinwereopened,and,inaddition,variousspecialflights–forexample,tothePassionPlayinOberammergau–wereorganised.Thislatterwasverydifficult,becausealthoughitwaseasyenoughtofindaplacetolandthere,thetake-offwasaverydifferentmatterbecauseofthesoft,boggyground.However,wemanagedit.WewouldtakeofffromMunichat07.00hoursandflybackagainat18.00hourswhentheperformancewasoverfortheday.

ItwasononeoftheseflightsthatIhadmyfirstreallyprominentpassenger:NuntiusPacelli,thepresentPopePiusXII.ForhisbenefitIwasinstructedtomakeadetouronthewaybacktoflyovertheZugspitze,becausehewasanenthusiasticmountaineer.Itwasperfectflyingweatherthatday,andintheeveningsunshineaswereturnedtheviewovertheAlpswassimplybreath-takinginitsbeauty.TheNuntiuswasenthralled,andwhenwelandedinMunichheshookhandswithmeandthankedmewarmlyforanunforgettableexperience.

ThelinesfromMunichtoViennaandZürichwereopenedon14May1923,andwiththisthefirstcivilair-mailserviceswereinoperation.MycolleagueKneerinauguratedtheZürichline,andIdidthesameforVienna.Ourhigh-upsandrepresentativesofthe

BavarianGovernmentwerepresentwhenwesetoff,forairtransporthistorywasabouttobemade.

FromMunichIflewdirecteastwardbycompassuntilIcametotheInn.FromLinzIreachedTraun,andthereIpickeduptheDanube,andflewalongit–whichwasjustaswell,becausetheweatherhadgreatlydeterioratedandvisibilitywaspoor.Imadeasafelandingontheairfield,thanksinparttoanimprovisedlandingcrosswhichhadbeenlaidoutforme.

Alargecrowdhadassembledtogreetus–Ihadtwojournalistsandathirdpassengerwithme–andwewerewelcomedbyrepresentativesoftheAustrianGovernmentandoftheAustrianairlinecompany,whilstmanyreportersandpressphotographersrecordedtheepoch-makingeventforposterity.Thedistancewastwohundredandeighty-fourmiles,andweflewitintwohoursandfortyminutes.

Itookoffagainat13.00hoursforthereturnjourneytoMunich,whereIlandedsafely,tobewelcomedonceagainbyalargecrowd.ThenextdayIflewtheMunich–Zürichline,whilstmycolleagueKneertookovertheViennatrip,andthenceforthwechangedturnandturnabout.

Afterafewweeksofthiswebegantohavetroublewithourengines,bothwiththe160-horsepowerMercedesandthe185-horsepowerBMW.Neitherofthemwasmadetostanduptosuchconstantuse,andthenumberofengine-troubleemergencylandingsincreased,thoughfortunatelytheyallwentoffsmoothly.Ourdirectorsmadenodifficultieswhenwehadtobreakoffascheduledflightinthisway,buttheydidn’tmuchcareforitwhentherewasanydamage,forourmachineparkwasstillveryinadequate.Toencourageustoavoiddamagetheybegantopayusaccident-freebonusesforeachtrip.

Aswehadtoreckonincreasinglywithengine-trouble,wespentmostofourflyingtimekeepingoureyesopenforemergencylandingsites;assoonasyouhadfoundandpassedoneyoulookedoutforthenext,untilyouhappilylandedatyourdestination–orhadtouseoneofthem.Thisnaturallymeantagreatlyincreasedstrainonus,butwithcarewemanagedtoavoidtrouble.Suchforcedlandingswere,ofcourse,agreatnuisanceforourpassengers,whohadtakentheplaneinordertogettotheirdestinationquickly,andnowperhapsfoundthemselvesinsomeremotevillagewithnoideawhentheywouldfinallyarrive.

Wehadagooddealoftroublewithheadwinds,too,andtheywereveryfrequentonthatline.OnoneoccasiononthereturnjourneyittookmefourhourstogettoLinz,whichisn’tevenhalf-waytoMunich–andIhadabig-businessmanonboardwhohadtogetfromMunichtoKarlsruheonimportantbusiness.InsteadofgoingontoMunich,wehadtolandinWelstotankup,andbythattimetheweatherwassobadIcouldn’ttakeoff.Itoldmypassengerstruthfullythatitwouldbemadnesstoflyinsuchweather,becausethemountainswouldbeinvisibleintherainclouds.Atthattime,ofcourse,instrumentflyingwasunknown,anditwouldhavemeantflyinglowalongthevalleys,followingtherailwaylines–andkeepingaweathereyeopenforchurchsteeples.Butmypassengerdeclaredthatunlesshegottohisdestinationintimehewouldberuined;andhemadesuchasonganddanceaboutitthat,againstmybetterjudgment,Iagreedtomaketheattempt.

Imanagedtotakeoff,andtheflighttoMunichalongtherailwaylinethroughthe

valleyswassuccessful,andsowasthelanding.Butthewholeflighttookoversevenhours.Hecouldhavedoneitinninebytrain.ThenextdayweflewbacktoViennaintwohoursandtenminutes,anewrecord.

OnedayinZürichmyfirstcrownedheadcameonboard:KingBorisofBulgaria.HeflewwithmetoMunichandontoVienna,andwentonfromtherebytrain,laterIwastoflyhimtoHitleragoodmanytimes.

Ourbiggestdifficultywasstillwithourengines,becauseGermanywasasyetnotallowedtomanufactureany,butwefinallyobtainedBritishSidleyPumaengines,andwiththeseourtroubleswereover.

On20July1923,weextendedourlinesdowntotheBalkans,andtheconnectionfromViennatoBudapestwasmaintainedbyaHungariancompanyusingaJunkersF.13onfloats,aso-calledhydroplane.Laterontheservicewascarriedonbyflying-boats.ThefollowingyearthelinewasextendedfromZürichontoGeneva,sothatwenowhadareallylongairserviceGeneva–Zürich–Munich–Vienna–Budapest.TheoutlineofthegreatnetworkofairserviceswhichwaslatertocoverEuropewasalreadybeginningtotakeshape,andtheregularityofourflightsandtheabsenceofanyseriousaccidentsweregraduallywinningthegeneralpublicovertoairtravel,whichpeoplewereatfirstinclinedtoregardasfoolhardyanddangerous.

Butaccidentswerenotalwayseasytoavoid.Iwellrememberwhatwouldhavebeenaverybadone,butfortheextracareItookbecauseIhappenedtobeflyingDrSchürff,anAustrianCabinetMinisterwhowasagreatsupporterofairtravel.Althoughthemachinehadbeenoverhauled,Idecidedtomakeatrialstartfromthehangar.Forsomereasonthemachineswungroundtotheright.Itaxiedbacktothestartandtriedagain–withthesameresult.Andmyeffortstocorrecttheswingmadeitevenmorepronounced.ThenItriedathirdtime,tellingmymechanictokeepaneyeontheverticalrudder.Andwiththatwefoundthetrouble.Duringthegeneraloverhaultheruddercablehadbeenreversedsothatitoperatedtheoppositerudder.IfIhadgoneintotheairlikethat…

TheLufthansawasfoundedon15January1926,bytheamalgamationofthetwobigexistinglines:ourTrans-EuropaUnionandtheAero-Lloyd.Germanywasnowallowedtobuildaeroplanesagain,though,ofcourse,onlycivilflyingmachines;sotheGovernmentofferedsubsidieswhichenablednotonlyJunkers,butalsoRohrbach,SablatnikandFocke-Wulf,todesignandbuild,andatthesametimecarryonresearchwork.Thenewairlineorganisationhadahundredandthirtypilotsandasmanyplanes,andinthefollowingyearsitwastobecomeinternationallyfamous,withareputationsecondtononeforsafety.

On18April1926,1flewanotherveryimportantperson:DrHainisch,thePresidentoftheAustrianRepublic.ThisspecialflightwasagreateventforAustria,andlargenumbersofreportersandphotographerswerepresenttoseethetake-offandtowelcomeuswhenwereturned.Itwasaperfectflightinperfectvisibility,andthesunshonedownontheViennawoodsandonDrHainisch’sownmodernestate.IflewthreecirclesoverViennalowenoughtoseeallthefamousbuildings,includingthehistoricStefan’sCathedral.AttheendofitDrHainischwasasdeeplyimpressedastheNuntiushadbeen,andwhenhe

shookhandswithmeafterwardsheassuredmethathewouldremembertheexperiencewithdeeppleasuretotheendofhisdays.

SometimesIflewonotherroutes–forexample,Berlin–Frankfort–Essen–Stuttgart–Saarbrücken–Paris–andIoftenmadetestflightstotryoutnewmaterial.Ononeoccasion,forexample,Itestedafour-bladedpropellermanufacturedexperimentallybySchwarz,becauseexperiencehadshownthattheslip-streamofthecentralpropelleraffectedthesideenginestosuchanextentastoproducedistortion.Mysideengineswerenowbeingtestedwithshorterpropellers,andtomakeupforthelossofpowerIhadthesefour-bladedpropellers.

IwasonmywayfromBerlintoMunich–withpassengers–andnearSchleizIwasflyinglowonaccountofbadweatherwhentherewasasuddenloudcrackandthepropelleroftheportengineburstintopiecesandtheengineitselfwasalmostrippedoutofitshousing.Fortunatelythepossibilityhadbeenreckonedwith,andaspecialsafetycatchhadbeenbuiltin.Butforthistheenginewouldhavebeenhurledoutaltogetherandweshouldhavegonespinningdown.Asitwas,thewholeplanewasshudderingsoviolentlythatIcouldhardlyholdthecontrols.Ishutofftheenginesandmadeasuccessfullanding,forwhichIreceivedaspecialletterofcongratulationfromMilch,whowasatthattimethechiefoftheLufthansa.

Apartfromthebigpassengerplanes,Ioccasionallyflewsmallermachines:forexample,Udet’sfamous‘Flamingos’,thelittleplanesheusedinhisworld-famous‘air-circuses’.Hungaryhadboughtanumberofthem;asUdethadnopilotsavailablewhoknewtheroute,heaskedmeifIwouldflysomeofthemachinestoStamanger,andIagreed.OnatestflightwithoneoftheseFlamingosIhadoneofhisdesigners,acertainHerrStubenrauch,withme.Iwasanxioustotryoutthecapacitiesofthiswonderfullittleplane,andIloopedtheloopatspeed.AsIcameroundtonormalagainStubenrauchmanagedtoattractmyattention.Hewasaswhiteasasheet–andnotstrappedin.HadIdonethatloopslowly…

OnoneofmynormalflightsfromZürichtoMunichIcarriedanotherfamouspassenger,theNorwegianexplorerFridtjofNansen,whowasunderstandablyenthusiasticathisfirstsightoftheAlpsfromtheair.AlittlelaterIreceivedadedicatedcopyofhisbook,Siberia,theLandoftheFuture.

AnolessfamouspassengerwasToscanini,whoflewfromMilantoMunich,fromwherehewastogoontoBayreuthtoconductTannhäuserandTristan.IinstructedmywirelessoperatortopayparticularattentiontoToscanini’scomfort,and,inparticular,tobereadyatamoment’snoticewiththeoxygenapparatus.ButToscaninideclaredthatgreatheightssuitedhimadmirably,andsoitseemedtheydid,foratnotimedidheusetheoxygenapparatus.Hehadabigpileofmusicandnoteswithhimandheworkedallthetime,thoughoccasionallyhedidallowhimselfaglanceoutofthewindowatthemagnificentAlpinepanoramabelowus:anditwasparticularlywonderfulthatdaybecausetheweatherwasperfect.WhenwetoucheddowninMunichhewasmetbyanumberofcolleaguesandfriends,andhetalkedtothementhusiasticallyabouthisfirstflightovertheAlps,andtoldthemthathehadfeltperfectlysafewiththeGermanplaneanditscrew.

Airflightwaspopularenoughnowforthefilmcompaniestointerestthemselvesinit,andfromtimetotimeIflewforthem.OnoneoccasionIflewoverandaroundtheGrossglocknerwhilstcamerameninasecondplanefilmedthescene.Theweatherwasexcellent,andmanythousandsofcinemafanswereabletoenjoythemagnificentpanoramaofthesnow-coveredAlps.LateronIflewacamerapartyfortheall-Germansmall-sports-planerallywhichendedwithaflightovertheZugspitze,anditwasthenthatIfirstmadetheacquaintanceofthefutureReichMinisterRudolfHess.

In1927weobtainedourfirstRohrbachmachine,theRoland1,whichwasanine-seater.Thepilot’sseatwashighup,andhehadanuninterruptedviewallaround–averyimportantsafetyfactor.Althoughitsengineswerenotparticularlypowerful,theywerehighlyefficient,andtheygaveusabouttwelvemilesanhourmorethanwehadbeengetting.

IwasflyingoneoftheseplanestoViennawhenmymechanicreportedthatthestarboardtyrewasflat.Nowwithsuchbigwheelsitwasobviouslydangeroustolandwithonetyrehardandtheotherflat,somymechanicjabbedawayatthesoundtyreinthehopeofpuncturingit,butwithoutsuccess.Ieventhoughtofputtingabulletinit,butIwasafraidthatthebulletmightbouncebackamongstmypassengers,whowerebythistimeallawarethatsomethingwaswrong.IntheendIdecidedtoattemptalandingwiththeonetyreflatandtheotherhard,soIletViennaknowthesituationandwhenweflewintherewasawholecolumnofvehiclesinreadiness,includingambulancesandfire-engines.

Icameintoland,andkepttheplaneontheonegoodtyreaslongastherapidlyreducingspeedwouldallowme.Assoonasitdropped,Iappliedthecounter-brakeandturnedahundredandtwentydegrees–tocometoahaltsafely.

OnceonaflighttoBerlinIhadtoflylowonaccountofbadweather,andwhilstwewereintheMainvalleyIfeltanumberofhardjoltsandsawpanic-strickenflightsofswallowsspeedingawayoneitherside.Soonafterwardsthecabinfilledwithaterriblestench.WhenwelandedinLeipzigwefoundaswallowwhichhadslowlybeenburnttoacinder.Severalbirdshadbeenkilledbythepropellers,andothershadhurtledagainstthewingedges,doingacertainamountofdamage.

Tofallinwithflightsofswallowswasquitecommon;usuallytheyjustdivedsteeplyawaybelowus–unlikehawksandbuzzards,whichwouldstaywheretheywerenomatterhowclosewecametothem.

On22June1926,Icompletedmy300,000thkilometreintheairfortheLufthansa,oratotalofabout185,000miles,andonthatdaymypilot’sseatwasfestivelygarlanded.InZürichIwashonouredwithasheafofrosesbytheSwissAirCorporation‘AdAstra’;inMunichIwaspresentedwithaspecialmugoftheBavariannationaldrink,Munichbeer;andinViennatheygavemealaurelwreathofhonourandstoodmeacelebrationdinner.AtthesametimethenewspapersinGermanyandAustriapublishedappreciationsofmycareerandmyairmanship,whilstthevariousairlinesusedmyperformance–‘300,000kilometreswithoutanaccident!’–toadvertisetheirservices:‘SpeedandSafety!Savetimeandmoneybyflyingthere!’andsoon.Itwas,ofcourse,primarilythisquestionofsafetywhichpreventedagoodmanypeoplefromgoingbyairinthosedays,butgraduallythesplendidsafetyrecordsofthecivilairlineswereremovingthosefears.InSeptember

1927Ireachedmy400,000thkilometre,andthiswassimilarlycelebrated.TheLufthansaintroduceditsgoldenpinofhonourforflyingpersonnelcompletingthisdistance,andIwasoneofthefirsttoreceiveit.

ByJuly1927thepoliticalsituationinAustriahadbecomeverytense.AGeneralStrikewasdeclared;therewasriotingonthestreets,andtheLawCourts–orthePalaceofJustice,asthebuildingswerecalled–wentupinflames.Boththepostalandrailwayservicesweretemporarilydiscontinued,andourairservicesrepresentedtheonlyconnectionbetweenViennaandMunich,sowemadeseveralflightsdailycarryingpostandfreightinandoutofVienna.

OnedayourflightmanageraskedmewhetherIcouldflyfourimportantpassengerstoSalzburg.Iknewthattheairfieldtherewasnotsuitableforlandingbigplaneslikeours,butIpromisedtodomybest.WhenIgotthereIcircledroundandexaminedthegroundbeneathus.Theoutlookwasnotinviting.Theairfieldwasanoldexercisegroundwithrollingterrain,nodoubtexcellentforinfantrymenlookingforcover,butliterallyshockingforlandingabigplane.However,Icamedownontheflatbehindalineofrisinggroundandmadeasafelanding.

Quiteacrowdofpeoplequicklygathered,fornoonetherehadseenabigplanecloseathandbefore.Ourmachinehadnowheelbrakes,soitwasn’tpossibletoturnbyusingonebrake;todoitbyoperatingonemotormeanttoowideaturn,sowhenwewantedtoturnamachineroundintothestartdirectionafewstrongmenjustlifteduptheplane’stailandcarrieditround.Inowaskedtheairfieldchieftolendmehalfadozenmenforthispurpose,andvolunteersfromamongstthespectatorscameforward.Oncewewerefacingrightforthetake-offImadeasigntothegroundpersonnelandIreceivedtheflag-off.

Themachineseemedabitover-heavyinthetail,butwegotintotheairallright.However,inflightthetail-heavinessremained.ThetrimindicatorwascorrectfortheloadIwascarrying,andIcouldn’tunderstandwhatwaswrong,butImanagedtogettheplaneintrim.IwasathousandfeetupnowandflyingtowardstheBurg.AsIwasgoingbacktoMunich,Iturnedandflewovertheairfieldagain,andwhenwelookeddownitwaslikeadisturbedant-heap,withpeoplerunningwildlyandwavinghandkerchiefsandwhatwereprobablytowels.Andthensignalrocketsstartedtocomeupinallpossiblecolours:white,green,blue,red–withstarsandwithout.Therewere,ofcourse,agreedlightsignalsforemergencies,butwecouldn’tmakeanythingofthese,thoughsomethingwasobviouslywrong.

Wewereaboutthirteenhundredfeetupnow,andIcircledroundtheairfieldagain;inthemeantimediscussingthestrangesituationwithmymechanicandwirelessoperator,neitherofwhomcouldthinkofathingtoexplainit.Withalargerairfieldwecouldhaveenquiredbywireless,butinthosedaysSalzburghadnowirelessequipment.IthoughtofgettingintouchwithViennaandwaitinguntiltheyhadtelephonedtoSalzburgandfoundoutwhatwaswrong,butfinallyIdecided–muchagainstmywill–tolandagainonthatwretchedexerciseground.Ilandedsafelyonceagaininthesameplace,andthenthemysterywasclearedup.Amanhadbeenhangingtomytail!

Itturnedoutthathewasanunemployedsmall-partfilmactor.Bycausingasensationhehopedtodrawattentiontohimselfandgetajob–atleast,that’swhatwefoundoutinthe

end,foratthemomenthewasaswhiteasasheetandnotinapositiontoutteraword.HehadthoughtwewereflyingtoVienna,whichwasn’tfar;alandingtherehangingtothetailofaplanewouldhavebeenasensation–buthewouldneverhavelastedasfarasMunich!Wehadbeenonlyaboutsevenminutesintheair,andthathadbeenalmosttoolongforhim.

In1928itwasdecidedtoopenanewairlineMunich–Trent–Milan,whichmeantflyingovertheAlps.IwassenttoTrent–Trento,astheItalianscallit–tostudylandingconditionsthere,whichweresaidtobedifficult.Theywere.Thechiefdifficultywastheora,awindcausedbythewidedifferenceoftemperaturebetweentheLagodiGardaandtheheatedrockfaceoftheBrennermassif.Thiswindwouldriseatabout10.00hoursandblowuntilabout17.00hours,attimesreachingaforceoffiftyfeetpersecond.Aplanecomingintolandfromthenorthcouldsuddenlyfindthatinsteadofaheadwindithadatailwind,becauseachangewithinamatterofsecondswasonthecards.AstheTrentairfieldwasconsiderablylessthanathousandyardslong,abigplanewithastrongtailwindwouldfinditimpossibletocometoahaltonthelandingspace,andwouldcrashonintothevineyardslopesbeyond.

ItoldtheairfieldchiefthattheLufthansawouldcertainlynotbepreparedtotakesuchrisks.Hesuggestedplacingwindindicatorsatallfourcornersofthefieldsothatapilotcomingintolandcouldseethesituationimmediately,butthisdidnotmeettheobjectionthatthewindwasliabletochangesuddenly.Inanemergency,andcertainlyinwar,youhavetotakerisks,butneverdeliberatelyincivilflying.HowrightIwasbecameveryevidentwhenononeoccasiontheindicatorsatoneendofthefieldgavethewindasnorth,whilstthoseattheothergaveitassouth!

IreportedbackthatifitwereimpossibletoavoidtheintermediatelandinginTrent,thentheplanesshouldstartfromMunichearlyenoughtoreachTrentbeforetheorarose.Forthreemonthstestflightswerecarriedoutwithpostandfreightbutnopassengers,andtheninthefollowingAprilthenewlinewasofficiallyopened.Iwaschosentopilotthefirstpassengerplane;and,asusualwithsuchstarts,therewerecelebrationsatbothends,importantdelegationsfromgovernments,andsoon,speechesandchampagne.

Itookoffinbeautifulweather,butwhenIgottoTrentIcouldseefromthebehaviourofthewindindicatorsthattheorahad,infact,alreadyrisen.IthereforeinstructedmywirelessoperatortoexplainthesituationtoTrentandtellthemthatalandingwasoutofthequestion,andthatwewouldgoon.WelandedsafelyinMilan,totheaccompanimentoftheusualofficialreception,etc.Everythingwentswimminglyuntilabouthalfanhourlater,whenIwassummonedtotheofficeoftheairfieldcommandantandinformedthataccordingtoamessagefromTrentIhadflownoverataheightoftenthousandfeetwithoutmakinganyattempttoland.Fortunatelyitwaspossibletorebutthatchargeatonce,andIinvitedtheItaliantoinspectthebarographinmymachine–whichhedid,andassuredhimselfthatoverTrentIhadcomedownfromtenthousandfeettoaboutfifteenhundred.Onthenextflightoutwestartedstillearlier;wereachedTrentbeforetheorahadrisen,andwereabletomakeasafelanding.Thenewlinewasnowwellandtrulyinoperation,andonanaveragewecoveredthetwohundredandeightymilesintwoandahalfhours.Butwehadagooddealofchicanerytoputupwith,fortheItaliansappeared

mortallyafraidthatwewouldspyonthemontheway.Forexample,ourexactroutewaslaiddownandwewerenotallowedtodepartfromitbymorethanabouthalfamileorsoineitherdirection;fiveminutesbeforewearrivedovertheBrennerPasswehadtowarnaspeciallyestablishedwirelessstation;acontrolpointwassetupfromwhichtheItalianscouldnotetheexacttimeofourpassing,andourexactcourse–andtherewerealotmoreregulationsofthesamesort,whichwedidourbesttocomplywith.

On20July1928,theLufthansapromotedmetoflightcaptainasfrom1July.Aflightcaptainhadtohaveflownatleast500,000kilometres,orover300,000miles,ofwhich200,000musthavebeenduringthehoursofdarkness.Inadditionhemusthavehadatleasteightyears’flyingexperience,ofwhichfivemusthavebeenwithacivilairline.TheranksforpilotswiththeLufthansawere:pilot,leadingpilotandflightcaptain.AlthoughIhaveknownanumberofpromotionsinmylife,therewasnonethatgavemegreatersatisfactionthanthisone,andagooddealwasmadeofitintheGermanpressandinthepublicityoftheLufthansa.

Bythistime,ofcourse,civilflyinghaddevelopedtremendously.Allthedismalprophecieshadcometonothing,andeventhosewhohadfoughttoothandnailagainstitwerenowbeingforcedtocomeround.Itwas,ofcourse,notonlypassengerswecarried,butpostandfreight,andunderthelatterheadingwehadflownsomeverystrangethings.Intheautumnofthatyearweweretoflyperhapsourstrangesttodate.

Thewinterof1928setinwithaverysevereandveryunusualcoldsnap,anditcaughtthebirdsnapping,withtheresultthatmanyofthemwereunabletoflyacrosstheAlpstothewarmsouth.Itlookedasthoughmanythousandsofnormallymigratorybirds,particularlytheswallows,wouldfreezetodeathinourbitternorthernwinter;butthenasocietyfortheprotectionofbirdsandanimalsgotintotouchwithustocharteraplanetotakethebirdssouth.ThepeopleofBavariawerethenurgedbypressandwirelesstocollectthecoldandmiserablebirdsfromstalls,hedgerowsandsooneverywhereandforwardthemtoacollectingstation.

WhenwetookthefirstcargoofswallowsonboardinMunichitwasaboutforty-fivedegreesFahrenheit.Thiswasmuchtoocoldforthem,andtheywereveryquiet,buthalfanhourlater,whenthetemperatureinthecabinrose,theybegantotwitterandshowmoresignsoflife.Whenweroseabovethethirteen-thousand-footmarktheybehavedashumanbeingsdo:theylookedtiredandtheyrelapsedintosilence.Ontheirownflightstheyrarelygohigherthanperhapshalfthatheight,and,ofcourse,inthosedaystherewerenopressurisedcabins.OvertheLagodiGardatheycametolifeagain,andthecabinwasfulloftheirtwitterings–wewerelowernowanditwaswarmer.WhenwelandedontheTaliedoairfieldinMilanthesunwasshininganditwasbeautifullywarm.Wecarefullyliftedoutthecasesinwhichthebirdshadmadethejourney,andreleasedthem.Inamomentallourpassengerswereoutandflyingintheairundertheirownsteam.Theycircledaroundforawhile;thentheyjoinedtheswallowsalreadythere,andmadeoff.

AboutthreethousandswallowsweregatheredthroughoutHavanaandcarriedovertheAlpstowarmthandsafetybytheLufthansa.

TheLufthansamadeagooddealofpublicityfortheflightovertheAlps,andmanypeopletookthetripforthepleasureofenjoyingthetremendousAlpinepanorama.Therewasonetrouble,though:itwasinthedaysbeforepressurisedcabinsandartificialoxygen,andwhenweflewatthirteenandfourteenthousandfeetpassengerswithweakheartswereapttogoblueandloseconsciousness.Assoonaswecamelower,theyrecovered–infact,someofthemdidn’tevenknowthattheyhadtemporarilypassedout–butallthesameitwasn’tasatisfactorysituation,andthefirstthingtobedonewastointroduceoxygenapparatusforpassengers.(Aircraftpersonnelweresupposedtobeusedtodoingwithoutit.)

Thejourneytooksixteenhoursbytrain,andwediditinanaverageoftwoandahalfhours.Now,withtheintroductionofoxygenapparatus,wecouldtakechildrenandevenbabies.Mywirelessoperatorhadthejobofkeepinghiseyeonthechildren.Assoonashenoticedbluelipshewouldgointoactionwithspeciallyconstructedoxygenapparatus,andcarryonuntilthelipswerenormalagain.Eachadultpassengerhadhisownapparatusfixedbyhisseat,tobeusedatneed.

InthosedaystheflightsovertheAlpsendedinOctober,butevenearlierthanthatthingswerenotalwayspleasant.IngoodweathertheflightacrosstheAlpsistheloveliestIhaveeverflown.Iwastoflyitmanyhundredsoftimes,andeachtime–providingtheweatherwasgood–itwasarenewedexperienceofelevatinggrandeur.Atthoseheightsthevisibilityisunbelievable,andyoucanseebetweentwoandthreehundredmilesallaround–anincrediblespectacle.

Butinbadweatherthesituationisverydifferent,andstormsovertheAlpsareanintimidatingexperience.Oneofourchiefsourcesoftroublewastheföhn,adestructivesoutherlygale.Inthosedayswehadn’tenoughceilingtoriseaboveit,becausebetweenfourteenandfifteenthousandfeetorso,dependingontheload,wasaboutourlimit,whereasföhnwindsreachaheightofperhapsseventeenthousandfeet.Abovethattheatmosphereisquitestill–andtheultimatesolutionoftheproblemwastoriseabovetheföhn,butbeforethatbecamepossibleIhaveknownmymachinetobesweptthreethousandfeethigherintotheairwithoutenginepower,andtobeforceddownevenfurtherdespitemyengines.Andwhenflyingblindovermountainsbetweenelevenandtwelvethousandfeethighyoucanimaginewhatafeelingthepilotgetsinthepitofhisstomachwhenheseesthathisaltimeterisregisteringevenless.

In1930technicaldevelopmentmadeabigleapforward.Uptothistimeanyextendedflyinginmistorcloudwasabigrisk,andtheinstrumentsindicatingtheplane’sposition,heightandsoon,wereveryprimitive,beingstillmoreorlessatwartimelevel.Themarginoferrorcouldbeverygreat,andmanyapilotdependingonhisinstrumentscrashedhisplaneandkilledhimselfandhispassengers.Butnowwereceivedwhatwesoonbegantocallanartificialhorizon:anapparatuswhichtookaverygreatdealoftheriskoutofblindflying,aso-calledgyro-rectifier,whichallowedustodeterminethepositionofourplanewithinreasonablynarrowlimits.Itwasveryreliableinoperation,andwasindependentofanyjoltingoftheplaneorotheroutsideinterference.

Iwasoneofthefirsttotestthisnewapparatus,andmyexperiencewithitovertheAlps

wasveryencouraging.AtfirstmanyofmycolleagueswereincredulouswhenItoldthemthatwiththisnewdeviceIhadflownblindthroughcloudsandmistforsixtymilesandmorewithvisibilitydowntozero.Andwhen,asnowhappenedquitefrequently,IlandedinMilaninverybadweather,theItalianswereflabbergasted,becausetheirownmachineshadallbeengrounded.

‘HerrBaur,’Irememberoneofthemsayingtomeindignantly,‘itisabsolutelyimpossiblethatyoushouldjusthaveflowninfromMunich!’

‘Impossibleornot,that’swhatI’vedone.’

‘Butthere’snovisibilityatallovertheAlps.’

‘You’retellingme!Butwithmynewapparatusitdoesn’tmatter.’

Itwassometimebeforetheywereconvinced.Atfirstthenewapparatusindicatedonlyaltitudechangesandnotlateralcoursedeviations,sothatitwasalwayspossibletoflyoffcoursewhenblindflying,butthiswasrectifiedafterawhilebyanimprovedinstrumentwhichshoweddeviationsbothverticallyandhorizontally.Afterthatitwaspossibletoflyblindoverlongdistanceswithverylittlerisk.

Butasaconsequenceofourabilitytoflyblindthroughmistandclouds,anewdangernowarose–orratheritwasanintensificationofanolddangerwhichpreviouslyhadn’tworriedusverymuch:icing.Beforewewereabletoflyblindwehadalwaysavoidedflyingthroughcloudsforanylengthoftime,butnowweplungedintovastaccumulationsofwaterparticlesandstayedthereforlongperiods.Accordingtotemperature,thiscouldmeanicing-up.

Itisamistaketosupposethatthecoldertheweatherthegreaterthedanger.Whenthecoldisintense,waterdropletsfreezebeforetheyhaveachanceofcomingtorestonaplane’swingsandfreezingthere.Thetemperaturesjustaroundfreezing-pointarethemostdangerous,becausethenthedropletscollectontheplane,andthefreezingprocess,beingmoregradual,takesplaceontheplaneitself,causingiceformation.Inconsequence,whentherewasadangeroficingaroundfreezing-pointweusedtoflyhighinordertogetintomuchcolderzones,wherethedangeroficingwasmuchreduced.

Themostdangeroustimeforicingwasnotinwinter,butinearlyspringandlateautumn,whensuddenshowerscouldswiftlyturntoice.Ihaveknownicetoformonmywingsacoupleofinchesthickwithinamatterofminutes–andnotonlyonmywings.Icealsoformsonthepropellers,andthenthereisanaddeddanger.Theswiftrevolutionsthrowoffhardlumpswiththespeedandforceofbullets,withtheresultthatthefuselageissubjectedtoafiercebombardmentwhichmakesthepassengerswonderanxiouslywhetherthethinmetalskinwillstandit.Andforthepilotthereisaparticulardangerinthis–theiceissometimeshurledoffcentrifugallyfromonesideonly,andthenthepropellernolongerspinstrue.

Ofcoursethescientistswereatworkallthetimeinourlaboratoriestodiscoverwaysandmeansofremedyingthesethings,andmanycounter-measuresweredevisedandintroduced,untiltodaytheproblemhasbeenreducedtoreasonableproportions.

ThenewspapersmadeasplashofmyhundredthcivilflightoverthecentralAlpinearea,pluggingthegeneralthemethatflyingoverhighmountainshadmeantmanynewdifficultiespreviouslyunknownandthatnowallthesedifficultieshadbeentackledandsurmounted,whichwasverylargelytrue.

WhenIreturnedfromthisflighttoMunichIwasformallypresentedwithabronzestatuetteofaneaglewithout-stretchedwings,androundthebasewasaninscription:‘PresentedtoFlight-CaptainBaurontheoccasionofhishundredthflightovertheAlpsandingratefulrecognitionofhisoutstandingservices,fromtheSouthGermanLufthansa.’

InMarch1932Iwastoreceiveanotherhonourwhichprofoundlymovedme.ThreecaptainsoftheGermanLufthansawerechosentoreceivetheLewaldPrize,whichwasawardedforthemostoutstandingservicestoGermancivilaviation,andIwasoneofthem.BythistimeIhadflownnotfarshortofamillionkilometres,orsomethinglike600,000miles;IhadcrossedtheAlpsahundredandfiftytimes,anditwasformyspecialservicesonthisroutethatmymedalwasawarded.Buttheparticularachievementofallthreeofus,andofourcolleaguesandtheorganisationbehindus,wasthatwehadbroughtcivilaviationtoaveryhighpitchofsafety,regularityandreliability;inconsequence,thenameoftheGermanLufthansawasinternationallysynonymouswiththegreatestpossibledegreeofsafetyintheair.

Butnowafar-reachingchange,asyetunsuspectedbyme,wastotakeplaceinmylife.

PARTTHREE

WithHitlerOverGermanyONEDAYINMarch1932onreturningtoMunichafterascheduleflightIwastoldbyourflightmanagerthat‘acertainHerrHitler’hadrungupandwantedtospeaktome.WouldIcometoseehimatthe‘BraunHaus’,whichwastheNaziheadquartersinMunich?ItappearedthathewantedtocharteraplanetoflyhimroundGermanyonaspeakingtourduringthecominggeneralelections,andIhadbeenrecommendedtohimasareliablepilot.

Ihadneverbeenintheplacebefore,butIdrovetherenowinmycarandwasreceivedinaveryfriendlyfashionbyHitlerhimself,whooccupiedamodestroomonthefirstfloor.Heexplainedwhathewanted,andpointedoutthatitwouldbeaveryonerousjob,becausehewantedtomakealightningtour,perhapsvisitingasmanyasfivetownsaday.ChancellorBrueningcouldbroadcasttomillionsofpeopleatonce;ifhe,Hitler,hadtorelyontherailwayandoncars,hecouldaddressacoupleofmeetingsinperhapstwodifferenttownsinoneevening,buthardlymore.Thereforehehadtouseanaeroplanetogethimaround,though,frankly,hehadn’tmuchconfidenceinairtravel.However,Ihadbeenrecommendedtohimbyseveralpeopleasafirst-classpilot.

WhenIhadagreedtopilothisplaneandafterIhadexplainedthetechnicalpossibilitiestohim,hetoldmewhyhewassosuspiciousoftheaeroplaneasameansoftransport.AtthetimeoftheKappputschin1920,RittervonGreim,wholaterbecameaGeneral,hadflownhimfromMunichtoBerlinoncriticalbusinessinawartimeplane.Visibilityhadbeenbad,andtheyhadbeensoshakenupthathehadbeensick.Inaddition,vonGreimhadbeencompelledtomakeaforcedlandinginJüterbog,whichwasinthehandsofthe‘Reds’.AsHitlerexplained,fortunatelyhehadpapersforthe‘Whites’andforthe‘Reds’,soassoonashesawsoldierswithredarmletshepresentedhis‘Red’papersandaskedforpetroltogethimtoBerlinonurgentbusiness.ButbythetimetheyfinallygottoBerlintheKappputschwasover.Hitlersaidthathewouldhavedonebettertostayathome!

Ipointedoutthatcivilflyingtodaywithourmodernthree-enginedplaneswasverydifferentfromflyingwartimemachinesin1920,andthat,inanycase,hedidn’tlooktomelikeatypewhowouldeasilygetair-sick.AsamatteroffactIhaveaverykeeneyeforthatsortofthing;Ihaveoftenastonishedmycrewsbytakingaquicklookatourpassengersandtellingthemjustwhowaslikelytobesick,andIwasusuallyright.But,justincase,IsuggestedthatHitlershouldsitnexttomeinthemechanic’sseat,becausetherewassomuchtobeseenandsomuchtotaketheinterestthere,thattherewaslittleopportunityforair-sickness,whichislargelypsychological.Ihadoftendonethiswithdoubtfulcasesbefore,andIhadneverknownitfail.

Hitlerallowedhimselftobeencouraged,butnotaltogetherconvinced.Forhimairtravelwasanecessaryevilifheweretogethismessagetothemassesduringtheelectioncampaign.Asmostofthemeetingsweretotakeplaceintheevenings,weshouldoften

havetoflyafterdark;thetownsinwhichthemassmeetingsweretotakeplacewerechosenfairlyfarapartsothatwecouldcoverthewidestpossibleareaintheshortestpossibletime;andHitlerwouldspendnotmuchmorethanaquarterofanhour,ortwentyminutes,ateachmeeting.

Theelectiontourwastolastafortnight,withapauseofoneday,orattheutmosttwo,attheendofthefirstweekinordertogiveHitlertimetorecoverfromthestrainofspeakingseveraltimesinthecourseofaneveningforaweekonend.

Hitlerthenhandedmeovertohisadjutant,Brückner,todiscussthedetails,andtheplanofthespeakingtourwaslaidbeforeme.Someofthetownshadtobestruckoutbecauseofthelackofaconvenientairfieldtolandon,butfinallyweagreedonbetweensixtyandsixty-fivetowns,andsettledthedatesandtimesofthemeetings.

Thisfirstelectionflightbeganon3April1932,andendedthreeweekslateron24April.WesetofffromMunichandflewtoDresden.Theweatherwasexcellent;Hitlerstoodtheflightwell,andwasingoodformwhenheaddressedhismassmeetinginDresden.HalfanhourlaterweflewtoLeipzig,wherehespokeinthefamousExhibitionHall.Three-quartersofanhourafterthatwewereonourwaytoChemnitz,andfromtheretoPlauen,wherewelandedinthedark.AttheendofthefirstdayHitlerpickedoutthebiggestofallthenumerousbunchesofflowerswithwhichhehadbeenpresentedduringthedayandhandedittomewiththewords:

‘Baur,you’vedoneyourjobwell.I’menthusiasticaboutairtravelfromnowon.’

Thenextmorningatnineo’clockweflewtoBerlin.DespitetheexertionsofthepreviousdayHitlerwasfitandwell,andobviouslyverydelightedatthesuccessofhismeetings.Onthejourneyhereadthevariousreportsfromapileofnewspapers.InBerlinhewaswelcomedbyagreatcrowd,andthateveninghespokeinthevastBerlinSportPalace.

AnotherGermanLufthansaplanewasnowchartered,anF.13flownbyFlight-CaptainSteidel,andinthisSeppDietrichandoneortwojournalistsflewaheadofus.Whereverwelanded,Dietrichwastheretoreportonthesituationandthenflyontothenexttown.

On6AprilweflewfromBerlintoWürzburg,andontoFürth,finishingatNuremberg.Butthefollowingdaytheweatherhaddeterioratedtosuchanextentthatallairservicesweresuspended.Theweatherforecastthreatenedstorms,snowandhailfromthewest–anditkeptitspromise;somuchsothatonFürthairfieldwehadtofastenourmachinetothegroundtopreventitsbeingblownaway.

Hitlerwasworriedabouthisspeakingtourandwantedtofly,andItoldhimthatitwaspossiblebutthatitwouldn’tbepleasant.IthoughtIcouldgetovertheSpessart,butmountainswerearealprobleminsuchweather.HitlernodoubtrememberedhisflightwithRittervonGreim,buthetoldmetocarryon.Itookoffwithoutdifficulty,butoverNeustadtweranintothefirsthailshowers.Iflewfairlylow,buteventhenwewereflyingpracticallyblindasfarasWürzburg,whereforawhiletheweatherimproved.ButaswecamenearertheSpessartthehailgrewworse.However,wegotovertheSpessartsafelyandlandedinFrankfort.DespitetheroughpassageHitlerwasnotair-sick.HetoldmethathehadbeendeeplyimpressedbythesightoftheSpessartbelowus,lashedbyrainandhailagainstadarkbackgroundofthreateningclouds.Ithadremindedhimforciblyofthe

‘Walküre’,hesaid.

Attheendofourairtouron24AprilHitlerthankedmewarmly,andtoldmethattheflighthadjustifiedhishighestexpectations.AcoupleofdayslaterIwasbackonmyordinaryjob,flyingtheMunich–Berlinroute.From4MayonIbegantoflytheMunich–Romeroute,whichnowwentoverVeniceandnotoverMilanaspreviously.TheairfieldatVenicewasontheLido,andconsistedofanarrowstripoflandlessthanthreehundredyardswideandlessthanninehundredyardslong.Itthereforewasn’tlongenoughtolandourregularRohrbachplanes,becausetheystillhadnobrakesandneededalongrun-in;wethereforehadtofallbackontheoldJunkersG.24s,whichdidnotneedsuchalongrun-inandwerelesssusceptibletothelateralwindswhichwerearealprobleminVenice.

AttheendofJuneIwasagainapproachedbyHitler’sadjutanttoarrangethedetailsofthesecondelectionflight,whichwastotakeplacefrom15Juneto30June.ThefirstflighttookusfromtheIsarvalleytoTilsit.Afterthisseven-hourflight,whichwaschieflyabovethecloudsandoutofsightoftheground,weflewoninthenighttoKönigsberg;fromthereHitlerdrovearoundtovarioussmallerplacesbycar.Onthe17thweflewtoMarienburg,andfromtherehemadethesamesortoftourbycar.Onthe19thwewentontoSchneidemühlandKottbus.FromKottbuswewantedtoflyontoWarnemünde,buttheweatherforecastwasveryunfavourable:cloud-coverbelowahundredandfiftyfeet,stormsandheavyrain.Ididn’tknowtheplace,andIshouldhavehadtolandinthedarkat22.00hours–andtherewasnowirelesstheretohelpme.

Ihadtorefusetherisk,andHitlerthenagreedthatweshouldflyontoRechlinandlandtheresothathecouldspeakinStralsund.ButthecarswithhisstaffwerealreadyonthewaytoWarnemünde.FromKottbus,Berlinwasinformed,andthelocalNazigroupsenroutewereabletogetintotouchwiththecarsanddivertthemtoRechlin.

ThelittlemachinethatwentaheadofuslandedonRechlinairfieldinpitchdarknessat21.00hours.Weweretohavelandedat22.00hours,butaboutthirtymilestothenorthofBerlinwereceivedawirelessmessageforbiddingustoland.IhadtoturnbacktoBerlin,whereafuriousHitlerimmediatelyrangupGöring,whowasalreadyPresidentoftheReichstag.GöringsucceededinobtainingpermissionforustolandatRechlin–butonlyonconditionthatIwastotakeoffagainatonce,inorder,forreasonsofmilitarysecrecy,toavoiddrawinganyundesirableattentiontowhatwasgoingonatthissmallairfield.Wetookoffat23.00hours,butinthemeantimetheweatherhadgrownworseinRechlintoo.Theairfieldtherehadnogroundlightingandnoboundarylights,andtheonlyassistanceIwouldhavewererocketsignals.Itwasaverydifficultlanding.ThefirsttimeItoucheddownIhadn’treachedtheairfieldatall,andwasdigginguppotatoesinanadjoiningfield.Tomakemattersworse,therewasahighwindanditwasrainingintorrents,butItoucheddownsafelyintheend.ThefirstthingIwastoldbytheofficerinchargewasthatImusttakeoffagainatonce;whichIdid,andfromtheairIcalledupStettin.ItwassometimebeforeIcouldgetanyreply–itwasnow00.30hours,butintheendsomeonewokeupandIwasgivenpermissiontoland.

ThefollowingdayIflewtoWarnemünde,acombinedairfieldandseaplanebase.CaptainChristiansenwastherewithhisfamousflying-boat,Do.X,waitingforHitler’sarrivalbeforetakingoff.WhenHitlercamehetoldmethathehadbeenparticularly

pleasedwithhismeetingthepreviousevening.Hehadbeenverylate,butagreatmassofpeoplehadwaitedpatientlyinthecolduntiltwoo’clockinthemorning–justtohearhimspeakfortwentyminutes.WhilsthewasinWarnemündeheinspectedtheDo.X,buthetoldmeafterwardsthathemuchpreferredoursmallerlandplanes.

LaterweflewtoKiel,HamburgandAlt-Harburg.HeretheCommunistswerestrong,andtherewasabitoftrouble,butHitlermanagedtospeakandholdhismeetingtotheend.‘Givemetenminutes,andthey’requiet,’hesaid.‘BythattimetheywanttohearwhatI’vegottosay–suspiciouslyatfirst,butafterwardswithenthusiasm.’

Bremen,Hanover,Brunswick,thenKassel,Breslau,Neisseonthe22nd;Gleiwitz,Görlitz,Dresden,Leipzig,Dessauonthe23rd;Düsseldorf,Essen,OsnabrückandErfurtonthe24th.AndthentoWeimarforarest.ThenextdayIaccompaniedHitleronavisittotheBelvedere,andhequestionedmekeenlyaboutmyflyingexperiencesduringtheFirstWorldWar.

WhilstwewereoutHitlerturnedroundtoSauckel,whowaswalkingbehinduswithagroupofotherpartyleaders.

‘Seethatwehavesomefemalecompanionshipattabletonight,Sauckel.AlldaylongI’msurroundedbymen,andI’dliketohearwomen’svoicesforachange.’

At17.00hoursweweresittingtogetherontheSchlossterrace,andSauckelhadproducedaboutfifteengirlsbetweeneighteenandtwenty-threeyearsold.InthemeantimethenewsofHitler’spresenceinWeimarhadgotaround,andcrowdswerebeginningtogathertoseehim,whilstcarswerebeingdrivenslowlypast.AlittlewhilebeforewhenIwassittingaloneontheterracewithHitleranattractivewomandrovebyinacar.Hitlerspottedheratonce.

‘Look,Baur:there’salovelylittlewomanforyou!Asprettyasapicture!’

Ididn’tknowmuchaboutHitler’sprivatelifeinthosedays,orwhathisattitudetowomenwas,buttheeagernessinhisvoicemademereply:

‘Ifeelquitesorryforyou.’

‘Why,whatdoyoumean,Baur?’

‘Imeanthatitsoundsasthoughwomenweresomethingonlyatadistanceforyou.’

‘Asamatteroffactyou’reright,’hesaidreflectively.‘AndIhavetokeepitthatway.I’minthespotlightofpublicity,andanythingofthatsortcouldbeverydamaging.Nowifyouweretohaveapassingaffair,noonewouldbotherhisheadaboutit,butifIdidthere’dbethedeviltopay.Andwomencanneverkeeptheirmouthsshut.’

AfterwardsIsawHitlersurroundedbyagroupofattractivegirls.Atfirsttheyhadbeenalittleshy,butthentheybegantochatterawaymerrily.Itriedtostartaconversationwithoneofthem,butshehadnotimeforme–onlyforHitler.Andthesamethinghappenedtoeveryoneelse.Noneofthegirlshadeyesforanyonebuthim:theywereallaroundhiminacirclenow.ButwhenHitlernoticedthathewasthecentreofattentionhebecamelessandlesstalkative,andfinallydeclaredthecoffeeinterludeatanend–thoughheinvitedthemalltocomeonafterwardstotheKünstlerCaféashisguests,aninvitationtheyalljoyfullyaccepted.Onceagainhewassurroundedbywomen,butafterawhileheaskedDr

Hanfstaengel,whowasanexcellentpianist,toplaysomething;Hitlerthenleftthecompanyofthewomenandstoodbythepiano.Soonafterthathesaidgood-byetothepartyandwentaway.

Iwonderedwhatwomenreallythoughtabouthim,andfromtimetotimeIquestionedsomeofthem.Withoutexceptiontheywereenthusiasticabouthim,someofthemfanaticallyso,eventothepointofhysteria.OnthatparticulareveningItalkedtothegirlwhowassittingbesideme.Shewastwenty-two,andveryattractive,butshetoldmethatshewasafraidshewouldnevergetmarried,becausewhenshecomparedallthemenshehadevermetwithHitlertheyweresofarinferiortohimthatnonecouldpossiblysatisfyher.

IwasmaliciousenoughtotellherwhatHitlerhadsaidaboutwomen:thatnoneofthemcouldholdhertongue.Shestaredatmealmostinhorror.

‘Hesaidthat!Oh,howmistakenheis!Please,pleasetellhimthatIcould.I’dsoonerhavemytonguecutoutthanwhisperaword.’

Ihadtolaughather,butshewasveryserious.WhenItoldHitleraboutitthenextday,helaughedtoo.

Imentionthisinitselfunimportantincident,becauseitistypicalofHitler’srelationshiptothemanywomenwemet–hemeticulouslyavoidedanythingwhichmighthavedamagedhisreputation.

FromWeimarweflewbacktoBerlin,ontoEberswalde,andthentothewestagain:Aix-la-Chapelle,Cologne,FrankfortonMain,Wiesbaden,Stuttgart,NeustadtandFreiburginBreisgau,wherethousandsofpeoplehadcometotheairfieldtomeetHitler.Thewaytotheplacewherethemeetingwastobeheldwaslinedwithpeople,andthecarcouldgoforwardonlyslowly.SuddenlyashowerofstoneswasaimedfrombehindthefrontranksatHitler’scar,andastonestruckhimontheheadandinjuredhimslightly.Inamomenthewasoutofthecarswinginghisraw-hidewhip,buthisattackershadfled.

ThesameeveninghewastospeakinRadolfzell,andIhadtolandatFriedrichshafen.Theirwirelessposthadcloseddown,soIhadtoflybydead-reckoning.ItwasquitedarkwhenIdecidedthatwemustbeoverLakeConstance,andIwentdownfarenoughtoseethesurfaceofthewaterglimmering.Iflewaroundforabouttenminutes,butIcouldn’tidentifythelanding-ground.Afterawhile,however,myflaresignalswereansweredfromtheground,andthentwobiggreenlightswereswitchedonformetolandbetweenthem.Iswitchedonmyownwinglightsandsweptinoverthetreestoland,butbeforeIcoulddosothegreenmarkerlightswentout.Ihadmysearchlighton,butitdidn’thelpmeagreatdeal.IknewthatrightinthemiddleofthefieldwasthegreatgirdermastusedforanchoringtheZeppelin,andtherewasarealdangerthatIwouldcollidewithit.ButIwasgoingdownrapidlynowandtherewasnothingIcoulddobuthopeforthebest.Theairfieldwaspitchdark,andnotevenobstaclesandhindranceswerelitup.Ilandedonlyafewyardsfromthatanchormast…

MysecondelectionflightforHitlerendedwithFürth,NurembergandMunich.

Afteracoupleofmonths’flyingontheMunich–Venice–RomeandtheMunich–BerlinandMunich–Zürich–ViennaroutesIwasonceagaincalledontoflyHitleronan

electiontour.Itlastedfrom13Octoberto15November.ThistimeIflewtheJunkers52,whichhadbeentakenintoservicebytheLufthansain1932.Ithadwonfirstprizeataninternationalair-meetinginZürich;itwasnearlytwentymilesanhourfasterthantheRohrbach,couldcarrysixteenpassengers,andhadahigherceiling.TheLufthansawanteditforthetrans-Alpineflights,andatfirstourdirectorswereveryunwillingtoletHitlerhavetheuseofoneofthesemachinesforawholemonth.However,GöringusedhisinfluenceasPresidentoftheReichstag,anditwasintheJu.52thatwestarted.OnourprevioustourswehadfirstSeftonDelmer,andthenWardPricewithus.ThistimeitwasJamesKingstonofReuters.

DuringthecourseofthistourwevisitedaboutsixtytownsthroughoutGermany.Autumnflyingconditionswerepoorasusual,andIhadagoodmanydifficultiestocontendwith,butIovercamethemall,andnotasingleoneofthemanymeetingshadtobecancelledonaccountofanyfailureofourflightprogramme.Buton18OctoberadifferentsortoftroublefacedmeinKönigsberg.Theairfieldmechanicsthererefusedtoserviceourplane,whichwas,asusual,guardedbyasquadofSAmen.Afteracertainamountofnegotiation,duringwhichIinsistedthatmymachinewasaLufthansaplaneoncharterandshouldbetreatedinaccordancewiththestandingagreement,themeninchargeagreedwithmeandpromisedthattheywoulddotheirbesttogettheirmechanicstodothework,butwhenIarrivedateleveno’clockthenextmorning–whichwasinanycasearestday–IwasinformedthatunlesstheSAguardwerewithdrawnnotamechanicwouldtouchtheplane.IthensecuredthewithdrawaloftheSAmenandthemechanicsstartedwork.

InUlmwelandedinanordinarymeadow,andweweretotakeoffagainthateveningafterdark.Asthatwouldhavebeendangerouswithoutmarkerlights,Iwentintothetownandboughttenhurricanelamps,andwiththeiraidwegotsafelyaway.

Whentheelectiontourwasover,Hitlerthankedmewarmlyonceagain.HetoldmethathewasthinkingofbuyingaJu.52,andaskedmetogetintouchwithJunkersonhisbehalf.ThisIdidatonce,andtheyquotedapriceof275,000marks.HitlercalledmetotheBrownHouse.

‘It’stoodear,’hesaid.‘Ishallwait.BeforelongIshallbemasteroftheThirdReich,andthenI’llestablishaGovernmentFlight,andputyouinchargeofit.’

AfterthatIwentbacktomynormalflyingdutieswiththeLufthansa,buton30January,bywhichtimeHitlerhadbecomemasteroftheThirdReich,Iwassecondedtohimashispersonalpilot.Itwasajobthatlasteduntilhisdeathin1945.

OncehewasheadoftheGermanGovernmentHitlerflewfarmorethanbefore,andIalsoflewagoodmanyofhisministers.Bythistimehetrustedmeabsolutely,almostblindlyonemightsay;andhealwaysinsistedthatIshouldflyhimandanyofhisspecialfriends.LateronIbroughtinotherpilotsfromtheLufthansatoflyministersandotherVIPs.ThemanIlikedbestasapassengerwasRudolfHess,whowashimselfanenthusiasticpilot.Itaughthiminstrumentflyingonboardmyplane.Hitlerhadgivenhimstrictorderstoflyonlywithafirst-classpilot.

IflewGöringonhisfirstvisittoAir-MarshalBalboinRome.ItwasApril1933,shortlyafterHitlerhadcometopower:Iwasanaircaptain,orwing-commander,now,andoffwe

flewtoRomeinourbrand-newuniforms.Göringsatnexttomeinfrontandflewtheplane.Wehadn’tbeenmorethanabouttenminutesintheairwhenhisvaletarrivedwithhamlaidonbreadandbutter,andItookoverwhilstheate.Afterthattherewascoffeewithcakes,aSteinhägerliqueur,andthenoranges.ThatwouldhaveseenmethroughtoRome,butGöring’svaletobviouslyhadverydifferentinstructions,becauseeverynowandagainheappearedwithsandwiches,coffee,cakesandsoon,andGöringsteadilyatehiswaytoMunich.

HewasanxioustocircleoverSchlossGrafenwöhr,wherehismotherwasliving,sowewentdowntobelowtwohundredfeetwhilstGöringwavedhishandkerchief,andvariouspeoplebelowwavedupatus.Itwasawonderfulday,andGöringthenhadhisfirstflightovertheAlps.InBerlinIhadnegotiatedwiththeItalianAmbassador,Cerutti,abouttheairescortwhichtheItaliansproposedshouldmeetusassoonasweflewintotheirairspace.Iwasn’tveryenthusiasticaboutthewholething.IhadalreadyhadaratherdisagreeableexperiencewithanItalianairescortwhenflyingMinisterGuerard,soIstronglyopposedthefirstsuggestionthattheItalianairescortshouldmeetusovertheBrenner;intheeventofbadweatherthedangerofcollisioninthenarrowvalleyoftheAdigewasconsiderable,sointheenditwasagreedthatweshouldbemetoverRavenna.

Whenweweretenminutes’flightdistanceawayfromthere,Iwirelessedourimminentarrivalandsuggestedthattheescortshouldtakeoff.WhenweflewoverRavennatheeighteenescortmachineswerestilllinedupontheground,soIcruisedarounduntiltheywereallintheairandinpositionandthenIflewon.BeforelongIcouldseenothingofourescort,soIsentmyobservertothebackoftheplanetoreport.HereturnedwiththeinformationthattheItalianplaneswerealmostoutofsight.Weweredoingaboutahundredandthirtymilesanhour,andastheItalianshadinformedmethattheirplanescoulddoahundredandsixty,Ihadthoughtmyspeedwouldbeappropriate,buttheirclaimwasobviouslyinaccurate.

IaskedGöringwhatIshoulddo–bythistimetheItalianswereoutofsight.Hedecidedthatweshouldflyback,andthisIdidandpickeduptheItaliansagain.WhenIturnedoncourseagainIthrottledbacktoahundredandseventeenmilesanhour–butitwasstilltoofast.

Thenastormloomedupahead.Isuggestedthatweshouldflythroughit,whichmeantinstrumentflying,andGöringagreed,butheimmediatelyvacatedhisseatnexttome,becauseheknewnothingaboutblind-flyinganddidn’twanttobetrayhisignorance.Theonlyotherplacehecouldsitwasonthebroadbenchattherear,becausetheordinarypassengerseatsweren’tbigenoughtotakehishugerumpcomfortably.Weflewthroughthestormandwewereshakenupabit,butbythetimewegottoPerugiatheskywasfairlyclearagain–quiteclearofourescortanyway.Theweatherontherestofthewaywasfavourable,butbythetimewesightedRomewewerestillalone.

WemadeaperfectlandingonthemilitaryairfieldofCentoCello,androlledaccuratelytoastop,whereweweregreetedbyGermanandItalianflags,acompanyofhonour,abandplayingtheGermanandItaliannationalanthems,and,ofcourse,Air-MarshalBalbohimselfwithhisretinue.ThefirstthinghedidwastocongratulateGöringontheexpertwayhehadlandedtheplane–Göringhadtakenhisscatupinfrontwithmeagain,andhenowwinkedatme,butnoonesaidaword.ThenBalbowantedtoknowwhathad

happenedtotheItalianairescort,andIhadtoexplain;whichIdidasmercifullyasIcould,butthestoryobviouslyupsethim.

Whenthereceptionceremonywasoverwewereledtoanearbymilitarybarrackswhereahugetablewasloadedwitheverypossibledelicacy.Göring’seyessparkled,andhesettowithawill–thecolossalquantityoffoodthatmancouldputawaywasastonishing!Afterthetraditionalglassofvermouthwewentoutontheairfieldagain–justintimetoseetheItalianescortcomingintoland.Air-MarshalBalbolookedannoyed,andIsubsequentlyheardthatmyunfortunateItaliancolleaguewhohadledtheflighthadreceivedatremendousrocket–notthatitwashisfault,poorman;hisplanesjustweren’tfastenough.

ThateveningBalbotookusaroundRome’snight-spots,fromrestauranttorestaurant,andsoon.Everywherewewerewelcomedenthusiastically.TherewasnodoubtthatBalbowasverypopularwiththeItalians.ButatmidnighttheGermanEmbassyinformedmethatIwastoflybacktoBerlinfirstthinginthemorning–Hitlerwantedme.

Göringwastoreturnbyanotherplane.WhenIgotbacktoBerlinIdiscoveredthatHitlerwantedtobeflowntoMunichandrefusedtobeflownbyanyoneelse.Thatwasall.DuringthethirteenyearsIflewforHitlerheusedtheservicesofanotherpilotonlyonce,andthatwaswhenIwasinMoscowwithRibbentrop;Moscowwasrathertoofartorecallmejustlikethat.BecauseoftheimportanceofRibbentrop’smissionHitlerwantedtobeinBerlinwhenwereturned,soheactuallyflewwithanotherpilotfromBerchtesgadentoBerlin.

OnhisreturnfromRomeGöringflewtoObersalzbergtoreporttoHitler,andIwasinstructedtoflyhimfromtherebacktoBerlin.WhenImethiminthemorninghenearlyfellonmyneck.

‘Baur,’heexclaimed,‘IthoughtIwasgoingtodieonthatreturnflightwithoutyou.’

ItappearedthatonthewaybackovertheAlpshehadusedupoxygenwiththesameprodigalitywithwhichhepolishedofffood,withtheresultthatbeforelongitwasallgone.

ThemachinewasflyinghighbetweentheAdamellogroupwhenMilchhurriedlycameforwardtothepilotandorderedhimtoflylowerbecauseGöringwasgoingblueinthefaceandgaspingforbreath.Butthepilotcouldn’t.Theweatherwasbad,visibilitywaspoor;itwasrainingandsnowing–andjustbelowhimwere11,500-footpeaks.MilchthereforeorderedhimtoturnbacktoVenice.

InthePovalleythepilotwasabletogodownthreeorfourthousandfeet,whereuponGöringrecoveredatonceandhardlyknewwhathadhappened.HethoughttheywereflyingintoMunich.WhenhehearditwasVenicehegotfuriousandorderedthepilottoflytoMunich.Milchthenexplainedwhathadhappened,butGöringinsistedonbeingflowntoMunich–hewasafraidthatiftheylandedatVenicethewholestoryabouttheoxygenwouldcomeoutandBalbowouldhearofit–whichwouldbeasembarrassingforGöring,asGermanAirMinister,asthebusinesswiththeescortingplaneshadbeenforBalboasItalianAirMinister.

ButflyingbackovertheBrenneratheightthesamethinghappened.Göringturnedblue

againandlookedasthoughheweredying,whereuponMilchonceagainorderedthepilottogolower.FortunatelybythistimetheywereneartheKarwendelstein,andmycolleaguemanagedtoscrapeoverthetopandgodownbeyondittowardsMunich.And,ofcourse,assoonastheyflewlowerGöringrecovered.InsteadoftwohourstheflighttoMunichhadtakenfour.

Hitlertoldmethewholestoryafewdayslaterwhenwewereatdinner,andaskedmewhatIwouldhavedoneinthecircumstances.

‘Ifyou’retryingtosaveadrowningmanandhestrugglesandthreatenstodrownnotonlyhimselfbutyou,youjustKOhim,’Isaidbluntly.‘Andthat’swhatIwouldhavedonetoGöring–byflyingstillhigher.Hewouldthenhavelostconsciousnessaltogether,butnoharmwouldhavecometohim,andassoonaswewereabletoflylowerhewouldhavebeenallright.I’vehadthatexperiencetimeandtimeagain.’

Hitlerlaughed:‘You’reabrutalfellow,Baur,’hesaid.

Hitler’scompleteconfidenceinmehadledbythistimetoamoreintimateandfriendlyrelationship.Afterall,againandagainhislifedependedonmyskill,andherealisedthatIalwaysdidmylevelbestforhim,soonedayhetoldmethathenceforthIwastoconsidermyselfashispersonalfriendandpermanentguestaswellashispilot.FromnowonIwastobeallowedtogoinandoutofhishouseandoftheReichChancellorywheneverIlikedwithoutspecialpassorpermission.AfterthatIalmostalwayshadlunchanddinnerwithhim,andIfounditveryinterestingtogettoknowthewayhelived,andinparticularhowherelaxed.

InthegardenoftheReichChancellorytherewereanumberofverytamesquirrels,andwheneverhewentoutintothegardentheywouldcomerunninguptojumponhisshoulders.Theywantednuts,ofcourse,andwhenHitlerwentintothegardenhealwaystooksomewithhim.OncewhenthesupplywasexhaustedIofferedtogobacktotheReichChancelloryandgetsomemore,butHitlerrefused:

‘No,Baur.Yourjobisflyingme,notwaitingonme.’

Andwiththatheshoutedandaservantcamerunningup.

WhilsttheformerresidenceofHindenburgwasbeingpreparedforhim,HitlerlivedintheHotel‘Kaiserhof’,theplacehehadalwaysstayedatwhenhewasinBerlinbeforehecametopower.Iwasquarteredtheretoo.OneeveningIwassittinginhisprivateroomchattingwithhimwhenDrHanfstaenglcameinandtoldhimthathehadnowfinishedamarch‘TheGermanFöhn’whichhehadbeencomposing,andwasreadytoplayitforhim.WithHitler’sagreement,therefore,Hanfstaenglsatdownatthegrandpianoandplayedushismarch.

Itsoundedabitoutlandishtome.Hitler,whohadlistenedverycarefully,askedHanfstaengltoplayitagain.ThenHitlerwhistledthewholethingthroughfrombeginningtoend,pointingoutthisandthattoHanfstaengl,tellinghimwherehewouldlikeitaltered,andsoon.Iamnotunmusicalmyself;infact,IlovemusicandIhavelistenedtoagreatdealofit,butIcouldn’thavewhistledasinglepassageafterthosetwoperformances.

ThefirstofficialmeetingbetweenHitlerandMussoliniasheadsoftheGermanandItalianstateswasarrangedtotakeplaceon14June1933.TheweatherwasclearwhenweflewovertheAlps,anditwasnowHitler’sturntobeimpressed.WewereduetolandontheairfieldatVeniceat12.00sharp,butwewerefiveminutesearly,andalthoughwecouldseethatMussoliniwasalreadywaitingdownbelow,Hitlerorderedmetoflyaroundoverthetownforfiveminutes.

‘We’reduetolandatmidday,’hesaid.‘Doitonthedot.’

IthereforeflewaroundoverVeniceforfiveminutes,whilstHitleradmiredthefamoustownfromtheair.Thenweturnedbacktotheairfieldandlanded–‘onthedot’.AsfarasIcouldjudge,thegreetingbetweenthetwostatesmenwassincerelywarmandfriendly.AfterwardsMussolinicameuptoourJu.52,aboutwhichhesaidhehadheardsuchalotthathewantedtoinspectit.Ishowedhimeverything;and,ofcourse,asapilothimselfhewasnotonlyveryinterested,butknowledgeable.Iwastoflyhimoften,and,likeHess,hewasanenthusiasticflyer.

Theformaldiscussionsbetweenthetwoleaderstookplaceinanearbypalace,andapartfromthemonlytheItalianForeignMinister,aninterpreter,andtheGermanForeignMinister,vonNeurath,werepresent.Therestofuswerestandingtoofarawaytohearanythingofwhatwasbeingsaid.Butonethingwecouldsee:littleseemedleftofthefriendlywarmthwithwhichthetwoleadershadgreetedeachother.Theywerebothobviouslyexcited,andthediscussionsoonbecameaclashofpersonalities.Firstonethentheotherwouldstampnervously,andbothofthemweregesticulatingvigorously.ThemainsubjectofdiscussionwasAustria.HitlerwantedMussolinitoagreetolettheAustrianNationalSocialistshaveafreehand,butMussoliniwouldn’t;onthecontrary,hestillsupportedtheAustrianGovernment.Theprospectsofagreementlookedremote.

AfewhourslaterweflewbacktoGermany,andthewholetimeHitlersatsilentlybymysidelookingoutatthegloriousAlpinescenerybeneathus.HeneversaidawordabouthisdiscussionwithMussolini,andnoneofuseverlearnedjustexactlywhatthetwodidsaytoeachother.

TherewasnosuitableairfieldforourJu.52intheneighbourhoodofObersalzberg,andonedaywhenHitlerwasinMunichagainhecalledmetotheBrownHouseandinformedmethatastheSalzburgairfield,whichwas,ofcourse,onAustrianterritory,wasnotlikelytobeatourdisposalforawhile,Ihadbetterlookforasuitablespotonoursideofthefrontier,andhewouldhaveanairfieldbuiltthere.

MajorHailerandIthereforeprospectedtheneighbourhoodfromtheairandmarkedvariousspotswethoughtmightbesuitable,andthenwewentbycartoexaminethemontheground.Anumberofotherwisesuitablemeadowscouldn’tstanduptoacloserexaminationbecause–assoofteninmountainousdistricts–theytendedtobemarshy.IntheendwechoseaspotjustonoursideofthefrontieroppositeSalzburg,andreportedbacktoHitler,whoimmediatelygaveordersforthebuildingofanairfieldthere.Thefieldwasquicklylaidout,andhangarsforthreeJu.52sandvariousauxiliarybuildingswereerected;weusedituntil1938,whentheairfieldatSalzburgontheAustriansideofthefrontierbecameavailabletousatlast.

Tremendouspreparationswerenaturallymadeforthe1933ReichCongressoftheNationalSocialistParty,thefirstsincethecomingtopower.Ithadtobeatremendoussuccess–somethingtoimpressthewholeworld.EveryeveningbeforetheCongressHitlerwouldflyfromNurembergtoBayreuth,andgofromtherebycartoBerneck,sothathecouldrestcompletelytobefitagainthenextday.OneeveningwhilstwewereinBerneckItoldHitlerthatIhadreadareportinthepaperthatHofer,theNationalSocialistGauleiteroftheTyrol,hadescapedfromInnsbruckprisonandmanagedtomakehiswayovertheItalianfrontier.Hehadbeenwounded,andwasnowinhospitalinBrixen.Wouldn’titbeagoodideaifwecouldfetchhimfromBrixentoNurembergbyairfortheCongress?

Hitlerwasenthusiasticattheidea.Heimmediatelysentforhisadjutant,Brückner,andgavehiminstructionsthathisAustrianrepresentative,Habicht,wastoflywithmetoBrixenandfetchHofertoNuremberg.Welostnotime,andwetoucheddowninBolzanoat11.00hoursthenextday.HabichtimmediatelymadearrangementstogetHoferfromhospital,andatmiddayhearrivedbyambulancefromBrixenwithhisparentsandhisdaughter.Wegotthestretchersafelyintoourplane,andat12.30hoursIwasreadytotakeoff,forIwantedtobebackinNurembergby15.00hours.

TheItaliansgavemebackmylog,buttheairfieldcommandantinformedmethatIcouldn’tstartastheyhadnoinformationaboutweatherconditionsovertheBrenner.Iimmediatelysuspectedthatsomethingwaswrong,butforthemomenttherewasnothingtodobutwait.Iletanhourpass,andthenIenquiredagain.AllIgotwasashrugoftheshoulders:thecommandantwasatlunch.InthemeantimeHabichtwastryingtonegotiatewiththeItalianauthorities,becausetheweather-reportbusinesswasobviouslyamereblind.TheAustrians,asweknew,haddemandedHofer’sextradition,butsofartheItalianshadrefusedit,andtheyobviouslyweren’tkeenonlettinghimleavethecountry.InowranguptheGermanEmbassyinRome,andaskedthemtointervenesothatIcouldgetpermissiontostart.

Inthemeantimewewereinformedthattherewerecustomsdifficulties.Wewerenotaregularflight,andtherefore…Andafterthatitwasthatourpassengershadnopassports.Thentheofficialinquestiongotthebrightideaofexaminingourpassportstoo.Zintl,mymechanic,hadgoneofftolunch,andmypassportwaslockedaway.ThenanofficerappearedandinformedmethathewasthemilitarycommandantandthatIshouldhaveappliedtohim…Inshort,thechicanerywentonwithoneexcuseaftertheother.Ipointedoutthatawoundedmanwasintheplane,andthatthesunwasturningthecabinintoanoven.Moreshoulder-shrugging.

Atlastatabout18.00hourstheGermanEmbassyrangupandinformedmethattheItalianGovernmenthadnowagreedtoletmestartwithHofer,andtenminutesafterthattheairfieldcommandantcamerunninguptotellmethatIcouldnowtakeoff.AlltheItaliansweresuddenlyassweetashoneyandpretendingnottoknowwhatallthedisagreeableGermansweresoangryabout.ThencamethesuggestionthatitwouldbebetterifIdelayedmystartuntildaylight…‘Tohellwiththat!’Ithought,andaloudIdeclaredthatIknewtherouteperfectlywellandwasquiteaccustomedtonightflying.

WiththatItookoffandflewtoMunich,forIhadn’tenoughpetroltotakemerightthroughtoNuremberg.ItwaspitchdarkbeforewereachedtheBrenner,butweflewover

theAlpssafely;however,whenwearrivedoverMunichairfieldIdiscoveredthatmywingflareswouldn’tswitchon,soIhadtolandwithoutthemandrelyonthehurricanelampstheyputoutontheairfieldforme.Evenatthattimetherewasnoflood-lightingtofacilitatenighttake-offsandlandings.

Welandedsafely,tankedup,putinthecontactsofourwingflares,andtookoffagainatonceforNuremberg.AswehadtelephonedfromMunich,therewerenodifficultieswhenwearrived.Infact,theairfieldwasaslightasdaywithjupiterlamps,forthefilmpeoplewereanxioustorecordthearrivalofHoferfortheirnewsreel,andwehadatremendousreception.

IntheautumnavillagecalledÖschelbrunn,nearKarlsruhe,wasburnttothegroundforsomereasonorother;atthesametimetherewasacollisionbetweenlorriesnearGosenwhichcosttwelveSAmentheirlives,andseriouslyinjuredtwenty-threeothers.HitlerwantedtovisitÖschelbrunntoexpresshissympathytotheinhabitantsandassurethemofgovernmentassistance,anddirectlyafterthattoattendthefuneralofthedeadSAmen.Theflightwastobekeptsecret,inordertoavoidanyunnecessarydelays,andHitlertoldmethathewasveryanxioustobeintimeforthemassfuneral.

Igotmymachinereadyearlyinthemorningon14SeptemberinordertomaketheusualtestflightbeforetakingoffwithHitler,butbeforeIcoulddosoColonelKadaniko,thecommandantofBerlinairport,camehurryinguptoenquirewhereIwasgoing.AsHitlerhimselfhadgivenmestrictordersnottotellanyone,Iwasunabletoinformhim.ButKadanikowassupposedtoreporttotheReich’sAirMinisterconcerningthedestinationofeveryflighttakenbyHitlersothatthenecessaryprecautionscouldbetaken;hethereforedidhisbesttopersuademetotellhim,butIstillrefused.IntheendItoldhimtowaituntilHitlerarrived.ButwhenheapproachedHitler,Hitleronlylaughed.

‘That’sourbusiness,’hesaid.‘IfBaurtellsmehecangetalongwithoutspecialprecautions,thenwewon’tbotherwiththem.’

Astheweatherconditionsweren’ttoobadIwasinapositiontogivehimthenecessaryassurance,andsowetookoffwithoutpoorColonelKadaniko’sbeinganythewiser.ActuallywewereflyingtoKarlsruhe,buttoleavehim–andothers–completelyinthedarkwesetoffnorthwards,andonlywhenwewereoutofsightdidwedescribeagreatarcandsetourcoursesouth-west.ThroughouttheflightwemaintainedwirelesssilenceinordertogiveBerlinnochanceofgettingabearingonus,andonlyjustbeforewegottoKarlsruheairfielddidIgivemywirelessoperatorpermissiontogetintouchandaskforwindstrengthsatground-level,andsoon.

However,whenwegotovertheairfielditwasobviousthatHitlerwasexpected.Thefieldwaslinedwithpeople,includinghundredsofuniformedSAmen.Hitlerwasfurious,andheshoutedandstormed.

‘Whatdamnedfoolgaveourarrangementsaway?’hedemandedangrilybutnoneofuscouldtellhim.

IntheenditturnedoutthattheGestapohadinformedtheKarlsruheGauleiter,DrWagner,thatHitlerwascoming‘secretly’–andWagnersimplyhadtoorganisewhathe

consideredanappropriatereception.SowhetherHitlerlikeditornot,hehadtoinspecttheSAguardofhonourandsayafewwords.

IremainedbehindontheairfieldtoflyhimontoEssenforthefuneral,whilsthewentoffinacarthroughcheeringcrowdsandfestivelydecoratedstreets–Wagnerhadbeenverybusy,andittooksometimebeforeHitler’schauffeurcouldgetoutontotheroadtoÖschelbrunnatall.InfactHitlerdidn’tgetbacktoKarlsruhe,butwentonbycartoStuttgart,andatelephonecallcameformetopickhimupthereandflyhimtoEssenforthefuneral.ButwhenIarrivedinStuttgarttherehadbeensomanydelays,andtheweatherhadworsenedsomuchinthemeantimethatweneededatleasttwohoursfortheflighttoEssen,whichwouldhavemeantthatHitlerwouldarriveafterthefuneralceremonyhadstarted.Thishewasdeterminedtoavoidatallcosts,sohedecidednottobepresentatthefuneralbuttovisittheinjuredinhospitalafterwards.

ThatsameeveningweflewtoBonn,andintwentyminutesafterthatwewereinBadGodesbergbycar.WheneverHitlerwasinthewesthewouldalwaysstayintheHotelDreesenthere,andaroomwasconstantlykeptreadyforhim.Wewerealsogivenexcellentaccommodation.TheHotelDreesenissituatedinawonderfulpositionwithasplendidviewoutovertheRhineandtotheDrachenfelsonthefarside.ThenextdaywedrovebacktoBonnandflewbackfromtheretoBerlin.

WehadasimilarexperiencewhenHitlerflewtoNurembergfortheburialofanoldcomrade.Onceagaintheflightwassupposedtobesecret,buttheGestaposawtoitthattheauthoritiesinNurembergknewallaboutit,withtheresultthatwhenwearrivedtheairfieldwaslinedwithwaitingcrowds.ThistimeHitlerwassofuriousthatherefusedtolandatall,andorderedmetoflyontothemilitaryairfieldatFürth,fromwherehewentonbycar.

ThereisnodoubtthattheprecautionsHitlertook–ortriedtotake–tokeephismovementssecretcamefromafearofassassination.Althoughhehadoriginallydislikedanddistrustedairflight,hehadnowrealisedthathewasmuchsaferintheairwithmethan,forexample,inarailwaytrain,whereitwasmuchmoredifficulttotakeeffectiveprecautionarymeasures,whichhad,inanycase,tobeonamuchwiderscale.Forexample,ifhewantedtogobyspecialtrainfrom,say,BerlintoMunich,hundredsofpeoplehadtoknowaboutthetrain’smovementsinadvance,sothatanattack,perhapsbyplacingexplosivesonthelinetocauseaderailment,wasmucheasierthandealingwithaplane,whichitwasquitesimpletoguard.TheresultwasthatHitlermuchpreferredtoappearsuddenlyandunannounced,andthisheregardedasthebestprotectionforhisperson.Iusedtogototheairfieldtogetmyplaneinorderandmakeatrialtake-offabouthalfanhourbeforeweactuallyleft,butasIoftenflewotherimportantpeople,ministersandsoon,mypresenceatanairfieldwasnodefiniteindicationthatHitlerwasabouttofollow.

AsIhadtostudytheweatherchartsbeforeeachflight,thismighthavegivenawayourdestination,buttopreventitIalwaysaskedforthelot–andnooneknewinwhichonesIwasreallyinterested.AfteralongbattlewiththeAirMinisterIalsoobtainedpermissiontokeeptheoldnumberofmyplane,D-2600,althoughbythistimetheinternationalnumberingcodeshadbeenintroduced.ThismeantthatwhereverwewentmyplanewasknownasHitler’s,andwewerethereforegiveneverypossiblefacility.Wewerealways

servedfirstwhenweaskedforaweatherforecastorawirelessbearing,andifotherplaneshappenedtobeintheairaheadofuswhenwehadtobetalkeddowninbadvisibility,thentheyhadtocruisearoundwhilstweweretakenfirst–whichcouldeasilysaveusthree-quartersofanhourandgreatlyenhancedoursafety.

InSeptember1933Icompletedmymillionthkilometreintheair–about620,000miles–andonceagainIwasloadedwithhonours;buttheonewhichpleasedmemostwasasignedphotographofthefamousFirstWorldWarAce,Immelmann,whichmymothersenttometellingmetokeepitinmyplane–which,althoughitwasD-2600toeveryoneelse,was‘Immelmann’tome.ThereafteritwasfixedinasilverframeinfrontofHitler’sseat.

NotallmyflightswithHitlerwentsmoothly.OnoneoccasionhewantedtoflytoElbing.Ihappenedtoknowthatiftheairfieldtherehappenedtobesoggy,asitoftenwas,itwouldbeverydifficulttoland,andstillmoredifficulttotakeoff;soIfirstmadeenquiriesandreceivedtheinformationthataplanehadflownfromKönigsbergtoElbingspeciallytoexaminegroundconditions,andhadreportedthateverythingwasinorder.Ithenmadearrangementsforlightingintheeventofalandingafterdark,andwiththatIthoughtIhaddoneeverythingIcouldtoensureagoodlandingandagoodtake-off–andsoIhad,butthebest-laidplansofmiceandmen…

WesetoffforElbingon5November,adampandhumidtimeoftheyear,andassoonasItoucheddownIcouldfeelmywheelsbeginningtosinkintotheboggyairfield,sothatthemachinewasstoppedlongbeforeithadrolledout.Despitemythreeenginesitwasimpossibletogetitanyfurther,andHitlerhadtogetoutandtrampthroughthebog.Afterthat,ahundredandfiftymenwithropeshadtobemobilisedtodragmymachineoutofthemud.Theysucceeded,butanormalstartonthatquagmirewasoutofthequestion.TheonlythingIcoulddowastohavelinesofwoodenboleslaidandtolightenthemachineasfaraspossiblebyjettisoningeverything,includingthepetrolinitstanksexceptjustenoughtogetmetoDanzig,towhichHitlercouldgoafterwardsbycarwhenhisbusinessinElbingwascompleted.FromthereIcouldflyhimbacktoBerlin.

Startingonwoodenbolesisatrickybusiness.Onlytoooftenoneofthemwillup-endanddamagethepropellers;butIhadhadenoughbadluckforoneday,andnowmyluckwasinagainandIgotoffsafely.Therewasnooneelseonboard,andIhadjustenoughpetroltogetmetoDanzig.InDanzigItankedupagain,andwhenHitlerarrivedIwasabletogethimtoBerlinwithoutfurtherdifficulties.

ThedayafterthatweflewfromBerlintoMarienburgtovisittheoldReich’sPresident,MarshalvonHindenburg,wholivedontheNeudeckestatenearthere.FromMarienburgHitlerwantedtoflyontoKielforameeting,buttheweatherforecastsweresounfavourablethatwehadtostartearlierthanintendedbecauseIfearedthatotherwiseheadwindswouldseriouslydelayusandcauseHitlertobelate.Wetookoffat11.45hours,andshortlyafterpassingDanzigwehadtoflyblindoverthePolishcorridoragainstasixty-mile-an-hourheadwind.FromRügenwaldIflewlow,notmorethanacoupleofhundredfeetabovethesea,followingthecoastline,andinthiswaywegotsafelytoSwinemünde.FromthereIhadtoflyblindtoKielusingwirelessbearings.

Therewasnoshortageofthem,andatfirsttheyseemedtobeallright.FurtherbearingsprovidednearWarnemündeandagainnearOldenburgconfirmedthatIwasdeadinlineforKiel,sonowIwentdownfromaboutthreethousandtoathousandfeetabovetheseainordertodotherestofthejourneybydirectvisibility.ButaboutaquarterofanhourlaterIwasgivenabearingwhichindicatedapositionabouteightmilessouthofLübeck,whichwouldhavemeantthatIhadflownduesouth.ButIhadn’tchangedcourse,sothebearingwasobviouslywrong.Iinstructedmywirelessoperatortoaskforanotherbearing,andthisonegavetwelvemilestothenorth-eastofHamburg.IntheendtheconfusionwassogreatthatIgotfedupanddecidedtofindmyownwaytoKiel.

Iwentdowntoaboutsixhundredfeetandgotasightofthegroundagain,buttogetahorizonsightingIhadtogodowntoaboutonehundredandsixtyfeet.AsfarasIcouldseenowtherewaswater,watereverywhere,soIchangedcourseagain:tothesouth-westthistimeinthehopeofsightingland,whichwehadbeenabletoseeaquarterofanhourbefore.Afterabouttenminutestherewasstillnothingbutwater,soIchangedcourseduesouth.

Hitlernowcameforwardandwantedtoknowwherewewere,andIexplainedtohimthatthewirelessbearingshadconfusedussomuchthatIcouldn’tsay,butIthoughtwecouldn’tbefarfromKiel.Aswehadbeenflyingforoverfourhours,however,HitlerhalffearedwemusthaveflownbeyondourdestinationandnowbeovertheNorthSea.Butthenwedidcomeinsightofland,abroadbaywithalargetowninthebackground.Icouldn’ttellHitlerwhichtownitwas,soIadoptedtheoldairman’strickinsuchcircumstances:Iflewalongtherailwaylinetotheneareststationandtriedtoreadthenameofftheboard.Butwhenwearrivedatrainunsightedus,andasitwaslettingoffgreatcloudsofsteamwewerenonethewiser.

Hitlerwaslookingoutfromthefrontoftheplanewithmenow,andsuddenlyhesaid:‘Iknowthatplace.I’vespokenthere.Look,inthathall!It’sWismar.’

Andhewasright,thoughthebearingswhichwerestillcominginsaidanythingbut.ButIwasn’ttakinganynoticeofthemnow:IhadmyownbearingsandIdecidedtoflybysight.Wekeptwithinahundredandahundredandfiftyfeetfromtheground,andinthiswaywereachedtheRiverTrave.TheweatherreportsfromKielwereverybad,andIflewupanddowntheTravetryingtoidentifyTravemündeairport,whichIknewquitewell,inordertolandthere;butwithoutsuccess.Ihadverylittlepetrolleftnow–enoughperhapsforaquarterofanhour,soIwarnedHitlerthatwemighthavetomakeanemergencylandinginthebestplacewecouldfind.WithmylandingflapsdownandwithmyenginesthrottledbacktosavepetrolImadealastattempt,flyingnorthwardsataboutsixtyfeetoverthesea.Icametothebay,butIstillcouldn’tfindtheairfield;soItoldHitlertogobacktohisseatandstraphimselfin,becauseinlandingonsoftground,asthiswouldcertainlybeaftersomuchrain,thebrakingeffectisoftensostrongthataplanejustturnsupsidedown.Iturnedlandwardsandfoundastretchofgrasswhichlookedfairlysuitableforalanding;butjustasIwascirclingtocomedownIspottedsomethingtomyright,soswitchingonmyenginesagainIflewtowardsit.ItwasthetowerofTravemündeairfield…

FromTravemündeHitlerwentbycartoKiel,returningthefollowingmorningformetoflyhimtoHamburg.AssoonasIhadtimeinHamburgIwenttothewirelessstationto

examinetherecordedbearingsandfindoutifpossiblewhathadgonewrong.ItturnedoutthatKiel,Copenhagen,Stettin,Berlin,LeipzigandHannoverhadallbeeninvolvedintheconfusion.Outoftenbearingstaken,sevenhadbeenwrong.Weatherphenomenaconnectedwiththeduskhaddeflectedthebeams.Sincethen,greatlyimprovedmethodshavemadesuchdistortionsimpossible.

IhadalreadyheardagooddealofEvaBraunbeforeImether.FormanypeopleherrelationshiptoHitlerwasasurprise,andtosomeadisappointment,butformeitrepresentedperhapsthemosthumanthingIknewaboutHitler.

EvaBraunplayednorolewhateverinthepoliticsoftheThirdReich,andsheobviouslyhadnodesiretodoso;heronlyinterestwasinHitlertheman.Ifoundherasimpleandcharmingwoman,andIlikedandrespectedher.

Ihadbeeninterestedinphotographyforalongtime,andIalwaystookmyLeicaaboutwithme.OnedayIshowedmysnaps–ofHitlerandsoon–toHoffmann,theofficialphotographer,andheofferedtobuythepublicationrightsofsomeofthem.ItoldhimIdidn’tneedmoney,butifinfuturehecaredtodevelopandprintmyfilms,enlargingthemwherenecessary,hecouldhaveanyofthemhefancied,andthisheagreedtodo.InconsequenceIwasofteninHoffmann’sstudio.OnedayIwenttherewithmywife,tobegreetedbyaverygood-lookingyoungwomanIhadnotseenbefore.Shedidn’tknowmeeither,ofcourse,andsheaskedmemybusiness,butassoonasImentionedmynameshesmiledandsaidshehadheardalotaboutmeandwasverygladtomeetme.ThenshewenttofetchthepicturesIhadcomefor.Whenweleftthestudiomywiferemarkedhowattractiveshewas,sayingthatshehadseldomseensuchaprettygirl.

ShortlybeforeChristmas1933mywifecamewithmydaughterInge–whowasnineyearsoldatthetime–tomeetmeattheairfield.Hitlershookhandswiththemboth,andthenhesaidtome:‘Baur,womensendmefarmoreboxesofchocolatesthanIcanpossiblycopewith–someofthemareacoupleoffeetacross.BringyourdaughterroundtoseemeandI’llseewhatIcanfindforher.’

ItwasintheafternoononChristmasEvethatIactuallytookmydaughtertoHitler’sMunichflat.Hishousekeeper,FrauWinter,openedthedoortomyring,buttoldmeasIwentintothehallthatHitlerhadavisitor.

‘Still,’shesaid,‘Idon’tthinkhe’llmind.Afterall,youaren’tastranger.’

Sheknockedonthedoor,andHitler’svoicecalledout‘Comein’.SheopenedthedoorandIwentin,tofindthathisvisitorwastheveryprettygirlwehadseenatHoffmann’sstudio.Sheflushed,andHitlerlookedalittleembarrassed.Hewasabouttointroduceme,butthegirlsaidatoncethatitwasn’tnecessaryaswehadalreadymet.Hitlernowturnedhisattentiontomydaughter,talkedtoherforawhileandthengaveherthepromisedboxofchocolates.AfterthatthereweremutualChristmasgoodwishesandweleft.

AftertheholidaysIflewHitlerbacktoBerlin,andbeforeIwentintolunchIhappenedtomeetSeppDietrich,thecaptainofHitler’sbodyguard,andItoldhimaboutmymeetingswithEvaBraun.‘Whatdoyouthinkofher?’hedemanded,andwhenIsaidIhadbeenfavourablyimpressed,hewenton:‘Yes,he’snotgotbadtaste,hashe?’

Inowknewthattherewas,afterall,awomanwhohadashareinHitler’slife–probablytheonlywomanofwhomhewaseverreallyfond.Officially,ofcourse,nooneknewanythingaboutthematter,butyoucan’tkeepsuchthingssecret,andthereweresoonrumoursabroad–truthandfalsehoodmixed;andin1935mywifetoldmethatpeopleweretalkingaboutagirlcalledEvaBraunwithwhomHitlerwassaidtobehavinganaffair.DidIknowanythingaboutit?Suchquestionswerebecomingmoreandmorecommon;thecirclesaroundHitlerwhichmighthavebeenexpectedtoknow,andinfactdidknow,eithergaveapoint-blankdenialorpretendednottoknowanything.

Naturally,asIwassooftenwithHitlerIcameintoEvaBraun’scompanyagooddeal.Shewasofteninmyplane,withothersflyingfromMunichtoBerlinandback,forexample–always,ofcourse,withHitler’sdirectpermission.IntheupshotIgottoknowherverywell,andIlikedhermorethanever.MorethanonceshebeggedmeearnestlynevertotakeanyunnecessaryriskswhilstHitlerwasonboard,whichIalwayspromised;though,ofcourse,Iwouldnotinanycasehavetakenrisks.

ShehadafilmcamerawhichsheusedagooddealatObersalzberg,and,ofcourse,herpeculiarpositionmeantthatshehadtobeverycareful,withtheresultthatshewasveryoftenaloneandlefttoherownresources.WhentherewereofficialvisitstotheBerghofshealwayskeptoutofsight,andonlywhenHitlerwaswithacircleofintimateswasshepresent.Aftertheendofeachmealhewouldrise,kissherhandandtakeherintotheadjoiningdrawing-roomforcoffee.Incidentally,Hitlerwasalwaysaveryattentivehosttoallthewomenwhoeversatatthesametablewithhim.

IwassoonfriendlyenoughwithEvatotalktoherofherrelationshipwithHitler.Shewaswellawarethatintheordinarywayshecouldneverhopetobehiswife,andthatshewouldhavetobecontenttobehislover;andshecertainlydidlovehim.Iamsurethatoccasionallyshewasdepressedatthefactthatshecouldneverbepubliclyacknowledged,butsherarelyshowedanysuchfeelings,andwheneverHitlercamebacktoheragainshewasalwayscheerfulandhappy.Intheend,ofcourse,Hitlerdidmarryher,andalthoughsheknewthathermarriagewouldlastforafewdaysonly,Ibelieveitgaveherdeepsatisfaction.Atleast,whenherrelationshiptohimwasatlastofficiallymadeknowntotheworld,itwasashiswife.

EvaBraun’srolehasbeenmisunderstoodandexaggerated.Shewasawomanbroughttothesideofapowerfulmanbyloveandnotambition.Andwhenthetimecameandhewasnolongerpowerful,shefreelychosetodieathisside.

InFebruary1934HitlerinformedmethatIshouldonceagainbeflyinghimtoItalyforameetingwithMussolini.Actuallyitwas26Marchbeforewesetoff.ItwasanofficialvisittoVenice,andawholeretinueofdiplomatsandofficialswastoaccompanyus,so,inall,threeJu.52swereintheflight.Onceagainwelandedabsolutelypunctually,andonceagainthegreetingsofthetwostatesmenwereverywarmandfriendly–infact,inthemeantimetheyhadreallybecomefriends.AmilitarybandplayedtheGermanandItaliannationalanthems,whilstHitler,Mussoliniandtheirretinueswentalongthefilesinspectingtheguardofhonour.SubsequentlyHitler’shotelwaspracticallybesiegedbyanarmyofreportersandpressphotographers.

ThefollowingmorningtheGermanAmbassador,vonHassel,arrangedatriproundVeniceinamotor-boattoshowHitlerallthefamoussights,butHitlerwasprimarilyinterestedintheItaliannavalunits–mostofthemsmall–whichweredrawnupwiththeircrewslinedupondeckforhisinspection.

IntheafternoonavastassemblyofaboutseventythousandpeoplegatheredonthefamousSaintMark’sSquare,whereMussolinideliveredoneofhisusualdramaticspeechesfromawindowofthepalacewhilstHitlerandhisstaffobservedthescenefromanotherwindow.MussoliniwasobviouslyreferringtoItaly’streatyofalliancewithGermany,andfromtimetotimehementionedHitler.ThensuddenlythecrowdrealisedthatHitlerwasstandingattheotherwindow,andimmediatelyatremendousroarwentup,‘Hitler–Duce–Hitler–Duce’,andintheirexcitementthecrowdsflungthousandsofhatsupintotheair,hardlyoneofwhichcouldeverhavebeenrecoveredbyitsrightfulowner.Buttheydidn’tseemtomindthat,oranythingelseexceptMussolini.Idon’tthinkIeversawcrowdssohypnotisedbyanyone,notevenHitler.WhenhehadfinishedhisspeechMussoliniinvitedHitlertocometohiswindowsothatthetwostatesmencouldstandtheretogetherinfullviewofthecrowd,andwhenHitleracceptedtheinvitationtheenthusiasmknewnobounds.Foratleasthalfanhourthemassescheered,shriekedandflungthingsintotheair–anyoldhatsnodoubtthistime.Hitlerwasgreatlyimpressedbythistumultuouswelcome.

ThateveningthetwostatesmenattendedaconcertinthepalaceoftheDoges,wheretheleadingtalentofItalysangforthem;andwheresingingisconcerned,thatisnosmallthing.Inadditiontothebrilliantassemblyactuallyinthehall,thereweremanythousandsoflistenersoutside.Attheendoftheperformancetherewasagaintremendousenthusiasmfromthecrowds,andinsistentdemandsthatthetwoleadersshouldshowthemselves,whichtheydid.Hitler,whowasagreatloverofmusic,andinparticularofoperaticmusic,declaredonhisreturntoBerlinthattheconcertgiveninhishonourinVenicehadbeentrulysuperb.

Thefollowingmorningtherewasamarch-pastofalltheItalianFascistorganisationsinthegreatsquare,includingtheyouthorganisationBalilla.HitlerandMussolinistoodtogetheronaspeciallyconstructedplatformandtookthesalute.TheItaliansmarchquickly,andwhatwiththeplayingofmusicwhichseemeddesignedtomakethemmarchfasterthanever,themarch-pastbecameatrotpast,andthenalmostahelter-skelterracepast.

IntheafternoonMussoliniandhisstaffsawusoffattheairfieldandweflewbacktoMunich.OnthewayHitlerstayedwithmeupinfront,onceagainlookingatthemagnificentscenery,butthistimehewasnotsilent.InsteadheaskedmewhatIhadthoughtofthisandthat.IcouldhonestlyreplythatIhadbeenverymuchimpressedbytheenthusiasticgatheringinSaintMark’sSquareandbytheconcertintheDoge’sPalace.Butasforthemilitarymarch-pastoftheFascistorganisations,franklyIthoughtthathadbeenverypoor.Hitlerlaughed:‘Ithinkthatabouthitsthenailonthehead,’hesaid.

SoonafterourvisittoItalyHitlertoldmetoprepareforanextendedtriptothewest.Onceagainthreemachinesstarted,firstofalltoEssen.LaterweweretogoontoBonn.Dr

Goebbelswaswithusthistime.OnthewayIwasnotpleasedwiththewaymyportenginewasbehaving,sowhenwearrivedinEssenIaskedHitlerforpermissiontoflybacktoBerlin,haveanewengineputinduringthenight,andbeinEssenagainthefollowingmorning.ButHitlerdeclaredthatheneededmeurgently.

‘LetsomeoneelseflyitbacktoBerlin,’hesaid.‘Iwantyoutoflyme,sotakeoneoftheothermachines.’

ThefirstthingHitlerdidinEssenwastovisitKrupp,whichheinvariablydid,todiscussthisorthatimprovementinGermany’sarmaments.Thistookseveralhours,andwetookoffforBonnlateintheafternoon;fromthereHitlerwentonbycartoGodesberg,wherehestayedintheHotelDreesenasusual.IhadalreadynoticedthatDrGoebbelswasnothimself.Usuallyhewaswittyandcheerfulandkepttheparty,includingHitler,highlyamused;butnowhewassilent,almostmorose.Hitlerhimselfdidn’tseemtobetoocheerfuleither,andIbegantowonderwhatwasthematter.

Dinnerwasservedat20.00hoursinHitler’sspecialdining-room,andanumberofhighpartyofficialswerepresent.Onceagain,Hitlerwasnotverytalkative,withtheresultthatnooneelsewaseither,andthemealproceededalmostinsilence.Atabout20.15hoursDrGoebbelswascalledtothephone,andwhenhereturnedheinformedHitlerthatSeppDietrichhadarrivedinAugsburgwithseveralcompaniesofthebodyguard.

‘Good,’saidHitler,buttherewasnoothercomment.IwaswonderingwhyitwasparticularlygoodthatSeppDietrichshouldhavearrivedinAugsburgwithhismen,butIcouldn’tguess.

Whenthemealwasover,weallsataroundintheadjoiningroomoronthebalcony,andthegeneraldepressionwasstillveryobvious.Atabout21.00hoursaLabourServicemanarrivedanddeclaredthatthebandoftheLabourServiceandthechoiroftheLeagueofGermanGirlswantedtosinginHitler’shonour.ItwasquiteclearthatHitlerwasinnomoodforit,butheagreed.

Atabouthalfpastninewewereallonthebalcony.AcrowdhadgathereddownbelowwiththebandoftheLabourServiceandthechoirofthegirls,manyofwhomwerecarryinglightedtorches.Theconcertbegan,andthesingingwasverygood.ButbeforelongInoticedtomyastonishmentthatHitlerwasintears.Iknewthathewasmoreeasilymovedthanmostmen,butIcouldn’timaginewhyheshouldwanttocrynow.

WhentheconcertwasoverIdecidedtogetawayfromthedepressingatmosphereandgoandfindsomethingmoreamusingtodo,butwhenIwentuptoHitlertoaskhispermissiontoleaveherefused.

‘I’mafraidIcan’tletyougo,Baur.Imayneedyoutonight.’

ItlookedasthoughHitlermightdecidetoflyoffsomewhereunexpectedly,ashesometimesdidatthelastmoment,soIgotintotouchwithmycrewandtoldthemtohaveeverythingreadyforanimmediatetake-off.WhenwehadpackedourthingsagainandwerereadytoleaveIwentupstairstoHitlerandtheothers.Therehadbeennochangeintheatmosphereinthemeantime,soIfoundmyselfanarm-chairinacorneranddozed.At23.00hoursHitlercalledovertome:

‘Baur,findouttheweathersituationinMunich.’

‘Aha!’Ithought.‘Sowe’regoingtoMunich,’andIranguptheweatherbureauinCologne.Therewerestormsalltheway,itappeared,buttherewasalikelihoodthattheweatherwouldimproveduringthecourseofthenight.Flyingwasinadvisableatthemoment.IreportedbacktoHitler,whothankedmeandsaidnothingmore.Halfanhourlaterheaskedmeabouttheweatheragain.OncemoreIrangupCologneandreportedbacktohimthatthestormsweredyingdownasindicated.TwiceafterthatwithabouthalfanhourinbetweenIhadtomakefurtherenquiries.Thelastreportwasnomorerain,steadilyimprovingweather,nofurtherobjectiontoflying.

At01.00hoursHitleraskedmewhenwastheearliestwecouldstart,andItoldhimtwoo’clock,becausealthougheverythingwasreadyitwouldtakeustwentyminutestogettotheairfield,andsometimetogetthetarpaulinsofftheplanesandreleasetheguy-ropeswhichheldthemdown.Andthen,ofcourse,theengineswouldhavetowarmup.Infact,wehadtobestirourselvestotakeoffbytwoo’clock,butwemanagedit.

ThesecondplanewasmadereadyforGoebbels,whowastoflywithitbacktoBerlinthenextmorning.WithHitlerwerehistwopersonaladjutants,fourpoliceofficers,hisservantandhischauffeur.WelandedinMunichatfouro’clockinthemorninginperfectflyingweather.GaulieterWagnerwaswaitingthereinacartotakeHitlerintothetown.WhenHitlermetWagnerthetwoofthemwalkedupanddowntogetherdeepinconversationforaboutfiveminutes.Hitlerwasobviouslyveryexcitedaboutsomething;hekeptflourishingtheraw-hidewhiphealwayscarriedwithhim,andoccasionallyheslappedhistop-bootviolentlywithit.WhenhefinallygotintothecarwithWagner,heslammedthedoor,exclaiming:‘I’llsettlethatswine’shash!’

Therestofusstoodbehindontheairfieldwithourmouthsopen.Whatonearthcouldhavehappened?AndwhowastheswineHitlermeant?

AtthatmomenttheMunichAirController,Hailer,camerunningup.

‘What’shappened,Baur?’hedemandedexcitedly.‘I’veneverseenHitlerinsuchastate.Butwhere’syourD-2600?HowcouldIknowHitlerwasinthisplane?’

‘Whatdoesitmatter?’Iasked.

‘Röhmrangmeupyesterdayevening,’heexplained,‘andinstructedmetolethimknowatonceifHitlerlanded,tellingmehewouldholdmepersonallyresponsibleforringingupSAHeadquartersatonce.’

IknewthatHailerhadaveryhealthyrespectforthepowerfulChiefofStaff,andnowhedidn’tknowwhattodo–whethertoringupornot.Itoldhimthattherewaslittlepointinit,becausebythistimeHitlermustbethere,andintheendHailerdecidednottotelephone.

Itwasnotuntillaterthatwelearnedjusthowimportantthewholeaffairreallywas.IfwehadflowninwithmyD-2600Hailerwouldhaveknownatonce,orguessed,thatHitlerwasonboardandhewouldhavetelephonedRöhmimmediately,andRöhmwouldthenhavehadtimetotakewhatevermeasureshethoughtfit.Asitwas,RöhmdidnotknowofHitler’sarrival,anditwashewhowastakenbysurprise.

Iwenthomefromtheairfield,anditwasnotuntiltheafternoonthatIlearnedfromthewirelessannouncementswhathadactuallyhappened.Ataboutthesametimethe

telephonerang,andIwastoldthatHitlerwantedtoleaveMunichat16.00hours.Ihadeverythingreadytotakeoffatthattime,andHitlerarrivedpunctually.WhenwereachedBerlinabigreceptionhadbeenarrangedforhim.Göringhadhisair-troopsontheairfieldwaitingforus,andDrGoebbelswasalsothere.

DuringdinnerHitlertoldmehisversionofwhathadhappened.ItappearedthathehadbeeninformedthroughtheItalianAmbassadorinParisthathisChiefofStaff,Röhm,waspreparingaputschagainsthim.RöhmwasreportedtohavegotintouchwiththeFrench,andsecuredanundertakingthatintheeventofachangeofgovernmentinGermanytheywouldtakenoaction.Röhmhadalreadydrawnuphiscabinetlist,andhischiefaimwasnowtogethisSAincorporatedinthearmyandtosecurethedismissaloftheoldHohenzollerngenerals,whomheregardedasunreliable.

Hitleractedatonceonreceiptofthisinformation,andnippedtheputschinthebud.

OnourarrivalinMunichHitlerhaddriveninWagner’scarstraighttoPoliceHeadquarters,wheretheChiefofPolicewastheSAleaderSchneidhuber.Hitleraccusedhimpoint-blankofbeingintheconspiracywithRöhm,rippedoffhisrankinsigniaandhisgoldpartybadgeandputhimunderarrest.AfterthatHitlerdroveouttoWiessee,whereRöhmwasstayingattheHotelHanselbauer.Röhmhadsetupguards,butmostofthemweredrunk.Hitlerarrivedatsixo’clockinthemorning,justatthetimeforthechangingoftheguard,andthenightsentrieshadgoneintotheguardroomtowakeupthemenwhoweretorelievethem.

InconsequenceHitlermarchedintothehotelvestibuleunchallenged,andwrenchedopenthedooroftheguardroom.ThemenwerenaturallyflabbergastedwhentheysawHitlerbeforethem.BrigadierSchreckthendealtwiththeguard,disarmingandarrestingthemall.AsHitlerwentbackintothevestibule,StandartenführerUhl,whohadjustcomedowntoseewhatallthenoisewasabout,spottedhimandtriedtodrawhispistol,buthewasseizedanddisarmedatoncebyadetectivenamedHögl,whowaswithHitler.HitleraskedwhereRöhmwas,butUhlrefusedtoreply.Theproprietorwasthencalled,andfromhimHitlerdiscoveredwhichroomRöhmwasoccupying.Hewentstraightuptoitandknockedonthedoor.Röhm’svoicecalledout:‘Whatisit?’

‘NewsfromMunich,’Hitlerreplied,whereuponRöhmcalledoutagain:‘Comein,then.’

Hitlerwrenchedthedooropen,andthere–accordingtohisaccount–layRöhmnakedonthebedwithayoungfellow,alsonaked.Hitlerdeclaredthathehadneverseensucharevoltingsightinhislife.HeshoutedatRöhm:‘Getdressedatonce.Youareunderarrest.AndIdon’tneedtotellyouwhy.’

OnrecoveringalittlefromhisastonishmentatHitler’sunexpectedappearance,Röhmbegantoplaytheinnocentandpretendthathehadn’tthefaintestideawhatHitlermeant,butHitlercuthimshort,andturningtothedetectivewithhimheorderedcurtly:

‘Högl,seetoitthatRöhmgetsdressed,andthenbringhimdownstairs.’

Hitlerthenwentfromroomtoroomandhauledeveryoneoutofbed,exceptRöhm’sdoctor,whomheleftinpeace.Allthearrestedmenwerebroughtdownandlockedinthecellaruntilthearrivaloftransporttotakethemaway.ItwasonlythenthatRöhm’smen

realisedhowveryfewmenHitlerhadwithhim:eightmenhadcarriedoutthewholeactionagainstthem.Abusarrivedandtheprisonerswerebundledintoit,guardedbytwopolicemenwithsubmachine-guns,whilstHitlerdroveaheadinhiscar.HeknewthatRöhmhadalreadyorderedhisofficerstomeethimthatmorning,whichmeantthattheywereprobablyalreadyontheirway,sohepersonallystoppedeverycartheymet,offeringhisapologiestosuchpeopleaswereobviouslynotconcernedintheaffairandallowingthemtodriveon.ButwhenacarcamealongwithSAofficersinit–andtherewerequiteanumberofthem–hearrestedthemandputthemintothebuswiththerestofhisprisoners.Onlythedriverswerelefttotakethecarsback.

TheyalsometalorrywiththirtyarmedSAmen.Hitlerstoppedthislorrytoo,andtoldthementheyweretogoback,astheirordershadbeencancelled.ButtheObersturmführerinchargetemporised.Hehadhisorders,andhewantedtoobeythem.WhereuponHitler’sadjutantBrücknershoutedathim:‘YouheardwhattheFührersaid.Obeyatonce,orI’llshootyououtofhand.’Themanthengotdownatpistol-point,andwasloadedinwiththeothers,whilsthismenweredisarmedandorderedtodrivebackbehindthebusundersurveillance.ThecolumnmovedalongtheTegernseeRoadtowardsMunich,andasthispassesStadelheimprisonHitlerunloadedthemallthere.

RöhmhadhadnointentionofkillingHitler,ofcourse;allhehadwantedwastopushhimintothebackground,butthemassacrewhichcrushedtheputschcostseventy-twomentheirlives.

WhenHitlerhadfinishedhisstory,hewasstillunawarethatIhadanimportantdetailtocontribute:namely,themisunderstandingcausedbythefactthatwehadflownintoMunichinadifferentplane,andnot,asusualintheD-2600.HelistenedwithinteresttowhatIhadtosay,andthenremarked:‘Yousee,Baur,thehandoffatewasatworkthere.’

IhadalreadynoticedthatHitleralwayssawthehandoffateinanythingthatturnedoutinhisownfavour.

OnenightHitlercamebacklatetotheReichChancelloryfromagalaperformanceattheopera.Itwashalfpasteleven.Hecameintothesmoking-room–inwhich,incidentally,noonewasallowedtosmoke–spottedme,andinformedmethathewantedtoflytoMunichstraightaway.Iimmediatelyranguptheweatherbureauandaskedfortheweatherreport.Thewholeroutewasquietandcloudless,buttherewasathickgroundmistinMunichwhichwouldmakelandingdangerous.ButwhenIpassedthisontoHitlerhedeclaredthatitwasimpossible.Itwasabeautifulstarrynight–whichwasquitetrue.Thatmistwasjusta‘Göringmist’,hedeclared,meaningthatGöringdidn’tlikehisflyingatnightandwasalwaysinventingreasonstopreventit.ItoldhimthatthereporthadcomedirectfromtheweatherbureauinMunich.‘I’llsoonseeaboutthat,’hesaid.HecalledGroup-LeaderSchaubandorderedhimtoringuptheCaféHeckandtheOsteriaRestaurantinMunichandgetthegirlswhoalwayswaitedonhimtothetelephone.Thiswasdone,andthenHitlerpersonallyaskedthemtogooutintothestreetandcomebackandtellhimwhetheritwasmisty.Eachofthegirlsdidasshewastold,andcamebacktosaythattherewasaheavymistonthestreets.

‘Allright,Baur,’hesaid.‘You’rerightthistime,butIknowIhavetobecarefulwith

youflyers.You’reallunderGöring’sinfluence,andhewantstostopmeflyingatnight.’

Ididn’tcaretoleaveitatthat,andItoldhimthesimpleprincipleIhadalwaysfollowedfrommyLufthansadays:‘IftheweatherseemsgoodenoughIfly;ifitdoesn’tIdon’t.’

AlittlelaterHitlergavemeinstructionstofoundaGovernmentFlight–ashehadtoldmeevenbeforehecametopowerthathewould.IthereforeorderedsixJu.52s,establishedaspecialhangeratTempelhofairfield,andbegantolookaroundintheLufthansaforsuitablepilots,mechanicsandgroundpersonneltostaffthenewflight.Iwastoholdagovernmentappointment,ofcourse,butasyettherewasnoLuftwaffeandtheydidn’tquiteknowwhattodowithme.AtfirstIwasgoingtobeunderahighercivilservant,butHitlerdidn’tthinkthiswasquitethethingforanoldwartimeflyer.HedecidedIshouldbeattachedtothepolice,andsoIwasmadeamajoroftheSchutzpolizei.FormallyIremainedapolicemantotheend,butactuallyIhadnothingwhatsoevertodowithpolicematters,andIneverattendedtoanythingexceptmyownaffairsascaptainoftheGovernmentFlight.

WestartedwithsixJu.52s,buttowardstheendwehadfortymachines.DuringthewarIhadsometimesasmanyasthirteenfour-enginedCondors,alargenumberofJu.52s,andmanysmallplanessuchastheSiebelandtheFieselerStorch.Thesesmallplaneswereparticularlyusefulbecausetheyneededlesspetrol,butneverthelesshadacruisingspeedofaboutahundredandeighty-fivemilesanhour,andcouldcarrythreepassengers.ThreeJu.52swerekeptatHitler’sdisposal,whilstGöringandHesseachhadhisspecialmachine.LaterGoebbels,Himmler,KeitelandRaedereachhadhisownplane.

Iwasresponsibleforthewholerunningoftheflight,ofcourse,andasIwasoftenflyinghereandtherewithHitlerandsoon,thismeantaverygreatdealofworkforme.Foronething,allourmachineshadtobeverycloselywatchedtopreventanykindofsabotage.Hitler’smachineseachhadtwoguards,onefromtheSSandtheotherfromtheGestapo.Theotherplaneshadonlyoneguard,sometimesfromtheSSandsometimesfromtheGestapo.Whenamachinelandedafteraflight,itwastheflightmechanic’sjobtohaveitchecked,overhauledandmadereadytostartagain.Groundpersonnelwereallowedtoworkontheplanesonlyunderhissupervision,orthatofsomeothermemberofthecrew.Ifforanyreasonthissupervisorhadtoleave–evenforaminute(perhapstoattendtoacallofnature)–workwassuspended,andthegroundmechanicslefttheplaneuntilhereturnedorsomeoneelsecametotakehisplace.Whilsthewasaway,theguard,whowasalwayspresent,tookcharge.Whentheworkwasdonethemachinewouldbeputawayandnoonewasallowedtogonearit.Theseprecautionswereintroducedandverystrictlymaintained,becauseourintelligenceservicehadreportedfromPraguethatattemptswouldbemadetoattachdevicestoourplanes,governedbyaltimeterssothattheywouldexplodeatacertainheight,causingtheplanetocrashandprobablykillingeveryoneinit.Wedidn’tgiveourenemiesmuchchance,becauseinadditiontothesestrictprecautions,eachmachinealwayshadaten-minutetrialflightbeforetakingoff,andanysuchdevicewouldhaveexplodedbythattime.

AttheendofApril1934Hitlerdecidedtogoawayforaweek’sholidaytoWiesbaden.WeweretoflyfromMunichtoStuttgart,fromwhereHitlerwouldgoonbycar.Thewholeaffairwassupposedtobeadeadsecret,butonceagaintherewasaleak,andwhenwegottoStuttgartthestreetswerelinedwithpeopleallwantingtocheerHitler.They

gatheredinlargenumbersbeforehishotel,andtheyweretoldthathewasgoingtotakeofffromBöblingenairfield,whereourmachinewasknowntobestanding.Hitler’scaractuallydrovepartofthewayouttotheairfield,butthenturnedoffandmadeatspeedforWiesbaden.

InthemeantimeIhadstrictorderstostayontheairfieldatBöblingen,andnottolandinWiesbadenbefore16.00hours.Icarriedouttheseinstructionstotheletter,andthenIwaitedforHitlerintheHotelKock;buthedidn’tarriveuntil11.00,andhewasdeadtiredwhenhedid.Itappearedthatalongthewholeroutehehadbeenheldupbycheeringpeople,andhiscarhadoftenhadtocrawl.Thethinghadbeenmadeworsebythefactthatthepeoplehadn’tbeencontentjusttoseehimpass,buthadrunafterthecarandinfront,oftenformiles.Policehadhadtobecalledout–nottoclearthewayforHitlerbuttoprevententhusiasticchildrenfromfallingunderthewheelsofhiscar.PeasantsevendraggedcartsacrosstheroadtostopHitler’scarsothattheycouldhaveagoodlookathim.

DuringhisstayinWiesbadenHitlerregularlywentforlongwalksinthepark,whichwasclosedtothepublicassoonasheenteredit,thoughthepeoplealreadytherewerenotturnedout,butmerelywarnednottointerfereintheslightestwaywithHitlerbystaringathim,crowdingroundhimorfollowinghim.Healsowentforwalksinthesurroundinghills.

InMay1935IwasinstructedtoflyReichMinisterRudolfHesstoStockholm.Wetookoffintheearlymorning,madeanintermediatelandinginMalmö,andthenflewontothemilitaryairfieldtoWäserösnearStockholm.FromthereweflewoninpoorweatherconditionstoNorrköpinginthesouth,whereCountvonRosenhadhiscastle.Itwasawonderfulplacebyabiglake,surroundedbyforestswhichweredeliberatelyleftuntendedinordertoencouragethegame,andwhichweresaidtobefullofelks.

Göring’sfirstwifehadbeenCountessKarinvonRosen.Itwasastrangeworldwecameinto.Everymoderncomfortandconveniencewasdeliberatelyavoided,andCountvonRosenandhisfamilylivedexactlyastheirancestorshadlivedformanygenerations.Therewasnoelectriclightorcentralheating,andeveryoneateanddrankfrompewterplate.Theoddestthingtomywayofthinkingwasthattheonlywater-closetintheplacewasintheservants’quarters.Andeverysummer,itappeared,theCountandhisfamilywouldwithdrawwithoutanyservantsatalltoasortofblockhouseintheheartoftheforest,andtheretheywouldliveforafortnightcompletelyalone.IntheeveningstheCountwouldsitwithhiswifeandchildreninfrontofthegreatopenfireplaceinthehallandsingEnglishsongs,accompanyinghimselfontheguitar.

FromtherewewenttovisitthefamousSwedishexplorerSvenHedin,whowasalifelongfriendofGermany.AndthenwereturnedtoBerlin.

BeforeHitleractuallycametopowertherelationshipbetweenhimandReichPresidentvonHindenburgwasnottoogood,althoughHitlerhadatremendousrespectfortheoldField-Marshal,towhomhealwaysreferredas‘theoldgentleman’.ItwasonlyafterHitlercametopowerthattherelationshipbetweenthetwomenimproved,andthenitquickly

becamewarmandevenfriendly,particularlywhenthevigorousanddeterminedyoungermanfreedGermanyfromthescourgeofunemployment.Duringtheseyears,therefore,HitleroftenflewtoMarienburganddrovefromtherebycartoNeudeck,wherevonHindenburghadhisestate.

Bythistimetherewasonlyonepointonwhichtheystilldidnotseealtogethereyetoeye:theWehrmacht.Hindenburgwasveryapprehensiveinthisrespect,andfearedthatHitlerwouldtakesomeradicalstep,which,inhisheart,heknewhewouldfinditimpossibletoprevent.AgainandagainhemadehispointofviewcleartoHitler:‘Politics–that’syourbusiness;thearmy–that’smine.’Asamatteroffact,Hitlerwascarefultodonothingthatwouldhavedispleased‘theoldgentleman’.Heknewthattimewasonhisside,andthathecouldaffordtowait.AndtheradicalstephedidtakeintheyearfollowingtheoldPresident’sdeathwouldcertainlynothavedispleasedHindenburg.

On16March1935,HitlerinformedtheGermanpeoplethathehadseveredthelastoftheslavechainsimposedonthembytheVersaillesTreaty,andhadreintroducedtheoldWehrmacht.AndtheverynextdayheflewtoMunichtotakethesaluteatagreatmilitaryparade.

Aswetoucheddown,asaluteoftwenty-onegunswasfired.DetachmentsoftheReichswehr,thepolice,theSA,theSS,theLabourServiceandotheruniformedbodiesweredrawnupwaitingforinspectionontheOberwiesenfeld.HitlerwasgreetedbyGeneralRittervonEpp,ReichGovernorofBavaria,onbehalfoftheBavarianpeople.WithvonEppwereoldField-MarshalvonMackensen;AdmiralRaeder,theheadofthenavy;GeneralvonBlomberg,theleaderoftheReichswehr;andGöring.HitlerwastremendouslyimpressedbyhisreceptionandbyhissubsequenttriumphalprogressthroughwildlycheeringcrowdsinthestreetsofMunich,andontheflightbacktoBerlinhecouldhardlytalkaboutanythingelse.

ItwasinthespringofthisyearthatwewereequippedwithourfirstCondors,whichhadtwocabinsandcouldcarryeighteenpassengers.Theywerethelastwordindesignandconstruction,andtheywerecapableofacruisingspeedofahundredandeighty-fivemilesanhour.Amongstthemanyultra-modernfeaturestheypossessedwasthenewretractableundercarriage.OnHitler’splanethefirstcabinwasforhimandtherearcabinforanyonewhohappenedtobeflyingwithhim.InHitler’scabintherewereatable,anarm-chair,asmallcouch,andasafefordocuments.Therewerepantryarrangementsfortheserviceoffood,andprovisionforastewardess,ourfirst.ShewasacertainFrauleinDiemofAugsburg,andshestayedwithusuntilthebeginningofthewar.Hitleralwayspreferredtobewaitedonbythisstewardess,whowasanattractivelittlething,ratherthanbyhisownmanservant,andhemadenosecretofthefact.

‘IcanneverunderstandtheBerliners,’hewouldsay.‘Theyalwayswantwaiterstoservethem.Ithinkit’smuchmoreagreeabletobewaitedonbyapleasantandattractivegirl.’

Ournewmachine,theCondor,tookoverouroldnumberD-2600andwasnamed‘Immelmann’liketheother.Ithadaspecialvisitors’bookinwhicheveryonewhoeverflewinitsignedhisname,andafterawhileitbecameatrulywonderfulcollectionof

autographs.Unfortunatelyitwasdestroyedlateronduringanair-raidonSchleissheim.

Owingtotheconsiderablyincreasedspeedofthispowerfulandcomfortablemachine,ourflyingtimeswerequitemateriallyreduced;forexample,fortheMunich–Berlinjourneyweneededonlyanhourandthirtyfiveminutes.AsHitlerwasalwaysgreatlyinterestedinflyingtimesandalwaysinsistedthatthelandingshouldbeaspunctualaspossible,specialdialswerebuiltintohiscabinfromwhichhecouldseeataglancewhathewantedtoknow,aswellasaspeedometer,analtimeter,andaclock.Thisclockwaschronometricallyadjustedbeforeeachflight,andIalwayshadtotellhimtheapproximatetimeonwhichIreckonedtotouchdownintheprevailingwindandweatherconditions.Myforecastsweresomethinglikeninety-eightpercentaccurate.

AtfirstHitlerdidn’tmuchcarefortheCondor–hehadgrownattachedtotheoldJu.52–andanincidentthatoccurredonavisittoHamburgreinforcedhisopinion.HeinspectedseveralcompaniesofSAmenontheairfieldatFuhlsbüttelbeforeleavingforBerlin,andthenhecameuptometoaskabouttheweatherforecastforthereturnjourney,asheusuallydidbeforewesetoff.AswestoodthereanewJu.190cameinandcircledroundonceortwicebeforelanding.Inoticedatoncethatthepilothadforgottentoputdownhisundercarriage,withtheresultthatheunwittinglymadeapancakelandingandslidandbumpedalongthegroundclumsilybeforefinallycomingtoastop.Nogreatdamagewasdone,butthepropellerwasbroken.Thepilotandthepassengersgotout,verywhiteinthegills–nodoubttheyhadbeenbadlyshakenup.

‘Yousee,Baur,’exclaimedHitlerexcitedly.‘WhatdidItellyou!That’sthesortofthingthatcouldhappentousintheCondor.’Ipointedoutthatourmachinewasequippedwithanautomaticwarningsignal.AssoonasIcutouttoland,ahooterbegantosoundtowarnmetoputdowntheundercarriage,andintheordinarywayitwentonsoundinguntiltheundercarriagewasdown.Youcouldswitchoffthehooter,itwastrue,butIneverdid,despitethedisagreeablenoiseitmade.ButHitlerwasn’taltogetherpacified.

‘AtleastnothinglikethatcouldhappenwiththeoldJu.52withitsrigidundercarriage,’hedeclaredobstinately.

Intheend,however,hegotusedtotheCondorwithitsmanynewgadgets.

ForquiteawhileHitlerwasafairlyregularguestintheHotelKaiserhof.ThreeorfourtimesaweekhewouldgotherewithasmallpartytohaveteaandlistentoitsexcellentHungarianband.Goebbelshadfirstdrawnhisattentiontotheseveryfinemusicians,andsuggestedthatatthesametimeitwouldgivehimanopportunityofmixingwithordinarypeople.AspecialtableinthecornerwasalwaysreservedforHitler,andfromtherehehadagoodviewoverthehall.Naturally,assoonasthenewsgotroundthatHitlermadeahabitofgoingtheretheplaceusedtobefullalmosttobursting-point.

AfterawhileHitlernoticedthatthetablesaroundhimwereinvariablyoccupiedbythesameoldladies.‘Withallduerespecttoelderlyladies,’hegrumbledononeoccasion,‘I’dreallypreferyoungones.’AndheinstructedhisChiefofPolicetofindouthowitcameaboutthatthesesameoldladieswerealwaysthere.Itturnedoutthattheypaidregularbribestothewaitersfortablereservations.Anotherthingthatcameoutasaresultofthesesameenquirieswasthatassoonasheleft,thecups,saucersandotherutensilshehadused

werecollectedandsoldathighpricesassouvenirs.AfterthatHitlerwouldn’tgoneartheplace,andheexpressedastonishmentthatsuchthingscouldhappeninagoodhotelliketheKaiserhof.Hesighed:‘Lifeisfullofdisappointments,Baur.’

Naturally,Hitlerhadtohavesomerecreation,andfilmperformanceswereamongsthisfavouritepleasures.Everyeveningwhenhewasthere,filmswereshowninhisroomsintheReichChancellory.TheGermanfilmindustryjustdidn’tproducesufficientfilmstomeetsuchasteadydemand,andsolargenumbersofAmerican,British,French,SwedishandCzechfilmswerealsoshown.

BythistimemostforeigngovernmentshadphilosophicallyacceptedHitlerasGermany’sruler,andweredoingtheirbesttoestablishfriendlyrelationswithhim.Inconsequencetherewasagooddealofimportantcomingandgoingintheair,whichkeptmebusy.

On18June1935,IflewtoMunichtopickuptheHungarianPremier,Gömbös,whohadbeeninvitedbyHitleronastatevisit.GömbösarrivedinMunichbyspecialtrainat07.30,andwaswelcomedbyHitler’sadjutant,Brückner.AfterbreakfastGömböscametotheairfieldandinspectedmymachine,showingakeeninterestinitsup-to-dateequipment.Wetookoffat08.30andatmyinvitationhesatinfrontnexttome,wherehecouldgetanexcellentviewofthetownsandthecountrysideoverwhichwewereflying.WhenwetoucheddowninBerlin,Hitlerhimselfwasontheairfieldtogreethim.

BeforeleavingtheairfieldGömbösthankedmewarmlyforawonderfulflight.AfteratourofinspectionthroughBerlinastatebanquetoffourcourseswasheldinhishonourthatevening.Whenthemomentcametodrinkthetoastofthehonouredguest,champagnewasservedasusual.Hitlerhadachampagneglassinhishandtoo,butitwasfilledwithAppolinarismineralwaterinstead,and–asalifelongabstainer–Hitlerdrankhisguest’shealthinthis.GömbösremainedforafewdaysinBerlinfortalksandthenIflewhimbacktoMunich,fromwherehewentontoBudapestbytrain.

ThiswasalsotheyearofthegreatParisexposition,andHitlerwasveryanxiousthatGermany,whohadapavilionofherown,shouldbeproperlyrepresented.OnseveraloccasionsIhadtoflythearchitect,Speer,whowasinchargeofthepreparations,toParistosuperviseandinspectthework.Whentheexpositionwasopened,Hitlerinsistedthatasmanypeopleaspossiblefromhisownintimatecircleshouldbepresent,andheallowedthemsufficientforeigncurrencytospendaverycomfortableifnotluxuriousweekinParis.IflewthemtoParisandIwaswiththemattheopeningoftheexhibition.ItwasquiteclearthatthetwopavilionsthatattractedmostinterestwerethoseofGermanyandRussia,whichviedwitheachother.OnourreturntoBerlinweallhadtoreportingreatdetailtoHitlerconcerningeverythingwehadseen,andgivehimourgeneralimpressions.Hekeenlyregrettedthathispositionhadpreventedhimfromgoinginperson.

ItwasoftenimpossibleforHitlertodowhathewouldhavelikedtodo.InthesummermonthshewouldusuallywalkinthegardenoftheReichChancelloryonSundays,andfrequentlyIwashisonlycompanion.OnedayIaskedhimoutrightwhetherhedidn’tfinditabitboringalwaystobeonhisown,exceptformeoranadjutant,when,outside,everydoorstoodopentohim.

‘Baur,’herepliedearnestly,‘Iknowthateverydoorisopentome,butthefactisthat

whereI’dreallyliketogoIcan’tgoanymore;whilsttheplaceswhereIcouldgo,Idon’twanttogo.Yousee,whenIdogoasaguestsomewhereitisn’tlongbeforemyhostessasksmeforsomefavourorother.Asherguestitisn’teasyformetorefusewhateveritisshewants,butveryoftenmyconsciencemakesme.SoonthewholeIprefernottoputmyselfinsuchembarrassingsituationsinthefirstplace.’

Hewassilentforamomentortwo,andthenhewenton:‘Nowthere’soneplaceinparticularI’dliketogotoagain.ButIcan’tnow.DuringtheearlydaysofmystruggleIlivedwithanoldwomaninMunichwhohadasmallstallinthemarket.WhenIcamehomeintheeveningsshewouldbeathersewing-machine,andshealwayswantedtoknowwhetherI’dhadanysupper.VeryoftenIhadn’t,andthenshe’dgetupandfindmesomething:aglassofbeer,andsomebreadandcheese,orsomethingofthesort.‘Iknowyoumeanwell,’sheusedtosay,‘butyououghttogiveupallthatpoliticsbusinessandgetyourselfajob,andthenyou’dbeabletoeatproperly.’VeryoftenIwouldn’tevenbeabletopayhertherentontime,butshe’dstillgivemesomethingtoeat.Nowthat’ssomeoneI’dverymuchliketogoandvisitagain,butasReichChancellorIcan’t.’

ItwastypicalofHitlerthathewasalwaysimpulsiveandwoulddoathingimmediatelyitcameintohismind,andnowhesentforhisadjutantBrückner.

‘I’vejustbeentellingBauraboutanoldwomanwhowaskindtomeyearsagowhensheletmearoominMunich.Iexpectshe’sanold-agepensionerbythistime–ifshe’sstillalive.Iwantyoutofindoutaboutherandarrangeforhertohaveamodestallowance.’

Hitlerwasessentiallyamanofsimpletastes,andhedislikedluxuryandshow.IrememberwhenGöringsuddenlypresentedhimwithanewplaneforhisprivateuse,aJu.52.IthadbeenbuiltaccordingtoGöring’sspecialinstructions.HitlerandIinspectedittogether.Itwasluxuriouslyequippedandithadeverypossiblecomfort;forexample,alltheseatswereupholsteredingreensuede.

‘Wonderful,Göring,wonderful!Verybeautifulindeed,’exclaimedHitler,winkingsurreptitiouslyatme.Afterwardswhenwewerealonehesaid:‘NowthatmachinewouldsuitGöringverywell,butitdoesn’tsuitme.Idon’tcareforthatsortofthing.We’llsticktotheoldsimple,well-madethings.WhatwouldmyfriendsthinkifIstartedflyingaroundinaluxuriouslyequippedplanelikethat!No,Baur,don’tyouletanyonemisleadyouintodoinganythingofthatsort.Itisn’tmystyleatall.’

WhilstwewereinMunichonedayEsserappearedandaskedHitleronbehalfofDrDornier,theconstructorofthefamousflying-boatDo.X,tomakeaflightinit.AsIhavealreadyrecorded,HitlerhadpreviouslyinspectedthegiganticmachineinWarnemündeandhehadnotbeengreatlytakenwithit.

‘Ihaven’tmuchtime,’heanswered,andthenheturnedtome:‘Whatdoyouthinkaboutit,Baur?Isitallright?Canyouflysafelyinathinglikethat?’

Irepliedthatinmyopiniontherewasnothingtofear,andthat,really,hemightdoDrDornierthehonour;uponwhichheseemedreassuredandagreedtomakeashortflight.TheywereflyingaroundoverheadforagoodhourandItookadvantageofthesituationto

rushhome.

Incidentally,thisabsolutetrustHitlerhadinmeasapilotwasalwaysalittleawkwardwhenIwantedaholiday,whichIusuallytookinthewintermonths,whentherewasn’tsomuchairtravelgoingon,andwhenIcouldenjoymyfavouritesport–skiing.IalwayshadtoaskforleavetwoorthreetimesbeforeIfinallygotit,andthenhewouldalwaystrytomakemepromisenottogoskiing,becausehethoughtitwastoodangerous.WhenIwouldpointouttohimthatasagoodBavarianIhadskiedsinceIwasalittleboyandcouldreallyberegardedasquitegoodatit,hewouldsay:

‘That’sallverywell,Baur,buteventhemostexperiencedskiercanmeetwithanaccident.Idon’twantyoulaidupforweeks,andperhapsevenmonths,withbrokenbones.’

ButthatwasonepointonwhichIwouldn’tgiveway,anditwasalwayshewhohadto;andsoforacoupleofweeksIwouldgetoutintomybelovedmountainsandskitomyheart’scontentinpreparationforthenewonerousroundofdutiesthatwouldbeawaitingmewhenIreturned.

AttheendofHitler’ssuccessfulflightwiththeDo.X,DrDornierinvitedhimtoflywiththemachinetoPassauthenextday,whereheproposedtocomedownonthereservoiroftheKachlettpower-station;butthisHitlerrefusedtodo,pleadingthathewasoverburdenedwithwork.DrDorniermadethetripwithMajorHailer,andonsettingdown,somethingwentwrong.ThetailoftheDo.Xwastornoffandeveryonegotabadshakingandathoroughsoaking–probablythepilothadsettheDo.Xdownattoosteepanangle.

‘Yousee,Baur,’declaredHitler,‘Iwasright.Ijusthadafeelinginmybonesthattherewassomethingwrongwiththatmonstrousthing.’

On19June1937,Iwasfortyyearsold,andKannenbergwasgivenspecialinstructionsbyHitlertopreparemyfavouritedinner:roastporkwithpotatodumplings.NowHitlerwas,ofcourse,avegetarian,andhowhecametoknowaboutmynon-vegetarianfancieswasratherfunny.

‘Baur,’hesaidoneday,‘youknowthebestthingforyouwouldbevegetarianfoodsuchasIeat.Itsoothesthenervesandit’sverygoodforyou.Youreallyoughttobecomeavegetarian.You’dbeveryhealthy.’

‘I’malreadyveryhealthy,’Ireplied,‘andmynervesareallrighttoo.AndI’lltellyousomethingelse:I’mnotoneofthosehypocriteswhocomehereandeatavegetarianmealwithyouandthengooverafterwardstoKannenbergandhaveapropermeal.I’dsoonerhaveonegoodmealofroastporkwithpotatodumplingsthanallthenutcutletsintheworld.You’llnevermakemeavegetarian.’

Hitlerlaughedatmyforthrightnessandmydeterminationtostayameat-eater,andafterthatKannenbergreceivedordersalwaystohaveroastporkandpotatodumplingsreadyformeonmybirthday.

Onthisparticularbirthday,whenHitlerhadcongratulatedmeheaddedhiswarmthanksforhavingflownhimsafelyforsixyears.HerrWerlin,theGeneralDirectorofthe

MercedesWorks,waswithusattablethatday,butIthoughtnothingofit.Hitlerwasfinishedfirst,ashealwayswas,becauseheatelessthananyoneelse.AssoonasIhadfinishedheexcusedhimselftotheotherswhowerestilleating,sayingthathecouldn’twaitanylongertoshowmemybirthdaypresent,andgettingupfromthetableheledmethroughtheconservatoryandoutintothegarden.Iwaswonderingwhatsortofapresenthewasgoingtogiveme–perhapssomethingforthegardenofthenewhousehehadrecentlyhadbuiltforme?Butwhenwegotoutside,standingthereonthegravelpathwasawonderfulMercedeslimousine.Itwasmybirthdaypresent,andatfirstIstaredatitalmostopen-mouthed.

WhenIrecoveredsufficientlytothankhim,hetoldmehowithadcomeabout.Hehadfirstdiscussedpossiblepresentswithhisintimatecircle,Bormannandtheothers;butnoneoftheirsuggestionshadpleasedhim,andthenhehadhadhisownidea.FromtheairfieldatMunichtomyhouseatPilsenseewasaboutanhour’sdrive,andonedayhegottheideaoffollowingmeinhisowncarwithoutmyknowingit,inorder,ashesaid,tofindoutwhetherIdrovelikeamadman,as–accordingtohim–mostflyersdid.Well,Ididn’t–Ihaveasmuchrespectformybonesonthegroundasintheair.ButwhathehadnoticedwasthatIdroveanAmericancar,aFord;andhedidn’tthinkthatrightforhisflightcaptain–hencetheMercedes.

IgotpermissionfromhimtodriveittoMunichthatnight.Iwastremendouslypleasedwithit,andwhenIgothometomywifeandfamilyIcouldn’thelpthinkingthatIwasaprettyluckyman.MywifeandIagreedthatwiththisgrandcarwehadmostthingswewanted.IfIhadanotherwishitwasjustthatitshouldalwaysstaythatway.Butthatwasobviouslytoomuchtoask.Idrovethatcartotheendofthewar,andthentheAmericansconfiscateditandIneversawitagain–but,bythen,thatwastheleastofmytroubles.

HitlerwasinvitedtopayavisittotheItaliancourtasthepersonalguestoftheKingofItaly.Unfortunatelythemeteorologicalreportswereveryunfavourable,soHitlerdecidedtogotoRomebyspecialtrain.IwastoleadaflightofthreeCondors.InRomeIputupatthehotelIhadalwaysusedthere,theMassimiDaceglio.IhadstayedthereoninnumerableoccasionsasflightcaptainoftheLufthansa,anditsBavarianproprietor,HerrKiesel,hadbecomemyverygoodfriend.IthenreportedmyarrivaltoHitler,whohadbeengivenasuiteofroomsintheQuirinal.Thefirstthinghesaidtomeafterhisgreetingwas:

‘Justimagineit,Baur:assoonasIgotoutofthestation’(which,incidentally,hadbeenbuiltspeciallyforhimandwaslikeabowerofflowers),‘whatshouldIfindbutprehistoricanimalstodragmeawayinanantediluvianstate-coach!Whataconveyanceforamodernman!Butthereyouare,Baur;that’stheroyaltradition,soIhadtoputupwithit.ButIdidn’tfeelcomfortable,Icantellyou.’

ThereceptiontheyhadpreparedforHitlerwastremendous,andmusthavecostaprettypenny.AttheparadethenextdayInoticedthatHitlerspokeagooddealtoMussolini,andhardlymoretotheKingthanpolitenessrequired.Incidentally,hesaidmorethanoncethatheregardedtheKingasahindrancetoMussolini,andanobstacletothecarryingoutofhisplans.

Thistimethemarch-pastoftheItalianFascistorganisationswasdistinctlybetter:theyhadobviouslybeeninstrictertraininginthemeantime.Asaflyer,IwasofcourseinterestedinwhattheItalianAirForcehadtoshowus.BigstandshadbeenerectedinFurbarafacingthesea,andeveryonewhowasanyoneinRomewasthere.TheaerobaticstheItalianflyersshoweduswerefirstclass,andIwasparticularlyimpressedbytheirformationflights.Thencamebombingdemonstrations.Mediumbombersdroppedsmallbombsonlandobjectives,andtheaimingwasfairlygood.Thenheavybombersattackedtwoshipsoutatseainfullview,andsankbothofthem–orappearedto,forIhearditwhisperedafterwardsthattheyhadreallybeensunkbychargeselectricallydetonatedfromtheshore,thoughIcan’tsayanythingonewayortheotheraboutthat.Itlookedgood,and,onthewhole,theperformanceoftheItaliansintheairwasquiteimpressive.

Thateveningweattendedanopen-airperformanceofAïdaintheMussoliniForum.Hundredsofactorsandactressestookpartinit,andonceagainItaly’sleadingopera-singersgaveustheirbest.Altogetheritwasaveryenjoyableevening.

ThenextafternoontherewasastatebanquetgiveninHitler’shonour.IwaswaitingintheanteroomtogetherwithabouttwohundredotherguestsforthearrivaloftheKingandQueenandtheguestofhonour,Hitler.AfterawhiletwogreatdoorswereopenedandachamberlainannouncedtheimminentarrivalofHerMajestytheQueenofItaly,andHerrHitler,ChancelloroftheGermanReich.Thetwohighpersonagesappeared,theQueen,abig,handsomewoman,onHitler’sarm.AstheyenteredthehallalltheItaliansbowedlow–someofthemevenwentdownontheirknees.Andasthetwopassedthroughanarrowlanebetweenthewaitingguests,manyofthemtooktheQueen’sgownandkissedit.Hitlerwasobviouslyhighlyembarrassedbythewholebusiness:thelowbowing,thekneelingandthekissingoftheQueen’shem.Withaflushedfacehealmostdraggedheralongsoastogetitoverasquicklyaspossible.Wethoughthewasgoingtohaveastroke,buthemanagedtogettheQueenthroughtothehallwherethebanquetwastotakeplace.

Ireferredtoitthateveningwhenwewerealone,andhesaid:‘Baur,itwasterrible.Thesecourtceremoniesupsetme.Ishallnevergetusedtothem.WhenIsawthoseItaliansonthegroundIthoughtitsohumiliatingthattheonlythingIcoulddowastogetitoverasquicklyaspossible.’

Heloathedallsuchobsequiousceremonies.

Duringthevisit,MussolinishowedhisfleetinNaples,andHitlerwascertainlyverymuchimpressedbythat,particularlybyabouteightyorninetysubmarineswhichsubmergedandsurfacedinformationwithextraordinaryaccuracy.Afterthat,Italiantanksdidfiringexerciseswithliveshells,butHitlerwasnotparticularlyimpressedbytheirperformance.

ThateveningdeputationsarrivedincostumefromalltheItalianprovincesandperformedtheirlocaldances.ThisotherwisepleasanteveningwasspoiledforHitlerbyhisannoyanceatthewayMussoliniwaskeptinthebackgroundbytheKing;andseveraltimes,pretendingthattherewassomethinghewantedtosaytohim,HitlertookMussolinibythearmandledhimtothefrontwiththeKingandQueen.

Quitegenerally,HitlerdidnotcaremuchfortheItalianRoyalFamily,andthiswasparticularlytrueoftheCrownPrinceUmberto.Inthesummerof1938theCrownPrince

andPrincesswereinvitedtoBerlin,andHitlerinstructedmetoflythembacktoMilanafterwards.AsweflewovertheAlpsIkepttheminformedthewholetimeofourpositionandheight,andIpointedouteachimportantpeakandvalley,forIknewtheAlpslikethepalmofmyhand.WelandedwithoutincidentonTaliedoairfieldnearMilan,andbothmypassengersthankedmewarmlyforhavingmadetheirflightsointeresting.Afewweekslater,throughtheItalianEmbassyinBerlin,Ireceivedaninscribedphotographoftheroyalpairinasilverframe.WhenIreportedbacktoHitlerthatIhadflownhisguestssafelytoMilanhenodded,andthensaidthathewassorryforthepoorwoman;shemusthaveagooddealtoputupwith,andthemarriagedidn’tseemtobeahappyone.

NowthattherewasaproperGermanArmyagain,basedoncompulsorymilitaryservice,insteadofthesmallReichswehr,HitlerwasoftenatKruppsinEssenfordiscussionsonvariousarmamentquestions,andthelatestweaponswerealwaysdemonstratedtohim.AftersuchvisitsweusuallywentontoBadGodesberg,whereHitlerwouldstay,asalways,intheHotelDreesen.ThateveningabigRhinesalmon,whichwewereshownstillalive,waspreparedforourdinner.Itweighedoverfiftypounds,andIforonewaslookingforwardtoit.Wewereallinthedining-roomactuallywithourhandsonthebacksofthechairspreparatorytosittingdownassoonasHitlerdid,whenvonPuttkamer,Hitler’snavalattaché,wascalledtothetelephone.

Hitlerimmediatelydeclaredthatwewouldwaituntilhereturnedbeforesittingdowntodinner;butwhenvonPuttkamerdidreturnitwastoinformHitlerthatAdmiralRaederwishedtospeaktohim.Thisinitselfwasunusual.ItwasveryseldomthatanyoneaskedforHitlertobecalledtothetelephone.Whateveritwas,itwasobviouslyamatterofsomeimportance,andinthemeantimethatgiganticRhinesalmonhadtowait.AfterabouttenminutesHitlerreappearedandstrodeuptomeatonce.

‘Baur,whatistheearliestpossiblemomentwecanstartforBerlin?’hedemanded.

Actuallywetookoffat21.00hours,andIflewhimtoBerlinonanemptystomach–mineinparticular;hedidn’tmindsomuch.TheSpanishcivilwarwasgoingonatthetime,andapparentlytheGermanbattleshipDeutschlandhadbeenfiredon.Anumberofsailorshadbeenkilledandwounded.WelandedinBerlinat23.00hours,andhalfanhourlaterIarrivedinHitler’sapartmentintheReichChancellory.Hewaswaitingforthemorningpapers,whichwerealwaysbroughttohimassoonastheycameoffthepress.AsIcameinhehadthefirstoftheminhishands.

‘Hallo,Baur,’hegreetedme.‘Youherealready!’

‘Yes,’Isaid,‘Iam,andI’mstarving.’

‘Well,gointotherestaurantandgetameal.’

Ididso,andafterawhilehejoinedme.

‘TheRussianshavefiredontheDeutschland,’hesaid,‘andI’vehadtoactquicklytopreventsuchthingsfromhappeningagain.Yousee,Baur,howimportantitisthatIshouldkeepyoualwayswithme.Youneverknowwhat’sgoingtohappennext.BecausewewereabletogettoBerlinquicklyIwasabletosettleeverythingimmediately,andthingsarealreadymoving.WhataterriblelossoftimeitwouldhavebeenifI’dhadtotakeaspecial

traintoBerlin!’

ItappearedthatasareprisalforthebombardmentoftheDeutschlandHitlerhadorderedthebombardmentoftheSpanishcoastaltownofAlmeria.Hedeclaredthatitwouldjusthavebeenawasteoftimetousediplomaticchannels.Theonlythingtodowastoact,andactquickly.TheGermanwarshipnearesttoAlmeriawouldopenthebombardmentatdawnthenextday.Hitlerhaddiscussedthematterwiththenavalauthorities,andwasquiteconvincedthathehadactedcorrectly.

AfewdayslaterhereturnedtothesubjectandtoldmethattheforeignpresshadremainedrelativelycalminfaceoftheGermanreprisals,andthatnoonehadevenseriouslydisputedhisrighttoactashehaddone.

InthefirstfewdaysofMarchthenewspaperssoldlikehotcakesalloverGermany,becausetherewasgreatexcitementonaccountofthesituationinAustria,onwhosefrontiersGermantroopsweremassed.On12Marchat08.10wetookofffromBerlin,andlandedinMunichat10.30.ThatmorningGermantroopshadalreadycrossedtheborderintoAustria,andHitlernowfollowedthembyroad.IflewtoViennaandreportedtotheHotelImperialwhereHitlerhadalreadymadehisheadquarters.Earlyon13MarchCardinalInnitzercametoseehim.TherewasatremendousmassofpeoplegatheredinfrontofthehotelwhenthecarcontainingtheCardinalandhisretinuedroveup.Hitlerhadasuiteonthefirstfloor,andIandothersstoodonthelandingtoseehowHitlerwouldreceivetheCardinal.Hitlerwenttothedoortomeethimandboweddeeply,athingIhadneverseenhimdobefore.Themeetingwaspolite,andCardinalInnitzerseemeddeterminedtokeeptheinterviewagreeable.Whentheirdiscussionwasovertheypartedonobviouslyfriendlyterms.

Hitlerwasclearlysatisfiedwiththeupshotofthediscussion,andhedeclaredgleefullythathehadsucceededinensuringpeacebetweenChurchandstateinAustria.Hehadgivencertainassurances,andCardinalInnitzerhaddeemedthemadequate.Thus,althoughHitler’sarrivalinAustriawasnotdesiredbytheChurch,itwasnotpositivelyopposed.

IntheafternoongreatdemonstrationstookplaceintheBurggarten,andtheenthusiasmofthemasseswasindescribable.HitlerhadanumberofmeetingswithvariousotherprominentpersonalitiesinAustria,andthenweflewbacktoBerlin.

TheCzechcrisisboiledupnext,andtherewasonceagaingreatexcitementinGermany.Wecouldsensethateverythingwasatstake,andthatatanymomentthediecouldfall.IflewHitlertoGodesberg,wherehewastomeettheBritishPremier,Chamberlain.IntheHotelDreesenthereisasmallerroomofftheentrancehall,andyoucanseeintoitthroughaglassdoor.ItwasherethatHitlerandChamberlainhadtheirdiscussion,whilstweallstoodoutsideasspectators.Itwaslikelookingatasilentfilm–butwithouttitlestohelpyou.Wecouldseethetwostatesmentalkingandseetheirgestures,butonlyguessatwhattheyweresaying.

Theygreetedeachotherpolitely;thenthediscussionbegan,andduringthecourseofitamapwasproducedandlaidoutonthetable.Itwasfromthismomentonthatthediscussionbegantogetlively,anditwasquiteeasytoseethatChamberlainwasnotatallinagreementwithHitler’sproposals.ButHitlerwentontalkinguninterruptedly,

gesticulatingagainandagaintothemap.Wecouldseethathewasspeakingveryenergetically.Fromwhatwecouldjudgeofthebusinessitdidn’tlookasthoughthediscussionsweregoingtoleadtoanyagreement.

ThenextmorningChamberlaindidn’tturnupatall,andletHitlerknowthathewasindisposed.HitlerimmediatelyofferedhimhisownphysicianDrMorell,butalthoughhewasthankedforthiskindoffer,itwasrefused.IntheafternoonChamberlaincamedownfromwherehewasstayingonthePetersberg,andthediscussionswereresumed.ItisnowamatterofhistorythattheyendedinthefamousMunichagreement.

Hitlerwasdelighted,andhekepttellinguswhatcleverpoliticiansanddiplomatstheEnglishwere.HisdiscussionswithChamberlainhadmadehimmorethaneverdeterminedtopressonwithhisfavouriteplantowinbothBritainandItalyasfriendsofGermany.Onethinghesaidagainandagainwas:‘IfwecangetanalliancewithboththeBritishandtheItaliansthenwecanarrangemattersinourownReichjustasweplease.’AndwheneverhehadBritishvisitorshewasnevertiredofstressingthatifonlyBritainwouldleavehimafreehandinEuropesheneednotfearthathewoulddoanythingwhatevertoweakenherworldposition.NodoubttheNavalAgreement,themanydiscussionswithleadingBritishpoliticians,andanumberofstepstakenthroughmediatorswerealldesignedtobringaboutthesameconsummation.AndHitlerstressedinparticularthathehadnoambitionforGermanytopossessthestrongestnavy;allhewantedwassufficientnavalstrengthtodefendhershoresandkeepopentheroutestohercolonies–whichhehopedthatBritainwouldsoonreturn.

Duringdiscussionsattable,too,HitleroftenexpressedhisadmirationofBritishinternationaldiplomacy,andtheideaoffriendshipwithBritaincroppedupagainandagainasasortofsheet-anchorinhisconversation.Formypart,Ibelievethathewasperfectlysincereinthisdesire.

Lateron,ofcourse,Hitlerhadtoabandontheseideas,andtodaythereisnotmuchpointinspeculatingastowhatmighthavehappenedifhehadsucceededinestablishingthefriendlyrelationshipwhichhesomuchdesired.Itisenoughtosaythatagoodmanythingswouldbedifferentnow.Theunfortunatetruthseemstobethatwhenyouhavetwobigpowersbothanxioustoplayaleadingroleintheworld,theirinterestscollideatsomanypointsthatanyfundamentalagreementforjointactionisimpossible.Aren’twewitnessingthesamethingalloveragain?

SoonaftertheoccupationofAustria,HitlerbegantotalkaboutthewayinwhichCzechterritorydrovelikeawedgeintothenewGermanReich,andtosaythatsomethingmustbedoneaboutit.AfteracertainamountofpreliminarynegotiationHitlersentforthePresidentoftheCzechoslovakRepublic,Hacha.WhenHacha,anundistinguishedandratherpatheticlittleman,arrivedinBerlinhegaveeverysignofbeingveryillatease,knowingnodoubtthatthenegotiationsbetweenhimandHitlerweregoingtobeverydifficult.

Hitlerwastednotime,butimmediatelydemandedthatHachashouldagreetotheincorporationoftheCzechRepublicintotheGermanReich.AtfirstHachadesperatelyrefusedtoagree,butwhenhesawthatHitlerwasquitedeterminedandthatresistance

wouldonlymeanuselessbloodshed,hesurrendered.Whenitwasalloverhehadaseizure,andMorell,Hitler’spersonalphysician,gavehimseveralinjections.MorelltoldmeafterwardsthathehadbeenafraidHachawoulddieonthespot.FortunatelyherecoveredsufficientlytobeabletoleavetheReichChancellory.

GermantroopswerealreadyconcentratedontheCzechfrontiers,andHitlernowgaveordersfortheinvasion.HethenboardedaspecialtrainsoastobewithhistroopsinPrague,ifpossibleevenbeforeHachagotback.IwastoflytoPraguetobeonhandforfurtherinstructions.WhenItoucheddownonPragueairfieldHitlerwasalreadyintheHradschin,theancientcastleonahilloverlookingPraguewhichwastheseatoftheCzechoslovakGovernment.

Whenwearrived,Hitlerexplained‘thehistoricrole’whichtheHradschinhadplayedinGermanhistory,anddeclaredthatitwasnowtoplaythatroleagain.

TheCzechshadhastilyevacuatedtheHradschin,andtherewasverylittlefurnitureleft.Thestaffhadgone,too.Germanpersonnelsoongotthekitchensgoingandprovisionallyputthegreatdininghallinorder.AftertheformalitiesconnectedwiththeformalincorporationoftheCzechRepublicintotheThirdReich,HitlerflewbacktoBerlin.

TheGermanLabourFrontunderLeyhadbuiltacoupleof26,000-tonvesselsforits‘StrengththroughJoy’movement,toserveasholiday-ships.LeyhimselfhadseveraltimesaskedHitlertocomeonboardforacruise,andHitlerhadalwaysrefusedonaccountofpressureofwork;nowheagreed,andIflewhimtoBremerhaven,whereheboardedoneofthesevessels,theRobertLey,whichwasabouttomakehermaidenvoyagewithathousandpassengersonboard.

Hitlerinspectedthewholevessel,whichwassplendidlyequippedwithseveralbigdining-rooms,gymnasiums,auditoriums,dancehalls,swimming-baths,alibraryandfinepromenadedecks.OnthewaytoHeligolandwewereescortedbytwofastdestroyers,andatonetimeasubmarinesurfacednearus,thecrewtumblingoutofthehatchwaysandliningupondecktogreetus.

WhenwewereonHeligolandHitler’schiefinterestwasinthedeepexcavationworkwhichwasbeingcarriedouttofortifytheislandandinstallbignavalguns.Andthiswastypicaloftheshadowthatwasnowrisingoverusall.WhenIlookbackatmylife,IcanseethatbythistimeIhadalreadyhadmyheyday.Ihadbeenprivilegedtoplayanactivepartinthebeginningsofflying,andIhaddonemysharetohelpbuildituptowhatithadalreadybecomebythattime.Theold‘kites’wehadflowninthebeginninghadnowgivenwaytomasterpiecesoftechnicalingenuity,andmycomradeswereflyingpassengersoverdozensofrouteswhichlinkedupallbigtowns,andallimportantcountries–andevencontinents.OurLufthansahadalreadyearnedthehighestpossiblereputationintheworld.Allinall,therefore,Ithinkwehadeveryrighttobeproudandsatisfied,forthedevelopmentofcivilflyingfromthefirstpost-waryearsuntil1939hadbeentrulyenormous.

Wewereairmen,though,notpoliticians;andwethoughtGermanywasenjoyingaperiodofgreatconstructiveprogress.Butachangewastakingplace.Flyingwasbeingpressedintotheserviceofwar;itsaimwasnolongertocarrypassengersandfreightquicklyandsafely,buttocarryanddropasbigaweightofbombsaspossible.‘Flying

fortresses’werewhatwaswantednow,notfastandcomfortablepassengerplanes.Inthemeantimewecontinuedtofly.Wecouldnotseethewholegame,andwewentonflyinguntil,withtheoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWar,thewholecharacterofflyingchanged.

Bauraged21duringtheFirstWorldWar.OnemoreairvictorywouldhavequalifiedhimforthePourleMerite,butthewarendedshortlyafterhis9thkill

ALufthansapilot

AtthecontrolsoftheFührerplane

AGeneralintheSecondWorldWar

Warmgreetingsin1932

BaurbriefingWilhelmBrücknerandHitleronflightplansin1932

Duringthe1932electionflights:(lefttoright)DrHanfstengel,Hitler,JuliusSchaub,HeinrichHoffmann,BaurandWilhelmBrückner

HitlerrelaxesduringaflightoverGermanyin1932

Beforeanelectioncampaignin1932.HitlerpeerspensivelyfromthecharteredG-24

Baur’sweddingdayon13May1936attheFührer’sMunichapartment.Hitlerwasbestman.Baur’s12yearolddaughterbyhisfirstwifeisontherightofthepictureinBDM

uniform

On28March1936,ontheeveoftheelection,Hitlermeetswithhisclosestadvisers.BaurisattheleftofthepicturewithHess.

AyouthfuladmirerinBerlingetsBaur’sautograph

KingBorisofBulgariawithBaurafteraflight

Hitler,BaurandBormannvisitamilitaryfieldhospital

HitlerandBaurreturnthesalutesofwelcomingtroops

BaurfliesMussolinitotheRussianFrontin1942

BaurindiscussionswithhisescortpilotsandsecuritypersonnelinVinnitsa,Ukraine

Field-MarshalvonMansteinpresentingBaurwithabottleofchampagneintheCrimea

AtthecontrolsoftheCondorFw-200in1942

ViewsoftheinteriorofHitler’sJu.290

NewspaperarticlewrittentwoyearsbeforeBaur’sreleasereportingthathehadlosthislegattemptingtoescapefromBerlinandthatheremainedaprisoneroftheRussians

BaurbeinginterviewedatCampFriedlandfollowinghisreturnfromRussiainOctober1955

BaurathomewithhismotherafteradecadeofSovietimprisonment

PARTFOUR

TheSecondWorldWarIHADBECOMEusedtosurprisesbythistime,butImustconfessthatevenIwasshakenwhenonedayHitlercalmlysaidtome:

‘Baur,getreadytoflyRibbentroptoMoscowinafewdays’time.’

Apartyofthirty-fivewastobeflowntotheRussiancapital,andasourFocke-WulfCondorscouldcarryuptotwentypassengers,thatmeanttwoplanes.Lateintheafternoonon21August1939,IlandedontheReichenhall-AimingairfieldtopickupRibbentrop,whowaswithhisstaffonhiscountryestateatFuschl.Shortlyafterwardsheandtheothersarrivedincars,withtwolorriesbringinguptherearwiththeirbaggage.Wemanagedtopackitallaway,butitmeantthatwewereheavilyloaded,anditwasn’ttooeasytotakeofffromthatsmallairfield.WeflewtoKönigsbergandspentthenightthere.Iandmycrewswereupearlyinthemorninggettingourmachinesready,andIwasstudyingtheroutetheRussianshadlaiddownforus,whichwasnot,tomysurprise,thedirectone.WeweretoavoidPolishairspaceandsetcourseDunaburg–Veliki-Luki–Moscow,arrivingatthe‘Aero-Port’ontheRiverMoskvainfourhoursandaquarterafterthetake-off.AsIcircledtheairfieldbeforetouchingdownIrealisedthatabigreceptionhadbeenarranged.TherewereSovietredflagswiththehammerandsickle,andGermanredflagswiththeblackHakenkreuzonaroundwhiteground,flyingeverywhere.Therewasaguardofhonourdrawnup,andamilitarybandwithshiningbrassinstruments.

Ribbentropwasthefirsttogetoutofmyplane,andhewasheartilywelcomedbytheSovietForeignMinister,Molotov,whilstthemilitarybrassbandplayedfirstournationalanthemandthentheirswhilsteveryonestoodatthesalute.RibbentropthenmarchedalongwithhisarmraisedintheHitlersalutewhilstheinspectedtheguardofhonour.‘MyGod!’Ithought.‘Wonderswillnevercease!’

RibbentropandhispartyandtheRussiansthendroveoffinafleetofcarsintothetown;RibbentropstayedwiththeGermanAmbassador,Schulenburg,whilstthosewithhimwerequarteredinhotels.Iremainedontheairfieldforthetimebeing,whereourplaneswerethecentreofagreatdealofattention.TheFocke-WulfCondorwasfamousthroughouttheworldbythistimebecauseofitsnon-stopflightfromBerlintoNewYork,asensationforthosedays,anditsnon-stopflighttotheFarEast.Themachineslookedgoodtoo;aerodynamicallytheywereexcellent,andundoubtedlytheywerenotonlyamongstthemostpowerfulbutalsothemostbeautifulplanesintheairbeforethewar.

TheRussianexpertsmadenosecretoftheiradmiration.TheRussianforemanhadatonetimeworkedontheKönigsberg–MoscowlineandhespokequitegoodGerman;heproducedthenecessarymechanicsandsoon,andworkstartedatoncetoprepareourmachinestotakeoffagainthefollowingday.

Asusualattheendofajourneywehadagooddealoffoodandlittleluxuriesofvarious

kindsover:whiterolls,cake,biscuits,chocolateandsoon,allneatlypacked.Asageneralrulewehadnodifficultyingettingridofthemtomakeroomforoursuppliesforthehomewardjourney,butthistimemymechanicinformedmethatthemenengagedonourenginesandthewomenwhowerecleaningouttheinsideoftheplanesallrefusedtoacceptthem.IgotholdoftheforemanwhospokeGerman,andaskedhimwhatwasthematter.HesmiledandsaidthatRussianshadenoughtoeat.Ireplied:yes,ofcourse,Iwasquitesuretheyhad,butthatwasn’tthepoint.Itwasn’taquestionofcharity,orfeedingthehungry:wejustdidn’twantgoodstuffwasted.Hestillsmiledandsaidno;itwasforbidden.Ithentoldmymechanictoputthebasketswiththestuffonabenchinthehangarandleavethemthere.Thenextmorningwhenourfreshsuppliesarrivedthosebasketswereallempty.Therearemorewaysofkillingacat…

Alittlelaterasquadofphotographersarrived,completewithsmallladders.Theywereprettypoorlyclothed,andtheywantedtoknowwhethertheycouldtakephotographsofourCondors.‘Carryon,’Isaid.Andatthattheyphotographedourplanesfromeverypossibleangle.Theyallseemedverysurprisedthattheywereallowedtotakephotographsatall,andastonishedthattheycouldgoanywhere.Evenso,theyreallycouldn’tbelievethattheywouldbeallowedtophotographtheengines,andtheirleadercamespecially–andverydoubtfully–tometoknowwhethertheymight;andwhenIsaidyeshelookedatmeinvastastonishment.

Wheneverythinghadbeensettledandtheworkwaswellunderway,Liehr,thepilotofthesecondmachine,andIdecidedtogointoMoscowitself.Ourcrewsweretoliveinthemachines,gettheirfoodthereandgenerallykeepaneyeonthings,because,naturally,wewerealivetocertainpossibilities…But,infact,theRussiansintervened.

Whilstwewerepreparingtoleave,amanincivilianclothescameuptomeandaddressedmeinexcellentGerman,informingmethathewasinchargeoftheGPU,theRussiansecretpolice.Hehadbeeninstructedtoguardourmachines.Itoldhimwepreferredtodoitourselves.Ohno,hesaid,thatwasimpossible.Hehadstrictinstructions:ahangarhadbeenmadereadyforourmachines.Theywouldberolledintoitandlockedawayandthekeyhandedtome.GPUtroopswouldthenundertaketheoutsidewatch.

WewereguestsoftheRussianGovernment,anditwasdifficultformetoobjecttothisarrangement,whichseemedallright,soIagreed.Wheneverythingwasreadythetwomachinesweretrundledintothehangar,thedoorswereclosedandlocked,andIwasgiventhekey.

AmessengerfromtheGermanEmbassythenhandedustwohundredroubleseach,declaringthatweprobablyshouldn’tneedanymoney,butitwasbetterforustohavejustalittle.ItdidseemalittletomesoIpointedoutthatthepossibilityofbeingabletotipfreelywasagreatlubricantwhenyouwantedanythingdonequickly,andthatIhadalwaysbeenallowedtodowhatIthoughtbestinthatrespect.HowwasIgoingtogetonwithtwohundredroubles?IwastheninformedthattippinghadbeenabolishedinRussia.Iwondered,butgaveitup.Afterthatwealldroveintotown.LiehrandIwerequarteredwiththeGermanmilitaryattaché,HerrvonKöstring,whilstourcrewsweregivenroomsintheHotelNational,anIntouristestablishment.

Whenwehadwashedandchangedwewentdowntodinner.Nothingaboutitseemed

veryRussian,butvonKöstringimmediatelyexplainedthatithadallbeenbroughtinatEmbassyinstructionsfromPolandandSweden–itwascheaperthatway.Afterourmealwenaturallywantedtoseethetown.WeweregivenaGermanBalticgirlasaninterpreter,andwesetoffwithherinacarprovidedbytheRussianGovernment.

AsweleftthebuildingshepointedouttheGPUpostwhosejobitwastowatchallcomingsandgoings.AmanwouldnowtelephonetoGPUheadquarterstoinformthemthatacar,numbersoandso,containingsoandsomanypeople,age,sex,andsoon,hadjustleft,goinginwhateverdirectionithappenedtobe–andgivingthenamesofthepassengers,iftheyhappenedtobeknown.Afterthat,ourinterpreterexplained,anothercarwouldtackitselfontousandfollowfiftyyardsorsointherear,andwhereverwewentandwhateverwedid,theGPUwouldbeonourheels.

Onceagainwewereurgentlywarnedthatthetakingofphotographswasstrictlyforbidden,andthatanyattempttouseacamerawouldgetusintoserioustrouble.IhadalreadydiscoveredthisattheairfieldwhenZintlandIhadtakenourLeicaswithus.

‘Forheaven’ssake,CaptainBaur,don’tattempttotakeanyphotographs!’therepresentativeoftheGermanEmbassyhadsaid.‘Bestofall,leaveyourcamerasbehindaltogether.’

‘Iknowbetterthantotakephotographsonanairfield,’Isaid,‘butsurelyinthetownavisitorcansnapthisorthatinterestingbuilding.’

Butno,thiswasn’tso:nophotographsatall,orelse…

Weassuredthegirlthatwewouldn’tdreamoftakingphotographs–wehadn’tevenourcameraswithus.AfterlookingattheKremlinwedroveouttoahillfromwherewehadawonderfulviewoverMoscow.AfterhavingdriventoseeallthesightswereturnedtotheGermanEmbassyandstayedthereuntilwellpastmidnight.HeinrichHoffmann,Hitler’sofficialphotographer,wasthencalledtotheKremlintotakepicturesofthefinalscenesatthediscussionbetweenStalinandRibbentrop.Hereturnedfullofenthusiasm.Earlynextmorning,LiehrandIandourcrewswerebackontheairfieldtotakeourmachinesupforatrialflightbeforeflyingRibbentrop’spartybacktoGermany.

WehadfoundnoopportunityofbuyinganythingduringourshortstayinMoscow,andeveryoneelsegavethemoneyback,butIthoughtitwouldbeashame,soIaskedourgirlinterpretertogiveittoourRussiandriver,whohaddrivenusaroundalldayandhalfthenight.Shewassurehewouldrefuseit,butIsaidthathelookedasthoughacoupleofhundredroubleswouldcomeinusefulandIurgedhertotry.Sowhenwecametotheairfieldsheleantforwardandofferedhimtheroubles.Atthattherewasanexplosion.Themanwasfurious;hewantedtoknowwhetherthiswasthethankshegotforhavingdonehisbestforus–togethimintoprison;weknewperfectlywellthatitwasforbiddentotaketips!Andsoon.Wedidourbesttocalmhimdown,andintheendwepartedgoodfriends–andItoogavemyroublesbacktotheEmbassy.

Soonafterthat,ourmachineswerewaitingreadyonthetarmactotakeoff.RibbentroparrivedwithhispartyandtheRussianForeignMinister,Molotov,whowasallsmilesandsaidgood-byetoRibbentropwithgreatfriendliness.Beforethetake-offwewereintouchwithBerlinandreceivedinstructionsnottoflytoObersalzberg,whereHitlerwasatthetime,butstraighttoBerlin–hewouldflythereinthemeantimetomeetRibbentroponhis

return.WemadeashortintermediatelandinginKönigsberg,andsoonafterthatwetoucheddowninBerlin,whereHitlerwasanxiouslywaitingtohearRibbentrop’sreport.

ForweeksafterthatIlistenedtodiscussionsattableintheReichChancelloryconcerningtheresultsofthenegotiationsinMoscow.Astherewerenewguestsconstantly,Hitlerhadoccasiontodealwiththematteragainandagain.Hewasverysatisfiedwithwhathadbeenobtained,andhesaidsofrequently.Inaddition,hisopinionofStalinhadchanged,andthisastonishedagoodmanypeople.Forexample,HitleronceremarkedthatStalin’scareerhadreallybeenratherlikehisown.Stalinhadcomefrombelowtothetop;andhe,Hitler,knewbetterthananyonewhatitmeanttohaveworkedyourwayupfrombeinganunknownmantobeingleaderofagreatstate.Atthatsomeshockedguestdeclared:

‘ButmyFührer,youreallyshouldn’tcompareStalinwithyourself.Why,hewasabank-robber!’

HitlerbrusquelyrejectedtheobservationanddeclaredthatifStalinhadactuallyrobbedanybanks,thenithadbeennotforhimselfbutforhispartyandhismovement–whichwasaverydifferentthing,andnottoberegardedasbank-robberyintheordinaryway.

AnotherresultofHitler’schangedattitudetowardsStalinwasthattheEherVerlag,hisownbigpublishinghouse,andalltheothers,weregiveninstructionstopulptheirstocksofantiCommunistmaterial–anorderwhichgaverisetoagooddealofdoubtfulhead-shaking.

ThenegotiationswithPolanddidnothavethedesiredresult,andGermanyinvadedPoland.InmyopinionHitlerventuredthatfaronlybecausehefeltsurethatGreatBritainandFrancewouldnotintervene.IcanwellrememberthemorningonwhichtheultimatumwashandedtothePolishAmbassador.HitlerandRibbentrop,withanumberofotherpeople,wereinthesmoking-roomattheReichChancellory,andHitlerdeclaredpositively:

‘Ican’timaginetheBritishandtheFrenchgoingtoPoland’sassistance.They’rebluffing,Ribbentrop;you’llsee,theywon’tcomein.’

Ribbentropdidn’tagreewithhim,andsaidso.HealsoaddedthatallhisinformationsuggestedthattheBritishandFrenchwereseriousandwouldcomein.Hitlerremainedunconvinced.AndwhentheBritishandFrenchdeclarationsofwarwerehandedoverheconsoledhimselfwiththethoughtthatwarwiththemwouldhavebeenunavoidableinthelongrunanyway,soitwasbetterthatitshouldcomenowsinceitwouldfreehishandstocarryouthisplansforstrengtheningandconsolidatingGermany.

Severaltimeshedeclaredpositivelythatthewarcouldnotlastmorethanacoupleofyears;andhewassofirmlyconvincedofthisthathetoldSpeernottoreckonwithmuchmorethantwo–orattheutmostfour–yearsforthevariousindustrialbuildingsandplantsmadenecessarybythewar.

Withthewaranewroutinelifebeganforus.IflewHitlertoKrössinsee,theancientmonasticstrongholdinPomerania,wheretherewasanairfield,andfromtherehemadeshortflightstothefront.AlittlelaterourbasewaspushedforwardtoOppelninEast

Prussia.OnourflightsoverPolishterritoryweoftenhadtolandonordinaryfieldsandmeadows,whichmadethingsdifficultforourescortoffighterplanes–weusuallyhadsixwithus–andsplinterswerecommon.Thefighterplanesweresofastthatordinaryfieldsjustweren’tbigenoughtoprovidethenecessaryrun.Sometimesithappenedthatwehadonlyacoupleoffighterstoescortusonthewayback–theothershadsufferedsuchdamageinlandingthattheywereunabletotakeoffagain.

WhentheGermantroopswereatthegatesofWarsawwelandedabouteighteenmilesawayinastubble-field.Hitlerwastoarrivebycar.AconcentrationofaboutfivethousandgunshadalreadyopenedthefinalbombardmentofWarsaw,andHitlerwantedtoseetheeffectsfromtheair.Hehopedthatitwouldleadtothesurrenderofthetown.Soonafterhearrivedwithhisstafftheordertotakeoffwasgiven.

Everyoneexceptmyselfwasalreadyonboard,theengineswererunning,andIwasjustabouttoclimbintomyseatwhenanarmycarracedup.AnofficerjumpedoutanddeclaredthathehadanurgentmessageforHitler.IreportedtoField-MarshalKeitel,whoinformedHitler,whothengotoutoftheplaneandreceivedthemessageinperson.IwasstandingjustbehindhimwhentheofficerdeclaredthathehadthesadtaskofinformingtheFührerthatGeneralFritschhadbeenkilledinaction.HehadgoneforwardwithacompanyagainstaPolishpositionandbeenshotdownbymachine-gunfire.Abullethadrippedopenanarteryinthethigh,andtheGeneralhadbledtodeathwithinafewminutes.Hitlerbrieflyexpressedhisregret,andthengotbackintotheplaneandgavetheorderforthetake-off.

Withafighterescortwenowflewoverthefrontlinesataheightofbetweensixandseventhousandfeet,andwecouldeasilyseethedevastationbeingcausedinthesuburbsofWarsaw.AftercruisingaroundoverWarsawforaboutthirtyminuteswereturnedtoourlanding-place,andshortlyafterthatWarsawofferedtocapitulate.Afewdayslater,Polandasawholesurrendered.

AgreatvictoryparadewastotakeplaceinWarsaw,andIflewHitlertoWarsawairfield.Agreatnumberofhighofficerswerepresenttoreceivehim,anddiscussionstookplaceonthespot,withlargequantitiesofmaps.AfteraboutanhourHitlergotintoacarandwasdrivenintothecentreofthetowntotakethesaluteattheparade.

Iwaitedbehindontheairfieldwithmycrew,andfoodforaboutahundredwassimmeringinfield-kitchens.Whenitgotto15.00Iaskedthemajorinchargeofthecateringtogiveusourfood,becausewhenHitlercamebackweshouldprobablyhavetogetawayquicklyandthelast-minutepreparationswouldprobablynotallowustimetoeat.Tableshadbeenlaidinanemptyhangar,whichhadbeenspeciallybrightenedupforthepurpose:therewerewhitetable-cloths,andevenflowersonthetables.Infact,italllookedveryattractive.ButtherewasHitler’swell-knownpuritanism–whichwasnarrowerthaneverintimeofwar–tocontendwith,andIcommunicatedmydoubtstothemajorabouthisspread,tellinghimthatIdidn’tthinkhe’dgetanythanksfromHitlerforhisquiteextraordinaryperformance.However,themajordeclaredthatitwasimpossibletoaskHitlertositdownandeatatatablewithoutatable-cloth,soImadenofurtherobjection.

Thegreatcolumnofcarsarrivedfromthecentreofthetownat16.00,andHitlermarchedintothehangerwithhisretinue,includingField-MarshalKeitel.Hegaveone

lookatthefestivelypreparedtablesanddemandedwhohadgivenordersforastatebanquetintimeofwar.Keiteldidn’tknow,andenquirieshadtobemadetodiscovertheculprit.Hitlerwasfurious,andturningtomehesnapped:‘Iseverythingreadyforthetake-off,Baur?’

WhenItoldhimthatitwas,hemarchedofftotakehisplaceinthemachine,leavingthepreparedtablesbehind,andforcinghisretinuetodothesame.Field-MarshalKeitelandtheotherswerehungry,andnowtheywerefurious,buttherewasnothingtheycoulddoaboutit.Theydidn’tgetanythingtoeatuntilwelandedsomehourslaterinBerlin.

IntheautumnIflewRibbentroptoMoscowasecondtime,onceagainwithtwoCondormachines.ThistimeIandmycrewwerequarteredintheHotelNational.InhonourofRibbentrop,whosatintheformerTsar’sbox,whichwasnowStalin’s,theMoscowOperaCompanystagedaballetevening,whichincludedthefamous‘DyingSwan’.TheRussianshadnaturallysparednopainstomaketheeveningasuccess,andfromtheartisticstandpointitcertainlywas,butwhatwefoundastonishingwastheaudience.Someoftheladieshaddonethemselvesupaswellastheycould,buttheirclotheslookedasthoughtheyhadcomeoutofgrandmother’srag-bag.Andasforthemen,youwouldhavesaidthattheyhadjustcomefromthework-bench.Theydidn’tevenwearties,andnoneoftheladiesseemedtohavehats.Ofcourse,theRussianshadmoreurgentmatterstoattendtoatthetimethandevelopingtheirtextileindustry.Lateron–whenIwastheirprisonerofwar–Inoticedthatthesecretariesofhighofficersandsoon,didhavegoodclothes–andhats!Butnotintheautumnof1939.

AftertheoperaRibbentropmetStalinforthefinaldiscussions.HoffmannwasonceagainaskedtotheKremlintotakephotographs,buttherestofusstayedinourhotel.WhenwehadgonetoourroomsIrememberedsomethingIwantedtosaytomymechanic,Zintl,soIwentoutintothecorridortogotohisroom–andIfoundthateachofourdoorswasguarded!Perhapsitwasforourprotection,anditcertainlymeantthatnoonecouldgetanywherenearusunobserved.Thenextmorningwehadbreakfastinthehotelanddrovestraightouttotheairfield.Thistime,too,MolotovaccompaniedRibbentroptohisplane.

Asbefore,themainitemofdiscussionattableintheReichChancelloryafterthisvisitwasitsresults,andonceagainHitlerseemedverywellsatisfied;infact,hedeclaredquitefranklythat,butforthisnewagreement,foodwouldhavebecomeshortinGermany.AndpoliticallyhehopedthattheconclusionoftheagreementwouldhavesomeeffectontheBritish.

RibbentropandHoffmannhadtotellHitlerabouttheirexperiencesandtheirpersonalimpressionsinMoscow.Ribbentropdeclared,amongstotherthings,thatStalinhaddrunksomuchvodkathatatfirsthehadbeensurethatonlywaterwasinhisglass,butlateronhehadbeengivenanopportunityofseeingforhimselfthatitreallywasvodka.Thiswasn’tthefirsttime–anditwasn’ttobethelast–thattheRussiansdemonstratedtheirsimplyfantasticqualitiesasconsumersofhardliquor.TheonlymanintheGermanpartywhohadbeenabletokeepupwiththemwasHoffmannwhowasamightyconsumerofstrongdrinkbeforetheLord;evenStalinhadnotedhisperformancewithappreciation,andhaddrunkapersonaltoasttohim.

On8NovemberIflewHitlertoMunichforthetraditional9NovembercelebrationsintheBürgerbräuKeller.Shortlybeforewetoucheddown,HitleraskedmewhetheritwouldbepossibleforhimtobebackinBerlinat10.00on10November,becausetherewasanurgentdiscussionwhichhewasunabletopostpone.IpointedoutthatNovemberwasthemonthofmistsandfogs,andiftherehappenedtobeonethenextdayIcouldn’tguaranteeanything,asitcouldeasilypostponeourtake-offforhours.Inthatcase,hesaid,hewouldreturntoBerlinbytrain.Atthistimehehadnospecialtrainofhisown,andaspecialcarriagewascoupledtoordinarytime-tabletrainsforhim.Andasithappened,inordertocatchasuitabletrainhehadtoleavetheBürgerbräuKellermuchearlierthanhewouldotherwisehavedone.Lessthananhourafterhisdepartureabombobviouslyintendedforhimexploded,causingdamageandanumberoffatalcasualties.

Hitlerspokeasusualfromthesamespotwhere,on9November1923,hehadfiredthatfamousshotintotheceiling.Thewould-beassassinhadlaidhisplans,andmadehispreparationswiththisinmind.Atfirstthepoliceinvestigationscameupagainstablankwall,butamanhadbeenseizedonthefrontieratConstancejustwhenhewastryingtoclimboverthefenceintoSwissterritory.AGermanfrontierguardhadseizedhimbythefeetandhauledhimback.

ThearrestedmangavehisnameasMüller[hisrealnamewasGeorgElser–ed.],andsaidhewasamechanic.InhispockettheyfoundapieceofbronzewhichprovedtobeidenticalinkindwiththealloyusedinthemanufactureoftheBürgerbräuKellertime-bomb.AskedwhyhewastryingtogetintoSwitzerlandillegally,themandeclaredthathisreasonswerepurelypersonal;questionedconcerningtheexplosionintheBürgerbräuKeller,hedeniedallconnectionwithit.However,hehadasisterlivinginMunich,andhehadbeenlivingwithher.Asearchofherflatatfirstproducednothingsensational.ButonthewalltherewasatraditionalSchwarzwaldcuckoo-clock.Adetectivenoticedthatitwasnotgoing,andremarkedthatwithamechanicinthehouseitoughttohavebeeneasyenoughtoputitright,whereuponthewomansaidthatherbrotherhad,infact,workedonit,butwithoutsuccess.Theclockwasthentakenawayandexamined,anditwasdiscoveredthatanumberofwheelsweremissing.Amongstthebitsandpiecescollectedfromtheinfernalmachinewerethoseverywheels.Therewasnolongeranyreasonabledoubtastowherethatmachinehadcomefromandwhohadputitthere;infact,whenfacedwiththeevidencethemanconfessed.ThequestioningofhissisterproducedthefactthatMüllerhadsaidthathewouldsoonbegoingtoSwitzerland,wherehewouldbeabletoearnalotofmoneyworkingforaFrenchman.

HimmlerappearedintheReichChancellorywithafilmofthewholeinvestigation,butHitlerrefusedtolookatit,sayingthathe‘didn’twanttoseetheswine’.However,Himmlershowedthefilm,andIwasamongstthoseinvitedtoseeit.

Müllerhadinsistedunderexaminationthathehadmadethewholeingeniouspieceofapparatushimself,andtheGestapowasveryanxioustoknowwhetherthisweretrueornot;soMüllerwasprovidedwiththenecessarymaterials,anddidinfact,makeworkingdiagramsandthenbuildanexactcopyoftheinfernalmachinewhichhadgoneoffintheBürgerbräuKeller.

UnderexaminationMüllerdeclaredthathehatedHitlerandhaddeterminedtoputhimoutoftheway.Heknew,ofcourse,thathewouldfinditverydifficult,ifnotimpossible,

togetanywherenearhimintheordinaryway;soatime-bombsettoexplodeatthetraditionalcelebrationintheBürgerbräuKelleron9Novemberseemedthebestsolutionoftheproblem,particularlyastheexactplacewhereHitlerwouldbestandingwasknown,andalsothetimeatwhichhewouldbethere.TheBürgerbräuKellerwasnotguardedparticularly,andhehadfoundanemergencyexitthroughwhichhecouldgetintoiteasilywithoutattractingattention.

WeeksaheadMüllerhadmanufacturedhisbombandpreparedwhereitwastogo,quiteclosetothespotwhereheknewHitlerwouldbestanding.Forthisheprisedoffwoodenboardingandtookoutabrickortwobehindit,replacingthewoodoverthecavityandsweepingupeverythingwhenhehadfinished,sothatthingslookedexactlyastheyhaddonebefore.On8November,thedaybeforethemeeting,hegotintothehallagainandplacedhisinfernalmachineinpositionintheholehehadmadeforit,settingthemechanismtoexplodeforthetimewhenintheordinarywayHitlerwouldhavebeenthere.Thenheputbackthewoodboarding,andwalkedoutoftheplace,leavingabsolutelynothingoutoftheordinarytobeseen.BeforethemeetingtheGestaponaturallysearchedthehallasaprecaution,butMüllerhadbeentoocleverforthem,andnothingwasfound.

AtfirstMüllerwastohavebeenbroughtbeforetheVolksgerichtshof,orPeople’sCourt,andpubliclytried,butHitlerdecidedagainstthis,andintheendthemanwassecretlyexecuted.

InNovember1939IwasinstructedtofetchKingBorisfromSofia,andIlandedtherewithmyCondorontheordinarycivilairfield.Myjourneywassecret,andIhadapassportmadeoutinthenotveryimaginativenameofSchmidt.InaccordancewiththeinstructionsoftheGermanForeignOfficeIpresentedmyselftotheGermanairattaché,ColonelSchönbeck,wholookedatmesuspiciouslyandsaidimmediately:‘Schmidt?You’rename’snotSchmidt.I’veseenyousomewhere,butIjustcan’tplaceyouforthemoment.’

Ofcourse,IhadtoinsistthatmynamereallywasSchmidt,butjustatthatmomentmymechanic,Zintl,cameuptotellmesomething,andaddressedmeasBaur!AfterthatIhadtoexplainthewholethingtoColonelSchönbeck,tellinghimwhoIreallywas,andwhyIhadcome–addingthatKingBoris’sdeparturewastobekeptsecret.Itwasn’taverygoodstart,butatleastIhadplayedmypartproperly.

ShortlyafterwardsIreceivedinstructionsfromtheGermanEmbassytoleavethecivilairfieldandlandonamilitaryairfieldnotfaraway,wherethemachinewastobelookedafterforthenight.Ididmybesttocarryoutthoseinstructions,too,butwhenItriedtotakeoffIdiscoveredthatthegroundwastoosoft–ithadrainedagooddealsinceIhadlanded.Ijustcouldn’tmove,andnothingIcoulddomadeanydifference.Fiftysoldiersweremobilisedwithspadesandbolesofwood;eventhenittookhours,butintheendatractorpulledtheCondoroutofthemud.Thenatmidnightitstartedtofreeze,andthatwasmysalvation.

Itookoffatdawnandflewtothemilitaryairfield.At08.00KingBorisappeared,accompaniedbyhisbrotherandageneraloftheBulgarianAirForce.Nothingmovedontheairfield;everyonehadbeengiveninstructionstostayoutofsight,andthebigfield

lookedabsolutelydeserted.KingBoriswasincivilianclothing,andherecognisedmeatonce,forIhadalreadyflownhimfromZürichtoVienna.Heaskedallsortsofquestionsabouttheweatherforecastandsoon,andshowedgreatinterestinvarioustechnicaldetails–whenhetravelledbytrainhewouldoftengointothelocomotivecabinanddrivethetrainhimself.

Heknewnothingaboutflying,butheaskedmeifhecouldsitupinfront.Mymechanicgaveuphisseatnexttome,andwestartedoffinthedirectionofBerchtesgaden.Theweatherwasn’tbad,andastheKingwassokeenIgavehimhisfirstflyinglesson,showinghimhowthemachinereactedtogustsofwindandhowdeviationscouldbecorrected.Hewasastonishedatthereadinesswithwhichthegreatplaneansweredtotheslightestmovementofthecontrols.OnaquietstretchIactuallylethimflytheplanehimself.Hewasaverygoodpupil,andbythetimewehadlandedatAinringairfieldnearReichenhallhehadlearnedquiteabitandwaslookingforwardeagerlytotheflightback.

HewasreceivedbyHitler,spentthenightinSchlossKlessheimnearSalzburg,andthenextmorningIflewhimbacktoSofia,duringwhichtimehehadanotherlesson.HethankedmewarmlybeforeheleftusatSofia,andassuredmethatweshouldoftenbeflyingtogetherinthefuture;thisturnedouttobetrue,forIflewhimonmanyoccasionsduringthewar.

InDecember1939weflewintotheSaardistrict,andfromthereHitlermadeflightstovariouspartsofthefront.Atthattime,ofcourse,theoffensiveinthewesthadnotbegun,andwiththeexceptionofoneortwospotsallwasquiet.JustbeforeChristmas,Kannenberg,whowasinchargeofthehouseholdattheReichChancellory,madeupChristmasparcelsforthemenofHitler’sbodyguardandforthoseinhisimmediatecircle.IknewhowgladlyHitlerlikedtogive,andhowparticularlydelightedhewaswhenhisgiftswereappreciated,andhehappenedtosaytomethatitwasashamethathecouldn’tgooutshoppingandchoosethepresentshimself.IsaidthatheoughttodowhatGöringdid:gotoashopafterclosinghoursandhavethewholestaffwaitingonhim.HitlerlaughedandsaidthatsuchamethodofshoppingnodoubtsuitedGöring,butpersonallyitdidn’tappealtohim.

AfterChristmasvisitstovariouspartsofthefrontweflewbacktoBerlin.Beforethelaunchingoftheoffensiveinthewest,thefamousOrganisationTodtbuiltheadquartersforHitlerontheZiegenbergintheTaunus.ReichMinisterTodtarrivedintheReichChancellorytolayplansandphotographsbeforeHitler.Ashelookedthroughthem,however,Hitlergrewmoreandmoredissatisfied.

‘Thisissupposedtobeamilitaryheadquarters,’hesnapped,‘andyetIseetherearewood-carvings,wroughtironworkdecorationsandthickcarpetsonthefloors.DoyoureallythinkI’mgoingtooccupyaheadquarterslikethat?Lateron,thousandsofGermancitizenswillvisitthisplace.WouldanyofthempossiblyunderstandhowIcouldliveinsuchluxuryinwartime?’

TodtdefendedhimselfandsaidthattheReichChancellorhadcertainrepresentativeduties,sothatinthecircumstancestheinstallationwasnotunnecessarilyluxurious.ButHitlerrefusedtobepersuaded.

‘YoucandowhatyoulikeontheZiegenberg,’hedeclaredbluntly.‘Iwon’tbethere.’

Withthat,afeverishsearchstartedupforanewheadquarters.AsuitablespotwaseventuallyfoundintheEiffel,andthisheadquarterswascalled‘Felsennest’orrockeyrie.Theblockhouseswereboredintothesolidrock,andaspecialairfieldwaslaidoutnearEuskirchen,abouteightmilesaway.Hitlermovedinjustbeforetheopeningoftheoffensiveinthewest.

InthemeantimetheChancellorywasahiveofactivity.Highnavalandmilitaryofficerswereconstantlycomingandgoing,anditwasquiteobviousthatsomethingbigwasintheoffing;butwhatitwasIdidn’tknow,anddidn’tlearnuntiltheinvasionofNorwayhadactuallystarted.Forawhileafterthatallthetable-talkattheReichChancellorywasaboutGeneralDietlandthedifficultiesofkeepinghimsupplied,forshippinglosseswereheavy,and,infact,forawhileitseemedtouchandgo.Butfinallyitbecameclearthattheinvasionwasasuccess,andtheneveryonebreathedagain.HitlerwasdelightedatthewayDietlandhismenhadcarriedoffthedaringcoup,andhewasconvincedthattheirdeedwouldstandoutinhistory.Also,hewasoverjoyedwhenIntelligenceinformedhimthattheGermaninvasionhadforestalledtheBritishbyonlytwenty-fourhours.

Whenthefightingwasover,Terboven,GauleiterofEssen,wasappointedCommissarforNorway,andIwasinstructedtoflyhimtoOslo.Onthedayoftheflighttheweatherwasveryunfavourable,andthelandingwasparticularlydifficult.Osloairfieldisarockplateauhewnoutofsolidgranite.Asfarasyoucansee,thereisn’tabladeofgrass:justrock,andnothingbutrockwhilebehinditthetownrisesupstillhigher.Itwasnojokelandingabigfour-enginedplanethere,particularlyastheactuallanding-stripwasnarrowandlittlemorethanathousandyardslong.Andtoencourageanypilotcomingintolandwasthesightofplane-wreckstoleftandrightofhimashetoucheddown.Theleastdeviationfromthestraightandnarrowwouldhavemeantthedestructionoftheplane.Imanageditallright,butIbreathedasighofreliefwhenwefinallyrolledtoahaltsafeandsound.ThenextdayIflewbacktoBerlin,andreportedtoHitlerthatOsloairfieldwasquiteunsuitedfornormalLuftwaffeuse.

OnemorningIwasorderedtotakethreeCondorplanestoHamburgthatsameevening.Hitlerwastocomeonafterwardsbytrain.Theflightwastobekeptsecret,andinHamburgIwastoarrangeforasufficientnumberoflife-jacketstobetakenonboard.Everythingwastobereadyforatake-offatsixo’clockthefollowingmorning.WhenIarrivedinHamburgIhadsomedifficultyingettingholdoffiftylife-jackets,butIsucceeded,thoughnotwithoutmakingitanopensecretthatHitlerwasflyingtoOslotovisithistroopsinNorway.

IstayedthenightinasmallhotelinFuhlsbüttel,andIwasupveryearlythenextmorning.At04.30IwassittingdownhavingmybreakfastwhenIwascalledtothetelephone.ItwasHitler’sLuftwaffeAdjutant,vonBelow.

‘Justamoment,’hesaid,‘theFührerhimselfiscomingtothetelephone.’

Hitlerwantedtoknowwhethereverythingwasreadyforthetake-offandwhetherthelife-jacketsweresafelyonboard.Iwasabitpuzzledatthis,becausewhenIwasgiveninstructionstodoacertainthingitwasusuallyassumedthatIwoulddoit;noone,andcertainlynotHitlerhimself,everranguptoenquirewhetherIhadinfactcarriedoutmy

instructions.

ButthenHitlersaid:‘IknowIcantrustyou,Baur.You’vedoneeverythingyouweretoldtodo,butinthemeantimeoneortwothingshavechanged.Iwantyoutocometomeatonce.’

‘Whereto?’Iasked.

‘TomyFelsennestheadquarters.TouchdownatEuskirchen.Thefactisthatthewesternoffensivestartedthismorning.YouweresenttoHamburgtomakeallthosepreparationsinordertomisleadenemyintelligence.Butcomestraightawaynow.Ineedyouurgently.’

ItookoffveryearlyandflewtoEuskirchen.Theoffensiveinthewestwasgoingforwardrapidly.Therewasn’t,infact,agreatdealformetodowithmyCondors,butmyFieselerStorchplaneswerekeptverybusytakingHitler’smilitaryadjutantsbackwardsandforwardsfromhisheadquarterstothevariouscommandcentres.Whendifficultiesarose,Hitler’sopinionwastakendirecttothecommandinggeneralinthisway.

AfterafewdaysIbegantoflyHitlermoreandmoreoftenintoFrenchterritory,wherewelandedforhimtodiscussmatterswithhisgeneralsonthespot.WealwayssetofffromhisEiffelheadquartersandreturnedthere,butbythistimeitwasreallytoofarawayfromthefighting,whichhadrolleddeepintoFrance.Hitlerthereforeorderedamoresuitableplacetobefoundasquicklyaspossible.IflewColonelSchmundt,theAdjutant-in-ChiefoftheWehrmacht,intotheArdennesonthisquest,andwelandedinafieldnotfarfromRocroy.Ithadbeendecidedthatthenewheadquartersshouldbeestablishedinsomeout-of-the-wayvillage,andinRocroywefoundasmallhamletofabouttencottagesonthevergeoftheArdennewoods,which,wedecided,woulddoverywell.Thechurchtowerwastakendownandputtooneside,withtheintentionofputtingitupagainwhenhostilitieswereover,andthewholebuildingarrangementswerecarriedoutbytheOrganisationTodtwithinamatterofdays.Aspecialundergroundconcreteshelter,orbunker,abouttenfeetdown,wasbuiltforHitler.

Mostoftheinhabitantsofthelittlevillagehadalreadyfledintotheinterior,andthosefewwhowereleftwemovedaway.ThenewheadquarterswasoccupiedbyHitlerassoonasitwasready.ThenearestairfieldwasaboutthreemilesawayonFrenchterritory,andmycrewswerequarteredinasmallvillageintheneighbourhood,buttheheadquartersitselfwasonBelgianterritory.

Whennotactuallyinuseourmachineswerekeptundercamouflagenettinginthenearbywoods.Wehadourownwirelessstation,storagebunkersandrecreationhutsforustostayinduringwaitingperiods,quicklyrunupbytheOrganisationTodt.FromherewewereconstantlyflyingtoRheims,Charleville,Lilleandsoon.IflewHitlerintoLilleimmediatelyafterthetownwastaken,andthefactthatheappearedsosoonafterthefightingcertainlymadeanimpressiononthecivilianpopulation,whichwaspreciselywhathehadaimedat.Heateallhismealsfromfieldkitchenslikethemen,thoughinhiscasethemeathadtoberemovedfirst.Madewisebythestoryoftheover-zealousmajorinWarsaw,whichspreadlikewildfire,nooneagaintriedtopresentanyimprovisedbanquetsforHitlerinthefield.

OurmostsuccessfulfighterwingwasstationedinCharlevilleatthetime.IflewHitlertheretoinspectit,andhepersonallydecoratedGalland,itscommander.Göringhappened

tobewithHitleratthetime,andwhilsthewaswaiting–beinggreatlyinterestedinfood–hecasuallyaskedacookinchargeofafieldkitchenwhathehadbeeninpeacetime.Themanrepliedthathewasasmithbytrade!Göringwasfurious.Hesentforthecateringofficeranddressedhimdown:‘Iseeyoumakesmithscooks;soIsupposeyoumakecookssmiths,andmechanicsbakers,andbakersmechanics!’

Wehadn’theardmuchabout‘theFührer’sDeputy’,or,inotherwords,ReichMinisterRudolfHess,butafterwehadbeeninournewheadquartersafewdayshearrivedinaJu.52flownbyCaptainDoldi.Ihappenedtobeattheairfieldinasmallarmycar,andHessgotinbesidemeanddrovestraighttoHitler,whomethiminthelocalschoolbuilding.ApparentlyHesswantedtobeallowedtomakeatourofthefront,butHitlerrefused,declaringthatitwasessentialthatheshouldalwayshavesomeoneinGermanyinhisabsenceonwhomhecouldrelyabsolutely.Hessmustthereforetakenorisksatthefront,butreturnatoncetoMunich.HesswasobviouslydepressedatHitler’sdecision,andthenextmorningwhenIdrovehimtotheairfieldherelievedhisfeelingstome.

‘Soyousee,that’showitiswithme,Baur.ButI’dsoonerbeacompanycommanderatthefrontthanaReichMinisterathome.Inwartimeanable-bodiedmanoughttobeatthefront,notmilesawaystuckinsomeoffice.WhenIthinkofmyjobatthemoment:listeningtoandarbitratinginendlessPartydisputes…Iwouldn’tminditsomuchinpeacetime,butnow–inwartime!’

Heinspectedourinstallation–wehadaboutfortymachinesatthetime–andthenclimbedintohisownJu.52andflewbacktoMunichashehadbeenordered.

WhenParisfellandthetideofwarrolledsouthwardsbeyondit,HitlerdecidedtovisittheFrenchcapital.Onthemorningfixedfortheflightourairfieldwasshroudedinathickmist,andIhadtotakeoffblind,butasIkneweveryinchoftheairfieldbythistimetherewasverylittledanger.WelandedatLeBourgetatfiveo’clockinthemorning,becauseHitlerwantedtogethisvisitoveranddonewithbeforetheParisianswereonthestreets.Iwentalongwithhimonhistourthroughthetown.Workmenweretrampingalonggoingtothefactories;thestreet-sweeperswerejuststartingtheirjobs;andtheconciergewerebeginningtoopenupthefrontdoors.

FromtheairfieldwedrovealongtheChampsElyséestotheArcdeTriompheandthegraveoftheUnknownSoldier.ThenwevisitedtheLouvre,theTrocadero,theEiffelTower,theParisOperaand,finally,theInvalides,whereHitlerwasparticularlyinterestedinthetombofNapoleon.Bysixo’clockwewerebackagainontheairfield.Thetake-offwasdelayedbecausetheairhadgoneoutofthetail-wheeltyre,andwhilsthewaitedHitlerstoodandtalkedwithagroupofFrenchmen,mostlyworkmenandmechanics.Onthewayhehadbeenrecognisednowandagain,althoughveryfewpeoplewereonthestreetsatthatearlyhour.

Sofarthecampaignhadproceededexactlyaccordingtoplan.ThenFrancesurrenderedaltogether,andHitlerenjoyedatriumphover‘doubtingThomases’,whoseemedtohavebeenwrongafterall–theyweren’t,though!Shortlybeforethecampaignended,andwhenitwasalreadyquiteclearthatGermany’svictorywouldbecomplete,Mussolinicamein.HitlerwasnotatallimpressedbytheshowingoftheItalians.Hesaidcontemptuouslythat

theyhadcomeinonlywhentheywerequitesureeverythingwasgoingtobeallright,andeventhentheFrenchhadgiventhemathrashinginSavoy.Butnowtheyweremakingridiculousclaims;forexample,theywantedTunis.

AsthecrownofhiswesterncampaignHitlernowhadaspecialtitbitinmind.TherailwaycarriageinwhichtheGermanplenipotentiarieshadsignedthearmisticeagreementin1918wasstillstandingasashowpieceintheforestofCompiegne,andHitlerhadlongdecidedthattheFrenchshouldnowacceptandsigntheGermantermsinthatsamecarriage.Thiswasdone,andHitlerthendeclaredwithsatisfactionthatthelastremnantsoftheVersaillesSlaveTreatyhadnowbeenwipedaway.Asaresultof‘thishistoricact’,Germany’shonourwasrestoredinfull.

WenowleftFrance,andafterashortstayinhisnewheadquartersintheBlackForest,HitlerflewbacktoBerlin.WewerenowequippedwithnewCondormachines,armedwithfourmachine-guns,twoaboveandtwobelow,sothattherewerenoblind-spotsanywhere.ThesametypewasintroducedintotheLuftwaffe.Theyhadfourenginesofathousandhorsepowereach,andtheycouldstayintheairforfifteenhoursatatime,longenoughtoallowthemtoflyfaroutintotheAtlanticfromBordeauxandreturnaroundthenorthofScotlandtolandinNorway.InsidetheyweremuchthesameasouroldCondors,exceptthatnoweachseatwasprovidedwithabuilt-inandunobtrusiveparachute.ByHitler’sseattherewasanemergencyleverwitharedhandle.Whenpulleditopenedaspacebeneathhimwhichcouldbeusedtoleavethemachinebyparachuteintheeventofurgentdanger.

WehadunexpectedtroublewiththefirstofournewCondors,thoughtheyweresplendidmachines.IhadflownittoBerlinfromtheFocke-WulfworksatBremen,andIwantedtomakeanumberoftestflights,particularlytotryoutthenewwirelessequipment.Themachinewasreadytostartonthefirstofthesetrips,andIwasjustabouttoclimbintothecabinwhensuddenlythewholethingcollapsedwithaloudcrashandlaythereonitsbelly,lookingsomehowveryforlorn.Awhite-facedZintlappearedatthecabindoorandlookedoutatmeinhorror.Iwonderedwhatonearthhadhappened.ThearrangementofthevariousleverswasdifferentfromthatinouroldCondor,andZintl,notknowingthis,hadpulledtheleverwhichinouroldCondorremovedthebrakesfromthewheelsinreadinessforthetakeoff,butwhichinthisnewCondordrewuptheretractableundercarriage!

Fortunatelynoonehappenedtobestandingunderneathatthetime,ortherewouldmostcertainlyhavebeenafatalaccident.Acertainamountofsuperficialdamagewasdone,whichmeantthatthemachinewouldbeoutofcommissionforafewdays,andasHitlerwantedtouseitquicklyIhadtoreportthemattertohim.Fortunatelyhedidn’tblameZintl,buttheFocke-Wulfpeopleforchangingthearrangementofthelevers.

DiscussionswerenecessaryfromtimetotimewithLaval,thePrimeMinisteroftheVichyGovernment,andIwouldflytoDijon,pickhimupthere,andflyhimtoObersalzberg.AfterthediscussionswithHitlerIwouldflyhimbacktoDijon,fromwherehewouldreturntoVichybytrain.ButonedayIwastoldthattherestofFrancewasnowtobeoccupied,andthatthistimeIwastotakeLavalonfromDijon,wherefighterprotection

wouldbewaitingforus,toVichy.Iwaswarnedinparticulartobeonmyguardagainstanyattempttodetainme.

WhenwegottoDijonthefighterescorthadn’tturnedup,butfortunatelygroundmistwasreportedfromVichy,sothatLavalhadnoideawhatwasreallycausingthedelay–whichwasagoodthing,becauseitwasessentialthatheshouldnotlearnprematurelythatwedistrustedhim.Ourfighterescortturneduphalfanhourlate,andIarrangedwiththesquadronleaderthatwhenIlandedthefighterescortshouldcircleroundovertheairfield.Iwouldkeepmyenginesrunning,andtakeoffagainassoonasLavalandhiscompanionshadlefttheplane.IntheeventoftroubleIwastofiresignalrockets.ShortlybeforemiddayitwasreportedfromVichythatthegroundmisthadcleared,andwewereabletosetoff–withfighterescort.BeforeleavingtheplaneLavalaskedmeifIcouldstayforawhile,ashewouldbeveryhappytohavemetolunch,butmindfulofwhathadbeensaidtomeIexcusedmyselfbysaying–truthfully!–thatIhadbeengivenorderstoreturntoBerchtesgadenatonce.Lavalexpressedhisregret,thankedmeformyservicesandgotouttoinspecttheguardofhonourwhichwasdrawnuptogreethim,whilstItookoffatonce.Iflewbackwiththefightersasfarasthedemarcationline,whentheyturnedawaytoreturntotheirbase,leavingmetoflyonalone.

GermanbomberswereoverBelgrade,andtheGermandriveagainstYugoslaviahadbegun.Throughoutthecampaign,whichdidnotlastverylong,Hitler’sspecialtrainstoodaboutfifteenmilesoutsideWiener-Neustadt,withitslocomotiveconstantlyundersteamsothatintheeventofanair-raidthewholetraincouldbequicklydrawnintothesafetyofanearbytunnel.Theneighbourhoodwassomountainousandbrokenthatitwasimpossibleformetofindasuitablelanding-placeanywherenear,sowehadtostayinWiener-NeustadtandmaintainashuttleservicewithMönchskirchen,whichwasthenearestvillage,usingthesmallFieselerStorchplanes.Hitlerstayedinhisspecialcoachthewholetime,evencelebratinghisbirthdaythere.

ShortlybeforethevictoriousendingoftheYugoslavcampaignIwassenttoSofiatopickupKingBorisandtheBulgarianPremier.UsuallytheKingwasincivilianclothes,butthistimehehadputonuniform.WelandedinWiener-Neustadtat09.00,andfromthereKingBoriswentbycartoHitler’sspecialtrain.BeforeheleftItoldhimthatifhewantedtoreturntoSofiathatday,17.00wouldbethelatesttimeforthetake-off,asotherwiseweshouldarriveinthedarkandperhapsbemistakenforBritishplanesandbefiredonbyhisownack-ack.Hitler,Isaid,hadgivenmestrictinstructionsnottoflyhimafterdark.

ThetimeIhadmentionedcameandwent,andKingBorishadn’tturnedup.Iwaitedforhalfanhour,andthenIorderedtheplanestoberolledintotheirhangars.KingBoristurnedupat20.00,andpretendedtobeverysurprisedthatnoplaneswerereadyforhim.

‘WemustflytoSofiaatonce,Baur.It’smosturgent.IwanttoannounceonthewirelessinSofiathiseveningthatHitlerhaspromisedmeMacedoniaandtheMediterraneanharbourofBurgos.’

IremindedhimofwhatIhadsaidthatmorning:Hitlerhadabsolutelyforbiddenmetoflyhimafterdark,though,ifhecared,Isaid,Iwouldbeperfectlypreparedtoflythe

Premierandtheothergentlemenback.DuringthesubsequentconversationIdiscoveredwhathaddelayedhim.OnthewaytoHitlerhehadsightedacastlethathadbelongedtooneofhisgreat-aunts,aplacewherehehadspentapartofhisyouth;asentimentalfeelinghadmadehimwanttovisititagainandseewhattheoldplacelookedlike.Ithensuggestedthatheshoulddrivebacktherenowandspendthenight,anddriveinagainearlyinthemorningtoflytoSofia.

‘Ican’tdothat,’hesaid.‘Theoldladygothardupandsolditlongago.Itbelongstosomeoneelse,andIdon’tknowasoultherenow.’

IntheenditwasarrangedthattheKingandhiscompanionsshouldspendthenightintheHotelImperialinVienna.Weweretotakeoffthefollowingmorningat09.00,andat08.30theengineswererunning;butthenatelephonecallcamefromtheHotelImperialpostponingthestartuntil11.30–theKing,itappeared,hadhadawonderfulnightinwartimeVienna…

‘MyBulgarianswon’tmindmyhavinghadabitoffun,’hesaidwhenhefinallyarrived.‘NotwhentheyhearwhatI’vegottotellthem.Anditwaswonderfulformetobeabletobehavelikeanordinarycitizenforonce.’

ThereturnflighttoSofiawentwithoutincident,andthenIreturnedandreportedasusualtoHitler,tellinghimatthesametimeabouttheKing’sdelightwithwhathehadachieved–‘thoughhesaidhewouldsoonerhavehadSalonikathanBurgos,’Iadded.

Hitlersmiledatthat:‘Idaresayhewould,Baur.Butwe’veearmarkedSalonikaforourselves.WhenthewarisoverweshallneedaportontheMediterranean.Trieste,theformerMediterraneanportoftheAustro-HungarianEmpire,isinItalianhands,andtheItaliansareourfriends,soIdon’twantanydisputewithMussolini.’

TheRegentofHungary,AdmiralHorthy,wasanotheronewhowasinattheshare-out,andHitlerpromisedhimtheBanatfrontierprovince,CarpathianUkraineandapartofGalicia.IflewhimfromBudapesttoWiener-Neustadtandback,andaftertheflighthedecoratedmewithaHungarianorder,theCompturCross,tobewornonaribbonroundtheneck.Incidentally,KingBorisalsopresentedmewithanorder–tobewornonaribbonroundtheneck.IworethoseordersonlywhenIhappenedtobeflyingthegentlemenwhohadgiventhemtome.

Thegeneroushand-outofterritoriesnaturallydidn’tpleaseeveryone–forexample,thepeoplewholivedinthem;andonceattableintheReichChancellory,IheardHitlersayingthathehadreceivedadeputationofCarpathianUkrainians.Theyhad,itappeared,beggedhimnottolettheircountrybeswallowedupbyHungary,declaringthattheyhadnothingwhateverincommonwiththeHungarians,historically,culturallyorotherwise.Infact,theyregardedthemeasureasnothingshortofanationaldisaster,andtheybeggedhimtoincorporatetheircountryintheGermanReichinstead.

InhisheartHitleragreedwiththem,andhewaswellawarethatthemeasurewoulddoagreatdealofharmtoGermany’sprestigeinUkraine,buthetoldusthathehadbeencompelledtosendthedeputationawaydisappointed.HehadtoldthemthatattheendofthewarCongressPolandwouldbecomeanindependentstateagainwithherowngovernment.Germanywouldwantonlythe‘Warthegau’andtheterritoryoftheformerPolishcorridorthroughEastPrussia;thereforetoincorporateCarpathianUkraineintothe

GermanReichwouldmeantocreateanewcorridor,andintheeventofhostilitiesintheeasttheCarpathianUkrainewouldbelostatonce.

Hitlertoldusthatthedeputationhadlefthimwithtearsintheireyes,butthatalthoughhehadeverysympathywiththeirpointofview,hehadbeenunabletotakebackhiswordtoHorthy.

ThethingthatstruckmeafterwardswasthatifatthetimeHitlerhadharbouredanyintentionofattackingSovietRussia,hisdecisionwithregardtoCarpathianUkrainewouldhavebeendifferent.

TheeverydayroutineoftheReichChancellorywasagreeablybrokenbyareportfromHitler’snavalattaché,CaptainvonPuttkammer,thataU-boathadsucceededinpenetratingthedefencesofScapaFlow,hadsunktwoarmouredcruisersthere–andmadegooditsescape!Furtherreportsconfirmedthefirstgoodnews,andthenitwasannouncedthatthesubmarineinquestion,whichwasunderLieutenant-CommanderPrien,wasreturningtoitsbaseatWilhelmshaven.IproposedtoHitlerthatIshouldtakeacoupleofCondorstoWilhelmshaven,loadthecommanderandhiscrewonboard,andflythemstraightbacktoBerlin,whereHitlercouldthanktheminperson.

Hitleragreed,andIlandedontheairfieldatWilhelmshavenshortlybeforethesubmarinemoored.Wewaitedontheairfield,andthewholecrewwerebroughttousatonce,exactlyastheydisembarkedfromtheirsubmarine,withoutevenbeinggiventimetochangetheiruniformsandmakethemselvesspickandspan.Butbeforewecouldtakeoff,thenavalauthoritiesintervenedandinsistedthattheycouldnotbeflowntoHitlerwithoutshavingandfresheningthemselvesup.WespentanightinKielbeforeflyingonthenextday,andinthemeantimeanofficialreceptionhadbeenarrangedforourarrivalatTempelhof.BythistimePrienandtheotherswereallwell-shavenandintheirbestuniforms.RepresentativesoftheGovernmentandofthemunicipalitywereontheairfieldtowelcomethem,andthentheyweredrivenstraighttotheReichChancellory,whereeachmanwasheartilygreetedbyHitlerinperson.TheyremainedinBerlinforaweek,duringwhichtheywerefêtedeverywhereandloadedwithhonours.

InNovember1940HitlerinformedmethatIwastoflyonceagaintoMoscow,thistimetofetchtheSovietForeignMinisterMolotovtoBerlinforanofficialvisit.Allthenecessarypreparationsweremade,butthencameatelegramfromMoscowthatourofferwasrefused–‘withthanks’.Molotovproposedtocomewithapartyofnolessthantwohundredandsixty-fivepersons,andthereforeitwouldbebettertocomebytrain.

IhappenedtobeintheentrancehallwhenMolotovarrivedintheReichChancellorytoseeHitler.HewasaccompaniedbythreemenwhowereobviouslyGPUmen.Ourownpeopletriedtofraternisewiththem,offeringthemcoffee,cakesandsoon,butthethreeRussiansjustgavethesamestereotypedsmileallthetimeandrefusedeverything–muchtothesurpriseofeveryoneexceptthoseofuswhohadbeeninMoscow.MolotovstayedinBerlinforthreedays,from12to14Novemberinclusive,anditsohappenedthattheBritishwerebombingBerlinatthetime,sohehadagoodopportunityofdiscoveringsomethingaboutmodernwarfareatfirsthand.Incidentally,Hitlertotallyunderestimated

him,declaringthathewasacipher,atypicalsubordinatebureaucrat.

InNorwayataboutthistimethenumberofmysteriousexplosionsinplaneswhilstintheair,resultinginthelossofthemachinesandtheircrews,increasedtosuchanextentthattherecouldbenoreasonabledoubtthattheLuftwaffewasfacedwithverycleversabotage.TheBritishwere,ofcourse,suspectedatonce,andthemostsearchinginvestigationswereconducted.Intheendthecauseofthetroublewasfound.Itwasaveryingenioustime-bombenclosedinarubbertube.Itlookedquiteharmless,anditwaseasytotossitthroughanyoneofthemanyopeningstobefoundonaplane,andthereitwouldlieharmlessly,until…untiltheplanereachedacertainheight,whenitwouldexplode.Mostoftheplanesdestroyedinthiswayhadtheirtailsblownoff,afterwhichtheyplungeddowntocertaindestruction.

OneofthesealtitudebombswashandedtomeforinstructionalpurposessothatIandmymencouldknowwhattobeonthelook-outfor–because,naturally,iftherewereanyoneplanemorethananotherthattheBritishwouldliketofitwithoneoftheselittlerubber-covereddevices,itwasmine.Theexplosivechargewassetoffbyaspecialaltitudedevicepoweredbyanordinarysmallpocket-lampbattery,andassuchbatteriescouldbestoredforatleastayear,therubber-covereddevicecouldliearoundforalongtimequiteharmlessly.Butifeverthatplanereachedthepreviouslyarrangedheight…Afterthat,wenaturallygreatlyincreasedourprecautions.

OnedayHitlertoldmethathewouldbemakingalongjourney–byrail.ItwastomeetGeneralFrancoontheFranco-Spanishfrontier.Thismeetingtookplaceon23October1940,atHendaye,andHitlerdemandedthatFrancoshouldallowhistroopstomarchthroughSpaintoattackGibraltar.IwasgiveninstructionstofollowwiththreeCondors,andtodothejourneybystages.MyfirststopwasBordeaux,wherewestayedfortwodayswaitingforthearrivaloftheForeignMinister,Ribbentrop.

Ribbentroparrivedateighto’clockinthemorning.TheweatherinBordeauxwasgood,butitwasreportedtobeverybadalongtheroutetoTours,whereIwastoflyhim.Cloudcoverwasbetweenonehundredandahundredandfiftyfeet.ItoldRibbentropthatthebadweather,plusthefactthatIdidnotknowToursairfield,meantthatIcouldnotflyhimonmyownresponsibility.Ribbentropwasveryupsetonhearingthis,andIlearnedthatthemeetingbetweenHitlerandFrancohadalreadytakenplace,andthatHitlerwasonhiswaytoTourstomeetMarshalPétainthere.ItwasabsolutelyessentialthatRibbentrop,asForeignMinister,shouldbetheretoo.

InthecircumstancesIagreedtodomybest–onhisresponsibility.Itookoffallright,andfortwo-thirdsofthewayIflewblind.WhenweapproachedToursIgotabeamfromthestationthere,andtheinformationthatifIdecidedtolanditwouldhavetobeatmyownrisk.WhenIbrokethroughthecloudIfoundwehadjustskimmedahangar.Ilanded–safely.Abitofluck.

RibbentropdroveoffatoncetothecountryhousewhereMarshalPétainwasstaying,andIreceivedinstructionstoflytoBelgiumandwaittheretillfurthernotice.AfterhismeetingwithPétain,HitlerwentontoItalytomeetMussolini.WhenIgotbacktoBerlinI

heardHitlertalkingabouthismeetingswithFrancoandPétain.ThetakingofGibraltarwould,ofcourse,havebeenofenormousimportanceforHitler,whohadhissoldiersinNorthAfrica,anddesperatelyneededthecommandoftheMediterranean.HitlerhadpromisedthatifFrancowouldlethimtakeGibraltarhewouldgiveittoSpain,andtheSpaniardswouldthenberidoftheBritish‘onceandforall’.ButHitlerfoundFranco,ashesaid,agreatdisappointment.TheSpanishstatesmanrefusedtohaveanythingtodowiththeaffair,andHitlerirritablydeclaredthathehad‘themannersofasergeant-major’.Ontheotherhand,HitleralwaysspokeofMarshalPétainwithsincererespect,andassuredusthathehadalwaystreatedhimwiththegreatestconsideration,doinghisutmostnevertoplaytheroleofvictortowardshim.

OneeveningIwasinViennastrollingalongtheKärntnerRing,whenFlight-CaptainStöhr,Messerschmitt’schieftestpilot,whowassittingoutsideacafe,calledouttome.Ijoinedhim,andhetoldmethathewasonhiswaytoTokyotodemonstrateMesserschmittstotheJapanese.InconversationhementionedthatRudolfHessfrequentlycametotheMesserschmittworksinAugsburgtotryoutthenewMe.210,theverylatesttwo-enginedplane,averyswiftjobwhichhadnotyetbecomeoperational.

EveryoneknewthatHitlerdidn’tlikeHessflying,andhadforbiddenhimtoflyalone–healwayshadtohaveafullflight-captainwithhim.However,HesswenttoMesserschmitt,who,ofcourse,knewallabouttheprohibition,anddeclaredthathehadaspecialmissionaboutwhichhewasunabletotalk.NowforonethingHesswasDeputyFührer,andforanotherhemightwellhaveaspecialmission,soMesserschmittlethimhavehisway;butaccordingtoStöhreveryonewasworriedtodeathwhenHessflewtheMe.210onhisown,becauseitneededagooddealofhandlingandnoonecouldbesurefromthegroundthatHesswasexperiencedenoughtoflyit.

Hesshadanumberofchangesmadeintheplane.Forexample,hehadtheradarapparatussoinstalledthathecoulduseitwithoutassistance.LateronIheardfromMortsiepen,hiswirelessoperator,thatHesshadbeguntoshowakeeninterestininstrumentandbeamflying.FourweeksafterthatIhappenedtomeetHessinHitler’sapartments,andhecamestraightuptomeanddeclaredbluntly:‘Baur,Iwantamapoftheforbiddenairzones.’Ihadsuchamapformyownuse,ofcourse,butIdarednotletitoutofmyhands,becauseIwassendingplaneshere,thereandeverywhereallthetime,andbeforeeveryflightInaturallyhadtomakequitecertainthattheywentnowherenearthosezones,wheretheymightbeshotdownbyourownflak.Moreover,thatmapwasclearlymarked‘ReichTopSecret’,whichmeantthatIwasnotallowedtoletanyoneelseknowitscontents.

ThissecretmapshowedthosezonesoverwhichevenGermanplaneswerenotallowedtofly,oronlyatcertaindefiniteheights;andasthedetailschangedfromtimetotimeyoucouldn’tlearnthemoffbyheartonceandforall.Youhadtohavetheup-to-the-minutesupplements.ItoldHessthathereallyneedn’tworry,becauseCaptainDoldiwouldalwaysbeabletoconsultthemapbeforeanyflightheundertook;butthis–forreasonsthatweretobecomeverycleartomelater–didn’tsatisfyHess:hewantedamapofhisown.ItoldhimthattheonlythingtodowastoapproachMilch,andthisheaskedmetodoonhisbehalf.MilchwasabitnonplussedwhenIwenttohimandsaidthatHess

wantedthesecretmapoftheforbiddenairzones,butafteramomentortwo’sthoughthesaid:‘Well,afterall,he’stheDeputyFührer,andIsupposethere’ssuchathingasbeingover-cautious.I’dbetterlethimhaveit.’Andwiththatmap,histrainingontheMe.210andhisindustriousstudyingofinstrumentandblindflying,HesswasinapositiontoflyoutofwartimeGermany.

TwodaysafterthatIflewHitlertoMunich.HewentofftohisBerghofeyrieinthemountainsandIwentouttoPilsenseetomywifeandchildren.Theweatherwasabsolutelyperfect,andIwaslookingforwardtoadayortwo’sfishing,butateighto’clockontheSundaymorningthetelephonerangandIwastoldthatHitlerwantedtoflytoBerlinassoonaspossible.IknewthathehadintendedtospendtheweekendquietlyatObersalzberg,andIwonderedwhatonearthwasthematternow.Inanycase,IgothimofftoBerlinthatmorningjustassoonaseverIcould,andatoneo’clockIwasintheReichChancelloryforlunch.Fromthesmoking-roomnexttotherestaurantyoucouldseeoutintothegarden,andthereInoticedHitlerandGöringtalkingexcitedlytoeachother,soIdecidedtogooutintothegardenandseeifIcouldfindoutwhatwasup.AsIcamecloserIheardHitlersay:

‘Hemusthavegonemad,orhecouldn’thavedoneathinglikethattome.He’sstabbedmeintheback–hewouldn’thavedonethatifhe’dbeennormal.’AtthatmomentHitlerspottedme.‘Whatdoyouthinkofit,Baur?’

Ididn’tknowanythingaboutit,andIhadfirsttobetold.ItappearedthatHesshadgotintohisMe.210–nodoubtwithhissecretmapandhisnewly-acquiredknowledge–andflown,itwassupposed,toEngland.Göringthentoldmethedetailsasfarastheywereknownatthetime.Hess’sadjutanthadbeengivenalettertoputintoHitler’shandsfivehoursafterHesstookofffromAugsburgonhisflight,whichmeantthatwhenwesetoffforBerlinfromMunichHitlerhadalreadyknownwhatHesshaddone–orhadsetouttodo,becausenooneknewasyetwhetherhehadsucceeded:hisflighthadbeenplotteduptotheneighbourhoodofAmsterdam.

Asamatteroffact,ourexpertsdidn’tgivehimmuchchanceofgettingtoEngland.ConstantpatrolswereflownovertheNorthSeapreciselytodealwithGermanplanesflyingtoEngland,andtherewasaverygoodchancethatHesshadbeeninterceptedandshotdownintothesea.NaturallywenowalllistenedwithkeeninteresttotheBBCbroadcasts,becauseweassumedthatifHessdidsucceedtheywouldmakeagreatpropagandacampaignaboutit.ButtheBBCstayedmum.Clearly,atlunchthatdaytherewasjustoneitemofconversation–Hessandhisaction.

OnetheorywasthatHesswantedtopreventanyfurtherextensionofthewar.HeheldtheopinionthatthewarbetweenBritainandGermanywasadisaster,andashehadimportantconnectionsinEnglandhemayhavehopedtofindinfluentialpeopletheretosharehisviewsandhelphimtoputanendtothewar.HeprobablyalsofeltsurethatifhesucceededinpatchingthingsupbetweenGermanyandBritain,Hitlerwouldforgivehimforhisarbitraryaction.

Hess–asweheardlater–wasanothermantosufferdisappointment.AtfirsttheBritishsupposedthathehadmadehispersonalescapefromtheThirdReich,butwhentheydiscoveredthathewasstill‘afanaticalNazi’,hisundertakinglookedmerelylikean

attempttosowdiscordinacountryatwar,andsubornitsnationals.

Itwas,ofcourse,quiteimpossibletokeeptheaffairasecretinGermany,andashortofficialcommuniquéwasissued,thoughitsatisfiednobody.Thecatwasamongstthepigeonsnow,andtherewastremendousexcitement.Butitdidn’tlastforlong;stillmoreimportanthappeningsgavepeoplesomethingelsetothinkof.

ShortlyafterGermantroopscrossedthefrontierintoRussiaIflewHitlertoRastenburginEastPrussia,anditwasherethatthe‘Führer-Headquarters’weresituatedforthreeyears.Threemassiveair-raidshelters,orbunkers,werebuilt,oneeachforHitler,GöringandBormann,whowasnowinHess’splaceasDeputyLeader.Smallerbunkerswerebuiltfortheheadquarterspersonnelandfortheguards.Theplacecouldhavewithstoodmassivebombing,but,infact,itwasneverbombedatall,thoughononeoccasionthreeRussianbomberswereshotdownwithintheouterperimeter.Thewholeinstallationwasinthewoods,andgrassandplantsweretrainedtogrowontheroofsofallthebunkersandotherbuildings–sothattheinstallationwaspracticallyinvisiblefromtheair,evenifyouknewthatitwasthere.

RastenburgairfieldwasunsuitableforourbigCondors.UntilextensionworkwascarriedoutweusedGerdauenairfieldabouttwentymilesaway,andinthemeantimeweusedJu.52stomaintainashuttleservice.

AtfirsttheGermanarmiesdroverapidlyintoRussiawithoutmeetingmuchresistance,andIwasconstantlyflyingHitlerforwardfordiscussionswithhisgeneralsinthefield,orflyinggeneralsandmarshalstohimandbackagainfortheregular‘situationdiscussions’.ThemanIflewmostoftenwasundoubtedlyField-MarshalvonKluge,butIalsofrequentlyflewvonManstein,KleistandKüchler.

HitlerinvitedMussolinitocometoBrest-LitovsktowatchademonstrationofGermany’slatest6o-cmfortressgun.IsetoffwiththembothinaJu.52,togetherwithvariousotherpeople.Ihadn’tbeenintheairlongbeforeIrealisedthatoneofmyengineswaslosingpetrol,whichwasbeingblownbackoverthemachine.Beforelongyoucouldhardlyseethroughthewindscreen.Ididn’tknowquitewhattodo:turnbackorgoon.Finally,asBrest-Litovskwasnotfar,Ishutofftheengineinquestionandflewonwiththeothers.Whenwelanded,andIgotout,IcouldseethatmyJu.52lookedlikeasardinewhichhadjustcomeoutofitstin.

Theparty,whichincludedMussolini’sairmanson,tookamealandthendroveofftoBrest-Litovskproper.HitlerexplainedtheeffectofthenewguntoMussolini,whoinspectedthedamageithaddone.Thelossoflifeamongstthegarrisonhadbeenparticularlyheavybecausethebombardmentwithsuchapowerfulweaponhadbeentotallyunexpected.

Inthemeantimemymechanic,Zintl,hadbeeninvestigatingthecauseofthetroubleinouraircraft.Itprovedtobeinthepackingofanoilpump;bythetimewegotbackithadbeenmadegood,andtheJu.52hadbeencleanedup.AsMussoliniwishedtovisitGöringweputhimdownonasmallairfieldnearSpitzingsee,whereGöringmethim.Afterthat

hewentbacktoItaly–buthewassoonwithusagain.

AgreatvictorywaswonnearUman,withhundredsofthousandsofRussianprisoners.AsItaliantroopshadalsotakenpartinthefighting,Mussolinidecidedtotakethesaluteatavictoryparade.HetravelledinaspecialtraintoGrosnyinPoland,andhistrainwashaltednearatunnelintowhichitcouldbepulledassoonastherewasanair-raidwarning.IflewwiththreeCondorstoGrosnytopickhimup,andhewasenthusiasticaboutthegreatfour-enginedplanes,whichhehadneverseenbefore.HeevenaskedHitler’spermissiontolethimflyourplane,andonaquietstretchhewasallowedtodoso–withmesittingathisside.

Theweatherwaswonderful,andweflewfromGrosnyoverVinnitsatoUman.Itwasajourneyofoversixhundredmiles,andwediditinthreeandahalfhours.Whenwetoucheddown,thecarswerewaitingtheretotakeHitlerandMussolinitothevictoryparade.Ididnotgoalong,andsoIdidnotwitnessMussolini’sgreatembarrassmentwhenontheirarrivaltheGermantroopsweredrawnupforinspection–withnotanItalianinsight!Therehadbeenagooddealofrainandtheirtransporthadstuckinthemud.Mussolini’sshowhadtowaituntiltheyfinallyturnedup.

Theyreturnedtotheairfield,andfromthereweallwentontoagravelpitwhichwasservingasoneofthemanycollectioncentresforRussianprisoners.Thereweremanythousandsofthem.HitlerhadorderedthatallUkraniansshouldbesetfreetogohome–notunnaturally,thereturnedouttobeanextraordinarynumberofUkraniansamongsthisprisoners.Manyofthemwerelying,ofcourse,andalthoughsomeRussiansmayhavesucceededinmakingtheirwaybacktotheirownarmy,mostofthemwanderedaroundinourrearuntiltheywerepickedupagainbyourmen.Onthewaywecameacrosshundredsofcivilianstrekkingouttothegravelpittofetchtheirsoldierrelativesback.

AfterwardsHitlerwasveryinterestedtohearfrommewhatMussolinihadthoughtabouttheCondor,andItoldhimthattheItalianleaderhadbeenenthusiastic.HitlerthensaidthathewouldliketogiveMussolinione,buthewasabituncertainabouthisabilitytomanageit,asitwasnotsoeasyastheJu.52.

Bythistimeitwasautumn,andourtroopswerestillsteadilymakingtheirwayintoRussia.HereandtheretheRussianshadtriedtomakeastand,buttheyhadalwaysbeenbrokenandforcedtofloodbackstillfarther.Butmatterswerenotaltogetherperfectforuseither:theRussianswerenotdecisivelybeaten,andtheenormousspaceswereswallowingupourstrength.Asyet,however,successwasstillwithus,andbeforelongGermantankswereontheoutskirtsofMoscow.VastcolumnsofRussianprisonersmovedslowlywestwards,andmoreandmorecameonbehindthem.HitlerwasconvincedthatthewarinRussiawasalreadydecidedinhisfavour,andthatitwasonlyaquestionoftimebeforetheRussiansformedanewgovernmentandofferedtosurrender.

Butthen,afterawetautumn,thewinterof1941–42setin.ItprovedtobethesortofwinterthatRussiaexperiencesperhapsonceinahundredyears,andbeforelongthewholefrontlayinthemercilessgripofsnowandice,sothatalmostallmovementcametoastandstill.Ourmensufferedterribly,andtheirmaterialandequipmentprovedunabletostanduptotheextremecold.Petrolturnedtoice;batterieswentdead;tanks,tractors,

lorriesandcarswereimmobilised;gunswereoutofactionbecausetheirbreech-blocksfrozehard,andevensmearoilturnedintosolidice.

Buttheworsttroubleofallwasundoubtedlytheimpossibilityofkeepingoursuppliesmovingregularly.IcanwellrememberHerrGanzenmüllerdeliveringhisdailyreporttoHitlerabouthowmanytrainshad‘gotthrough’.Itwasreckonedthatsixty-fivehadtogoupdailyinordertomaintainsuppliesatafairlysatisfactorylevel–butveryoftenHerrGanzenmüllerhadtoconfessthatonlybetweentwentyandthirtyhadgotup.Theothershadbeenimmobilised–invariablybecauseoftheintensecold;perhapstheboilerhadburst.Everythingpossiblewasdone,butneverthelessourmenhuddledtogetheratthefront,inatemperatureofninetydegreesoffrost,oftenwithoutwarmfoodintheirbellies.AgreatcampaignforthecollectionofwinterclothingwasnoworganisedbackhomeinGermany,butitwasfartoolate,andsomeofitdidn’tarriveuntilthefollowingEaster,bywhichtimeitwaswarmeranyway.Ascapegoathadtobefound,soField-MarshalvonBrauchitsch,thecommander-in-chief,wasdismissed.

DespitetheintensecoldwemadeanumberofflightsdeepintoRussia,usingtheHeinkel111.Thisplanecouldcarrysixpassengersatacruisingspeedofabouttwohundredandtwentymilesanhour,whichwasfastatthetime.TheHeinkelhadonegreatdisadvantage,though:itwasverydifficulttoheat,andmostofwhatheattherewasescapedthroughthemachinegunslots.

OnoneflighttoMariupolontheSeaofAzov,IhadHitler,Major-GeneralSchmundt,hisadjutantandadoctoronboard.WemadeanintermediatelandinginKiev,fromwherethelocalcommander-in-chiefwasinformedofHitler’scoming,andthenweflewon.

‘Baur,it’sshockinglycoldinyourplane,’Hitlercomplained.‘Myfeetarelikelumpsofice.’

Thatwasn’tsurprising,becausehejustwasn’twarmlyenoughdressed.Iofferedtogethimapairoffur-linedflying-boots,butherefusedonthegroundthattheyweren’t‘anissue’forhim.WelandedinMariupol;HitlerwasmetbyField-MarshalLeebandSeppDietrich,thecommanderoftheso-calledLeibstandarte,andtheydroveonatoncetoTaganrog,wherethereweredifficulties.InthemeantimeIinsistedongettinghimapairoffur-linedflying-boots,forwhichhehadtosignareceipt–lateronwhenIwasinMariupolIsawthatreceiptframedandhangingupinthemess.

WhenHitlerflewwithimportantpeopleheinsistedthatseveralmachinesshouldcarrythem,sothatintheeventofacrashthewholepartyshouldnotbewipedout.WhenweflewbackfromMariupol,therefore,Field-MarshalvonReichenau,whowaswithhim,flewinanothermachine.Ourbaggagemachine,aslowerplane,hadalreadysetoffforRastenburg,buttheordernowcametoflytoPoltavainstead.Wetriedtogetintotouchwiththebaggagemachine,butthedistancewastoogreat,andsowearrivedinPoltavawithoutHitler’seffects–andalsowithoutvonReichenau.

ThepilotofvonReichenau’smachinehadlosthisway,andhearrivedonlyanhourandahalflater.ItriedtofixupHitlerforthenight,butallhewantedwastoborrowmysafety-razorandabladeinthemorning.Thatnightthediscussionswentonverylate,butwhenwefinallygottobedtherewasn’tmuchrest–thepatrioticRussianbed-bugssawtothat.

WhenIwasinHitler’sheadquartersatRastenburg,whichwasoften,Ialwaysatebothlunchanddinneratthecommontable,andtherewerealwayslivelydiscussionsontheproblemsoftheday.Irecallaninterestingdiscussionaboutlice.HitlerdeclaredthathecouldwellrememberwhatacurselicewerefromhisFirstWorldWardays;andjokinglyhedeclaredhewouldgivetheKnight’sCrossontopoftheWarServiceCrosstoanyonewhocouldinventsomethingtosavehismenfromthisplaguethatwastormentingthem.

Himmler,whohappenedtobepresent,mentionedthewell-knownfactthatcavalrymenrarelysufferedfromtheattentionsoflice,butastherewerenowfewerandfewercavalrymen,thereweren’tmanysoldiersimmunefromthevisitation.ProfessorMorellwasalsothere,and,asithappened,hewasananalyticalchemistaswellasaphysician.Hesaidthatasitwasobviouslythesweatofthehorseswhichkepttheliceatbay,thethingtodowastomanufacturetheingredientschemicallyandproduceananti-licepowder.

Itwasn’tlongafterthisthathereportedthathehadsucceeded,usingcheapwasteproducts,andhadproducedapowderwhichexperimentsshowedtobeeffectiveagainstlice.Productionwasnowbegun,butthedisadvantageofthisnewpowderwasthatitstanktohighheaven,andmanymensaidtheymuchpreferredthelice.Morellthentriedtoscentit,andheobtainedlargequantitiesofscentfromParisforthepurpose,buthecouldneverobtainenough,andsothestinkremained.

Theepilogue:ProfessorMorellactuallyreceivedtheWarServiceMedalandtheKnight’sCrossaswell.Forthelicepowder?

DrTodt,thechiefofthefamousOrganisationTodtwhichdidGermanysuchtremendousservicesduringthewar,oftencametoHitlertoreport,andwealllikedhim.Hewasnotonlyabrilliantman,butalsoaverymodestandlikeableone.OneeveningafterhehadreportedtoHitler,Iwaschattingwithhim;hetoldmethathemustleaveveryearlythefollowingmorningforBerlin,andthatDrSpeerwouldprobablygowithhim.ThenextmorningIdrovetotheairfieldatabout08.30asusual,andalmostimmediatelyIspottedagreatcloudofsmokerisingintotheair.Iknewwhatthatwas.WhenIcameupIdiscoveredthatitwasaburningHeinkel–DrTodt’splane.TheHeinkelhadjusttakenonsevenhundredandfiftygallonsofpetrol,sothefirewouldgoonforquiteawhile.Ihadlongrodsbroughtup,andwhilstthefiremenclampeddowntheintenseheattoallowustowork,wehookedthebodiesoutofthewreckage.TheremainsofashoulderstrapononeofthebodiesshowedclearlythatitwasDrTodt.Apartfromhimandthethreemenofthecrew,thereweretwoleavemenintheplane,butDrSpeerhaddecided,afterall,nottogooffsoearly.

Aninvestigationintothedisasterwasbegunimmediately.Theweatherwasverybad,andtherewasaheavystormataboutathousandfeetwithacertainamountofsnowfall.Theexacttimeofthetake-offhadbeennotedofcourse;aboutthreeminuteslatertheplanehadreturnedwithitsundercarriagedown.Thepilotobviouslyintendedtoland,butobserverswereshockedtonotethathewascomingintolandwithapowerfultailwind–whichmeanttrouble,becausetherunwayjustwasn’tlongenough.WhentheHeinkelwaslittlemorethanahundredyardsfromtheedgeoftheairfieldandcominginfast,astabofblueflamesuddenlyshotupfromitsrump.Allobserverswereinagreementaboutthis,soitcouldnothavebeenfromthepetrol,whichwasstoredinwingtanks.Theaircraftturned

overataboutahundredfeet,crashed,andburstintoflames.

Ofcourse,thepossibilityofsabotagewastakenintoaccountatonce,butnooutsidercouldhavegotanywherenearthemachine;everyonewhohadhadanythingtodowiththeplanewastriedandtrusted,andDrTodtwasverypopular.AcommissionofinquirywasappointedbytheReichAirMinistry,and,amongstothermeasures,everypieceofdebriswascarefullyexamined–atfirstwithoutresult.DrTodt’susualmachinehadbeencalledinforaperiodicoverhaulandre-check,andinthemeantimehehadbeengivenanothermachine,theoneinwhichhehaddied.ItwasaHeinkelwhichhadbeenusedasafront-linemachine,andlikealloperationalmachinesithadabuilt-indestructordeviceoperatedbyalinewitharingatoneendnexttothepilot’sseat.Thisdevicehadathree-minutefuse,anditenabledapilottolethiscrewgetclear,setthefuse,andthenescapehimselfbeforetheplaneblewup–topreventitsfallingintothehandsoftheenemy.

ItwasknownthatDrTodtalwayssatnexttothepilotintheseatnormallyoccupiedbythewireless-operator-mechanic.EvidenceshowedthatshortlybeforethestartDrTodthadwalkedthroughthesmallcabintothisseat.Thegangwayonthistypeofplanewasverynarrow,andDrTodthadbeenwearingabulkycombinationsuit.Hesquatteddownandwaitedforthewireless-operator-mechanictovacatetheseatafterthestart;thushewasinthegangway,anditwasthoughtthatprobablythebuckleononeofhisflying-bootshadcaughtinthelineofthedestructordeviceshortlyafterthetake-off.Theburningofthedelayedactionfusewouldhavebeensmelt,andanysmellofburninginaplaneisanurgentsignofdanger,sonodoubtthecrewhastilytriedtofindoutwhatthetroublewaswhilstthepilotloweredhisundercarriageandturnedback.Theyprobablydiscoveredthetroubletotheirhorror,andthenthepilotmusthaveknownthathewasracingagainstdeath,whichaccountedforhisneglectingallnormalsafetyprecautionsandcomingintolandwithastrongtailwind–hejusthadnotimetocircleandcomeinagainstthewind.

Thefrontstillwentsteadilyeastwards,andRastenburgwassoonsixhundredmilesandmoreawayfromthefighting.Thatwasmuchtoofar,soHitler’sheadquartershadtobemovedup.AsuitableplacewasdecidedoninasmallwoodabouttenmilestothenorthofVinnitsaintheUkraine.Theworkprogressedveryswiftly.Apartfromtheusualsurfacehuts,twobunkerswerebuilt,oneforHitlerandhiscloserassociates,andtheotherforheadquarterspersonnel.Theywereconsideredprimarilyasair-raidshelters,butinfacttheRussiansneverbombedthem,andtheonlyair-raidwarningsweeverheardwereonaccountofformationsflyingpasttootherobjectives.

Thelocalcivilianpopulationwascalledupontoassistincertaintasks.BeforelongourbuildingsupervisorsnoticedthattheUkrainianswereveryscared,andtheycouldn’tunderstandwhy.Intheend,aftersearchingenquiries,itcameout.Alittlewhilebefore,headquartershadbeenbuiltintheneighbourhoodforMarshalTimoshenko,andthelocalcivilianpopulationhadbeenmobilisedforthistoo–butattheendofitallthemenengagedonthejobhadjustbeendeported,andtheirrelativeshadneverheardofthemagain.TheUkranianswereafraidthattheGermanswouldnowdothesame;anditwasn’teasytoallaytheirfears.

Theseheadquarterswerecompletedbythespringof1942,andthenHitlermovedin.

Theweatherwasgood;therewasagreatdealofsunshine;andourrelationswiththelocalcivilianpopulationwereexcellent–sogood,infact,thattheplacewasnotevensurroundedbybarbedwire,andremainedopenonallsidesuntil,muchlateron,partisansturnedupintheneighbourhoodofBerdichev,aboutforty-fivemilesaway.Onlythendiditbecomenecessarytotakespecialprecautions.OurairfieldwasinVinnitsa,andfromthereweflewtovariouspointsalongthefront:Stalino,Zaporozhye,Dniepropetrovsk,theBlackSea,Nikolaiev,Mariupol,theSeaofAsov,etc.AsHitlerhadissuedinstructionsthatVIPswerenottotravelbyrail,wewerekeptverybusy.Inthewetweatherwehadagooddealoftrouble,andthoseplaneswhich,forsomereasonorother,wecouldn’tputawayinthehangars,hadtobeproppeduptopreventtheirwheelsfromsinkingintothegroundaltogether.Afterawhilewefoundamorefavourablesitealittledistanceaway,andafterthatweusedouroldairfieldmerelyforemergencies.ItsticksinmymindinparticularastheplacewhereIfirstsawwolvesoutsideazoo.WeweretaxiingtowardsthestartwithHitleronboard,whenIspottedacoupleofwolvesattheedgeoftheairfield.Theydidn’tseemmuchdisturbedatourapproach,andwegotquiteclosetothembeforetheyfinallylookedatusandthenlopedoffintotheforest.MymechanichaddrawnHitler’sattentiontothem,andweallsawthemveryclearly.

Therewereotherheadquartersnotfarfromus.GöringhadputuphistentabouttwelvemilesfromVinnitsa;Himmlerwasaboutthirtymilesaway,andRibbentropwassomewhereintheUkrainetoo.

Inmyfreetime–oh,yes,Ihadafewhourstomyselfoccasionally–IwouldfishinthenearbyBug,andmymodernfishingtackleandmyexpertanglingmethodswerealwaysthecentreofagooddealofadmiringattention.FortunatelyIwasalsoabletodemonstratetothemthatthismarvelloustacklereallyworked,forIlandedsomeveryfineperchandpike.ButthethingsthatreallymadetheRussians’eyesstartoutoftheirheadswereouramphibioustrucks!

Asakeenangleritwasimpossibleformenottomention,inconversationwithHitler,thefunIgotoutofanglinginmysparetime.Hewasn’tsomuchopposedtoangling,thoughhehadlittleunderstandingforit;butheresolutelyopposedallbloodsports,andwaspreparedtoapprovethekillingofanimalsonlyasameasureofgamepreservationortoprovidepeoplewithfood.Theonlybloodsportsmanhehadanyrespectforwasthepoacher–heatleast,hesaid,pittedhiswitsagainstthegamekeeperaswellastheprey,andriskedaheavyfineoratermofimprisonment.SoduringthewarHitlerlogicallyreleasedalmostallofthem,declaringthatpoacherswouldmakefarbettersoldiersthanSunday-afternoonsportsmen.

Arealbattlebetweenmenandanimals,inwhichthementookrisks,appealedtohim;helikedcertainfilmssenttohimbyafriendlyMaharajah,andhewasn’tintheleastdisturbedatsequencesshowingmenbeingtorntopiecesbytheanimalstheyhadsetouttohunt.Butwhenwesawfilmsinwhichordinaryhuntingtookplacehewouldcoveruphiseyesandaskustotellhimwhenitwasallover.Quitegenerallyhiscontemptuousremarksaboutbloodsportsandthosewhopractisedthemusedtodismayourenthusiasticsportsmen.Altogether,Hitler’sattitudetowardsdumbcreatures,includingbirds,perturbedagoodmanyofhisdevotedfollowers.

Waybackin1933GauleiterHoferofInnsbruckcametomeandaskedmetohelphim

witharareandunusualpresentwhichhethoughtwouldpleaseHitlerverymuch.Itturnedoutthatitwasalivegoldeneagle,abirdwhichhadbecomeveryrare,eveninTyrol.Itoldhimthathewasn’tlikelytogetmuchthanksfromHitler,andIrecalledanincidentwhichhadhappenedearlieron.AwonderfulpairofgoldeneagleshadtheireyrieontherockfaceoftheHoheGöllaboveObersalzberg.Hitlerhadalwaysadmiredthesebirdsastheysoaredhighupoverhisownretreat.Thenonedaytheywerenolongertobeseen.Anenthusiasticsportsmanhadshotthemaleeagle–andtomakemattersworsehehaditstuffed,andthenpresentedittoHitler!

However,Hoferwasn’ttobeputoff,sowecartedthehugecagewithitsoccupant,perhapsthemostmagnificenteagleIhaveeverseen,totheReichChancellory.Hitlerlookedatitwithadmiration,butthenhesaid:

‘Atleastit’salive,Hofer,butitdoesn’tbelonghere.BaurwillflyyoubackwithittoInnsbruck.Takeittowhereitwascapturedandthenreleaseit.’

Hoferthenhadtopointoutthatoneclawhadbeendamagedwhenitwascaptured,whereuponthedirectoroftheBerlinzoologicalgardenswascalledtogivehisopinion.Afterexaminingthebird,hedeclaredthatitmightnolongerbeabletocaptureitsprey.HitlerthenpresentedthepowerfulbeastwithitsgreateyesanditsstrongbeaktotheBerlinZoo.

Towardstheendofthewinterof1941–42IflewtoBucharesttofetchtheRomanianPrimeMinister,Antonescu,toObersalzberg.ItwasverycoldonBucharestairfieldwhenwestarted,thoughofcourseitwasquitewarminourplane.Butbeforelongitrapidlygotcolderandcolder,anditwasquiteclearthatforsomereasonorothertheheatingapparatushadbrokendown.Tomakemattersworse,theweatherwasbad,visibilitywaspoor,andIhadtoflyveryhigh–thirteenthousandfeetandmore–overtheCarpathians,sothatatonetimewehadfiftydegreesoffrostinthecabin.Antonescu,whowasslimanddelicatelybuilt,feltthecoldverykeenly.Fortunatelywehadplentyofrugs,andwesimplysmotheredhimwiththemuntilallyoucouldseeofhimwasthetipofhisnose.

Inthemeantimethecabinhadbecomearefrigerator,andthewindowsweresofrozenoverthatyoucouldn’tseeout.IttookusthreeandahalfhourstogettoBerchtesgaden,butatleastIwasabletopromiseAntonescuthatitwouldbewarmeronthewayback,anditwas,becausethetrouble–aburstpipe–wasquicklyrepaired.InBucharestAntonescuinvitedmetodinnerandpresentedmewiththeRomanianOrderoftheCrown–‘despitetheicyflight’;andwhenweflewback,therewerehampersofgoodthings–food,tobacco,andwinesandspirits–forusall.

ThesonofAdmiralHorthy,theHungarianRegent,wasapilot,andhewaskilledinacrashontheEasternFront.FromRibbentropwelearnedthatyoungHorthy’smotherwasworkingasanurseinahospitalinBerdichev,onlyaboutforty-fivemilesaway,soHitlerinstructedRibbentroptogotoher,expressthedeepregretoftheGermanGovernmentandinvitehertovisithimathisheadquarters.

IflewherinlatethatafternoonintheuniformofaRedCrossnurse.Hitlernow

expressedhissympathyinpersonandofferedheraplanetotakeherbacktoBudapestforthefuneral,whichsheaccepted;sothenextdayIflewhertoBudapest,togetherwithAmbassadorHewel,whowastolayawreathonthegraveonHitler’sbehalf.

WeremainedinBudapestforthreedays,stayingintheGellertHotelasguestsoftheHungarianGovernment.TherewereveryfewsignsofwartobeseenintheHungariancapital,andoneeveningweweretakenbyofficersoftheHungarianAirForcetoafashionablerestaurantonMargaretIslandintheDanube.Everythingwasasusual:therewasnoshortageoffood;andwewerealmosttheonlyguestsinuniform.Andasforrationcards,whichGermanyhadintroducedfromthebeginningofthewar,theyseemedunknown.AcoloneloftheHungarianAirForcehadbeenattachedtousduringourstay,andheaskedmetotellHitlerthatheandhisfriendswouldverymuchwelcomemorefighterplanessothattheycouldplayamoreactivepartinthewar.OnmyreturntoVinnitsathereforeIpassedthisontoHitler.

‘Nodoubttheywouldlikemorefighterplanes,’hesaidgrimly,‘buttoflyaroundin,nottofighttheRussianswith.Petrolisscarce,andI’vegotnonetospareforthem.Iwantaggressivepilots,andwhattheHungarianshavedonesofarisn’tmuch.No,ifI’veanyfighterplanesandpetroltospare,theCroatswillgetthem;they’repreparedtousethem.UptonowtheHungarianshavebeenafiasco.Theywerenogoodatthefront,andwhenwewithdrewthemandsetthemtocombatingpartisansinthereartheywerenogoodeither.No,no,I’llkeepmyfighterplanes.’

Hitler’sjudgmentsonhisallieswereoftenverysevere,buttherewasoneshiningexception,andthatwastheFinns.Henevermentionedthemortheirleader,MarshalMannerheim,withoutpayingthemthehighesttributesassoldiers.

FromtheverybeginningofthewartheGermanauthoritieswereintouchwiththeprotectivepowersinanefforttoorganiseanexchangeofprisoner-of-warmailwithSovietRussia.Manymonthspassed,andstillnoanswercamefromtheSovietGovernment.ThenonedayattableHitlertoldusthatStalinhadatlastreplied,saying:‘TherearenoRussianprisonersinGermanhands.TheRussiansoldierfightstothedeath.ShouldheeverallowhimselftobetakenprisonerhewouldtherebyautomaticallyexcludehimselffromthecommunityofRussianpeople.TheRussianGovernmenthasthereforenointerestinanyexchangeofprisoner-of-warmailwithGermany.’Germany,ofcourse,alreadyheldvastnumbersofRussianprisonersofwar,includingStalin’sownson.

Onemorningitwasreportedtomethatoneofmyofficers,Flight-CaptainSchnäbele,hadbeenseriouslywoundedthenightbefore.Iwenttoseehimatonce.HewasstationednearBerdichev,andthepreviouseveninghehadvisitedaFolk-German6village.Itwasdarkbythetimehewantedtogobacktohisquarters,soforfearoflosingthewayheaskedhishosttoprovidehimwithaguide.Thepeasant’stwodaughterswentoffwithSchnäbeleinthecar.Amileorsofromthevillagetherewasabridge,andwhentheygottheretheyfounditblockedbyatree-trunk.Schnäbeleandhisdrivergotouttomovetheobstacletooneside,butshotsrangout.Thedriverandoneofthetwogirlswerekilledinstantly,andSchnäbelewasseriouslywounded.Theothergirljumpedoutofthecarandmanagedtomakeherescape.Whenhelpcamethetwocorpsesandthewoundedman

werenaked.Thepartisanshadstrippedthemofeverystitchofclothing,andthecarhadbeensetonfire.UnfortunatelySchnäbelediedofhiswoundsnextday.LateronHimmlertoldmethattheyhadcaughttheleaderofthepartisans–Schnäbele’spapershadbeenfoundonhim.

HitlerwasintheUkrainethroughoutthesummerof1942,andIsupposeinthatperiodIflewField-MarshalHansvonKlugeatleastadozentimesbackwardsandforwardsbetweenVinnitsaandSmolensk.‘Goandfetchme“CleverHans”fromSmolensk,’Hitlerwouldsay.

TheSixthArmyhadpushedforwardasfarasStalingrad.GermantroopswereintheCaucasus,andamountainunithadclimbedMountElbrusandhoistedtheGermanflagonitssummit.

‘We’llbeinTiflissoon,Baur,’saidGeneralJodloneday,‘andthenyou’retoflymetherefordiscussionswithourcommandinggenerals.’

Butitdidn’tcomeoff.DisastergatheredoverStalingradandwewithdrewtoouroldheadquartersattheso-called‘Wolf’sLair’,orWolfsschanze,inRastenburg.EverytimeIflewbacknowIwouldtakewoundedmenwithmeinourbigfour-enginedCondors;theywereusuallyseverecases,withachanceofsurvivalonlyiftheycouldbegotbacktoGermanyquickly.Whenweflewinwewouldbringblanketsandmedicalsupplies,whichwereofteninshortsupplyatthefront.

OnedaywhenItoucheddownontheairfieldatNikolaievthewoundedwerealreadywaitingonstretchers,andwhilstwetankeduptheywerecarefullyloadedonboardwithanursetolookafterthemontheway.Ireceivedthestartingsignal,andasItaxiedforwardforthetake-offtherewasafountainofdirtwherethemanwhohadgivenmethesignalhadbeen.AtthesametimeIbecameawarethatmymachinewasbeingfiredon.Russianswereovertheairfield,andmybigfour-enginedplane–itwasHitler’sown,theD-2600–musthavelookedatemptingmorselforthem.WhenIhadgainedsufficientheightIflewstraightatoneoftheRussians.OurplanewascompletelyunarmedandIhadtwenty-sixwoundedmenandanurseonboard,butatleasttheRussiancouldseethatmymachinewasveryfast,andhepreferrednottowaitforme.Heturnedawayanddisappearedintheclouds,andallwesufferedwasafewbullet-holes.

WeflewtoKönigsbergtotakethewoundedmentoahospitalthere,andbecauseofthelungcasualtieswewerenotallowedtoflyaboveacertainheight.Duringthisperiodwemusthaveflownbackmanythousandsofwounded.Andiftherehappenedtobenowoundedmenwewouldtakeleavemenonboard.Oneofthesemenwasverygrateful,andlateronhefoundachanceofdoingsomethingforme.

ItwasinKrasnogorskprisoncamp,andaformerlieutenantapproachedme,sayingthathewasintheclothingworkshop.Ihadonceflownhimbackonleave,therebysavinghimdays.Wasthereanythinghecoulddoformenow?Intheendhemademeawarmcap,whichIworeuntilmyrelease.

OnedayHitlerorderedmetopickuptheYugoslavPoglavnikinAgramandflyhiminfor

adiscussion.IlandedonasmallGermanmilitaryairfield,anddiscoveredthattheneighbourhoodwasswarmingwithpartisans–somuchsothatourmencouldleavetheairfieldonlyinforce.IhadnotbeentherelongwhenthePoglavnikarrivedwithacolumnofcars,eachofwhichcarriedamountedmachine-guntodealwithpartisans.

OntheflightbacktoAgramwiththePoglavnikImadeanintermediatelandinginVienna,andfromthereIhadanescortofsixfighterplanes.ItwaseveningwhenwelandedinAgram,andtoolatetostartonthereturnflight,sothePoglavnikinvitedmetostaywithhim.Wedroveintothetownescortedbylorriesarmedwithmachine-guns,andIhaddinnerwithmyhost.ThateveningmycollectionofBalkanorderswassupplementedbyaYugoslavdecoration–alsotobewornonaribbonroundtheneck.

Hitlerinsistedthathemust‘cutRussia’soilartery’,meaningtheVolga,andhehadthereforegivenordersthattheSixthArmywastoholdontoStalingraduntilitcouldberelieved,butbythistimeeveryonerealisedthatStalingradwaslost,andthatatragedywithoutaparallelinGermanhistorywasunrollingintheruinedtownontheVolga.

Themoodinourheadquarterswasverydepressed.AttableonedayHitlertoldusthathehaddiscussedwithGöringthepossibilityofsupplyingStalingradfromtheair.Twentytonsadaywouldhavetobeflownin,andGöringhaddeclaredthatthiscouldbedone.

Perhapsinsummeritwouldhavebeenpossible,butwhatGöringhadobviouslyforgottenwasthatinNovemberandDecemberthepossibilityofmistandfoghastobeconsidered.ThemachineshadtofolloweachotherintoStalingradsocloselythatwhenvisibilitywaspoorthedangerofcollisionswasconsiderable.Infact,manyplaneswerelostinthisway.Andtherewasanotherdisadvantageofpoorvisibility:ourmachinesoftenlandedtheirpreciousloadsonenemyairfields.

Weafterwardsdiscoveredthat,throughtreachery,theRussianshadcomeintopossessionofvariouscodesignals.Whenthemistwassoheavythataplanecouldnotbelandedbysight,thewireless-operatorwouldcallforabeamfromtheground;aRussianstationwouldthenanswerhimandgivehimabeam,andtheGermanplanewouldlandonaRussianairfield–usuallytoolatetorectifythemistake.IcontributedanumberofmachinestotheStalingradair-lift,andoneofthemdidnotreturn.

ThelastdaysofStalingradshookHitlerdeeply,andwerealisedthatforthefirsttimehewasbeginningtoshowsignsofstrain.AsfarasIcanremember,thegistofthelastmessagewehadfromField-MarshalPauluswas:‘ThecellarinwhichIhavemyheadquarterswithsevenothergeneralshasbecomeuntenable.Stalingradcannolongerbeheld.LongliveGermany!LonglivetheFührer!’

SomeweekslaterwesawphotographsinBritishnewspaperspurportingtohavebeentakenatStalingrad.OneofthemrepresentedPaulusnegotiatingthesurrenderwiththeRussians.Thereproductionwasverypoor,andwecouldnotrecognisePaulusoranyoneelsewithcertainty.Hitlerporedoverthosereproductionswithamagnifyingglassforalongtime,tryingtomakeuphismindwhethertheywereauthenticorfalse.Finallyheshookhisheadanddeclaredtheymustbefakes:thatcouldn’tbePaulus.GeneralJodlagreedwithhim.AccordingtoJodl,PaulushadtoldhimonhislastvisittoStalingradthathehadpoison‘andinanycasemypistol’.AndPaulushadadded:‘AGermanField-

Marshaljustdoesn’tlethimselfbetakenprisoner.’

Butafterawhilewelearnedthetruth.Thosereproductionshadcertainlybeenpoor,buttheyhadnotbeenfaked;infact,Paulushadgoneevenfartherthannegotiatingthesurrenderofhismen,andhisbehaviourledultimatelytotheformationofthenotoriousFreeGermanCommittee,towhichhelenthisname,hisrankandhisbenevolentsupport,eventhoughhemaynothavegonesofarasSeydlitzandsomeoftheothersdid.

AfterthelossofStalingradandthecollapseoftheCaucasianfront,violentdisputesarosebetweenHitlerandthegeneralsoftheSupremeCommand,theOKW.GeneralHaiderwasChiefofStaffatthetime,andasnoagreementcouldbereached,heresigned.Hissuccessor,GeneralZeitzler,occupiedthepostuntil20July1944.Hitlernoworderedthatanexactstenographicrecordofallimportantdiscussionsshouldbekept,sothatatleastinfuturethereshouldbenomoredisputesaboutwhathadactuallybeensaid.Aspecialstaffofexpertshorthandwriterswasnowaddedtoheadquartersstaff.

Hitler’sbitternessovertheseterribledefeatsandhisdisagreementswithhisgeneralsnowmadehimmorose,withdrawnandmistrustful,andoneresultofthiswasthathenolongercametoourcommontable,fornowhefearedthatanythinghesaidmightbeusedagainsthim,particularlyashewasimpulsiveandaccustomedtospeakveryfrankly.Henowtookhismealsaloneinhisownbunker,andonlywhenhehadhighlyplacedandimportantguestsdidhesitdowntotablewiththem.Inthemorningshewasusuallytobeseenforhalfanhourorsoexercisinghisfavouritedoginthegrounds.‘DieBlonde’itwascalled,andIdon’tthinkIeversawamorebeautifuldog.Itwasveryintelligent,too,anditseemedtounderstandeverywordHitlersaidtoit.

ThetragedyofStalingradwasthebeginningoftheendforGermany.NotonlydidHitlerloseagreatarmy,but,inaddition,theconfidencewhichuptothenhadreignedsupremeathomewassuddenlydestroyed.Naturally,atremendousamountofdiscussiontookplaceonthecauses.Someofthequestionswentevendeeper.Forinstance,manypeoplewereanxioustoknowjustwhenHitlerdecidedtoattackRussia,butonlyononeoccasiondidIhearhimgiveastraightanswertothatquestion.AvisitingGauleiterfromsomewhereorotherdaredtoaskhim,andHitlerreplied:‘Fourweeksbeforethewar(withRussia)actuallybegan.’

WhilstIwasinRussiathoseprisonerswhohad‘thebird’tattooedundertheirarmsweresingledoutforparticularlybadtreatment,andsomeofthemwereevenexecuted.TheyweresupposedtobeparticularlyfanaticalNazisandSSmen.Actuallywhattheyhadundertheirarmswasmerelytherecordoftheirbloodgroup,andnothingwhatevertodowiththeirparticularstateofmindorpoliticaloutlook–whateveritmayhavebeen.

IwaspresentatHitler’stable,togetherwithHimmler,Keitel,JodlandProfessorMorell,whentheideawasfirstmooted.ProfessorMorellexpressedtheopinionthatinwartime–andeveninpeacetime,onaccountoftheincreasingnumberofroadaccidents–itwouldbeaverygoodideaifeveryman,womanandchildhadhisbloodgroupindeliblytattooedonhisbodysothatinanemergencyabloodtransfusioncouldbegivenatonce,insteadof,asatpresent,onlyafterthedoctorshaddiscoveredapatient’sbloodgroup.Inthisway,Morelldeclared,manyliveswouldbesavedwhichwereatpresentlostbecause

ofthedelaycausedbyignoranceofthepatient’sbloodgroup.Morellthensuggestedthateverychildshouldbetattooedwithitsbloodgroupatthetimeofitsinoculationagainstsmallpox,whichtookplaceinitsfirstyear.

Hitlerthoughtthesuggestionagoodone,andHimmlerimmediatelydeclaredthathewouldintroducethetattooingintotheSSatonce.Hedidso,andwithinafewweeksSSmenwerebeingtattooed.Field-MarshallKeitelalsoacceptedtheideafortheWehrmacht,butasfarasthearmywasconcernedtheschemewasonlyinitspreliminarystageswhenthewarended.ButinfactagoodmanypeopledidhavethistattoomarkingwhohadnothingtodowiththeSS–forexample,thedisplacedpersons.ButsomehowtheRussians–andothers,Ibelieve–gotholdofthewrongidea;IcanwellrememberGermanprisonersbeinglinedupforinspectionwithupraisedarmtodiscoverwhethertheyweremarkedwiththeterriblebrandofCain–i.e.withdetailsoftheirbloodgroup.Iftheywere,theycouldhopefornoconsideration,andIhaveknownverysickandseriouslywoundedmentobestruckofftheexchangelistsbecausetheyhadthismarking.

ProfessorPorsche,thenatankexpert,butbetterknowntodayasthedesignerofthefamousVolkswagen,andofacarthatactuallybearshisname,wasoftenflowntoHitler’sheadquarterstodiscussvariousproblemsoftankdesign.Ononeoftheseoccasionstheprofessordeclaredthattheverybestthingwouldbetoflyhimtoallthetankcommandersonthevarioussectionsofthefronttodiscusstheirdifficultieswiththematfirsthand.Hitleragreed,andplacedhisownfamousD-2600atthedisposalofPorsche.I,ofcourse,flewhim.

Inaweek’stourwecamefrombeforeLeningradrightalongthefrontintothedeepsouth,andwithustherewereseveralofPorsche’sexpertsandanumberoftankofficers.Everytimewelanded,Porschewentoffbycartovisitthenearesttankdivision.Outwardlyhewasasmallandnotparticularlydistinguished-lookingman,buthemadeatremendousimpressiononeveryonebyhisgreatability,andduringthesediscussionshecollectedavastamountofvaluablematerialwhichgreatlyfacilitatedthedesigningandconstructionofGermany’sbesttanktypes.

AfewweeksafterthisIhappenedtobeinBerlin.Iwenttovisithiminhisoffices,ashehadsuggested,andtherehepresentedmewithapaintingbyKlausBergenofSmolenskontheDnieperwithmyCondorintheairaboveit.

WiththefallofStalingradthepositiononthesouthernfrontbecameverycritical,andforawhileitevenlookedasthoughthewholelinemightberolledup.OnenightHitlerdecidedthatanimmediateconferencewithvonMansteinwasnecessary,sowetookoffat02.00andtoucheddowninZaporozhyeat06.00hours.Thereweretwoairfieldsthere,oneinthesouth-westandanother,largerone,totheeast.Ihadlandedonthelatter.Thediscussionslastedsometime,andwewerethereforthreedays,duringwhichIlivedinoneofthehutsneartheairfield.ThethirdmorningwhenIappearedatbreakfastIwastoldthatRussiantankshadbrokenthroughfromDniepropetrovsk,andwereadvancingtowardsthetownalongtheveryroadwhichpassedclosetotheairfield.

Fighterplaneshadbeensentouttodealwiththem,butowingtomistandpoorvisibility

theyhadreturnedwithoutaccomplishinganything–theweatherwasbadandthecloudceilingwasdowntolessthanacoupleofhundredfeet.StorchplanessentouttoreconnoitrecamebackwiththereportthatascoreorsoofRussiantankswereonlytwohoursaway,andthattherewasnothingbetweenthemandtheairfield.ItookacaranddroveintotowntoreportthesituationtoHitler,andaskforpermissiontotakeourplanestotheairfieldtothesouth-westofthetown,wheretheywouldbesafer.Hitlerrepliedthatthiswasunnecessary,ashewouldsoonbethere.

WhenIdrovebackIfoundtheairfieldcommanderdoinghisbesttoputtheplaceintoastateofdefence;butthesituationwasnotreallyonetoinspireconfidence,becausetherewerenoanti-tankweaponsorevenartilleryavailable.Sureenough,theRussiantanksappearedafterawhile:twenty-twoofthem.ButthenfortunatelyHitlercametoo,andashewasonboard,ourthreeCondors,whoseengineshadalreadybeenrunning,tookoff.Asweflewoff,two‘Gigant’planesflewin,hugesix-enginedjobs,ratherbelatedlybringingupanti-tankgunstodefendtheairfield.

Lateronweheardthattoeveryone’ssurprisetheRussiantankshadmadenoattackontheairfield,buthadtakenuptheirpositionsinaneighbouringkolkhoz,orcollectivefarm,becausetheyhadrunoutofpetrol.Theywouldhavefoundenoughofitontheairfield!Afterawhilethecrewsevenabandonedtheirtanksaltogether.Whentheysawanairfieldwithscoresofplanesonit,nodoubttheyexpectedstrongresistance,andfeltthemselveshelplesswithoutpetrol.ThiswasthelastRussianbreak-through–forawhile.Germantroopswerebroughtup,andtheDnieperlinewasrestored.

‘Abitofluckforus,’wasHitler’scommentwhenItoldhimthestory.ButsupposingthoseRussianshadknown…

GeneralHubewascalledtoourheadquarterstobedecoratedagain;the‘diamonds’wereaddedtohisKnight’sCross,andHitlerwantedtopresenttheminperson.Aftertheceremonythecelebrationswentonuntilaftermidnight,butHubeinsistedonleavingat4a.m.toflytoBreslau.Hismachinewasreadyforhimatthattime,andhearrivedontheairfieldwithanumberofothers,includingAmbassadorHewel.Thepilot,anofficeroftheLuftwaffe,taxiedhismachinetothestart,andtherunwayaheadofhimwasmarkedwithlamps.

GeneralHubeandhisfellowpassengersnowenteredtheplane,whichtookoffperfectlyandflewawayinawesterlydirection,buthardlyhaditlefttheairfieldthanitveeredlefttowardsthehills,whichwereonlyafewmilesaway.Themachineturnedrightagain–nodoubtthepilothadseenthelightedhutsonthehillsandhadtriedtoturnaway–buttoolate;onewingtouchedthegroundandtheplanecrashed.Allonboardwerekilledoutright,exceptAmbassadorHewel,whowasseriouslyinjured,andwasinhospitalforweeksbeforehefinallyrecovered.

TherewasanEgyptianplagueofmosquitoesinthemarshyeast,andwewerenotsparedinRastenburg.Itwassobadthatoursentriesworemosquitonetscoveringtheirfaces.Inadditiontothemosquitoes,therewerelargenumbersoffrogs,too,andeverynighttheywouldgivetremendousconcerts.Butthenoneeveningtheyweresilent.Itwasadayor

twobeforeHitlernoticedit,butthenheinquiredthereason.

Itappearedthatsomedepartmentorotherhadstartedacampaignagainstthemosquitoesbypouringhundredsofgallonsofpetrolintotheirpools.Nodoubtthatdestroyedmanylarva,whichwouldafterwardshavebecomemosquitoes,butthereweremorethanenoughleft;infactsomanystillthatyouhardlynoticedanydifference.Buttheeffectonthefrogshadbeendevastating:theyhadbeenwipedoutaltogether–hencethedeadsilenceatnights,brokenonlybythewhineofmosquitoes.Hitlerwasfurious.

‘Didyoueverknowsuchidiots!’heexclaimed.‘Theysetouttokillmosquitoes,butinsteadtheykillallthefrogs,whichfeedonthousandsofmosquitoesdaily.’

Afterthatthepondsandpoolshadtobecleanedout,andthefrogsreintroduced.

VonNeurathwentofftoRomeonaspecialmission,andIwasinstructedtosendamachinetotheItaliancapitaltoflyhimbacktoRastenburgtoreporttoHitler.ThismachinemadeanintermediatehaltinMunichtotankup;thepilotwasinformedthatvonNeurathwasstayinganextradayinRome,andthatheshouldthereforeremaininMunichwithhismachine.Thepilotmadeeverythingreadyforatake-offthenextday–andthenwentofftothecinema,leavinghiswireless-operatorandhismechanicwiththemachine.

ButvonNeurathdidarriveafterall,sotheytriedtofindthepilot,butnodoubthewasenjoyinghimselfsomewhere,andhecouldn’tbefound.VonNeurathwantedtoflyontoRastenburgthatevening,sotheLuftwaffeprovidedapilot,andthemachinetookoffat20.00.Theweatherwasbad,particularlyalongtheVistula,andvonNeurath’splaneranintoaheavystormmovingfromwesttoeast.Atfirstthepilottriedtoflythroughit,butthen,becausehehadvonNeurathonboard,hegotcoldfeetandbegantoflyalongit.FromRastenburgwewereintouchwiththemachineforawhile,butthentheweathermadewirelesscontactimpossible.Bymidnightwewereawarethatthemachinemusthaverunoutofpetrol,andHitlergrewveryworried.

However,aboutanhourlateracallcamefromasmallPolishfrontierstation:vonNeurath’splanehadmadeaforcedlandingintheneighbourhood,butalthoughtheplanewaswrecked,vonNeurathandtheotherpassengerswereuninjured.Carsweresentoffatonce,andvonNeuratharrivedatHitler’sheadquartersinRastenburgatfouro’clockinthemorning.

LaterthatdayIvisitedthespotinoneofourFieselerStorchplanes.ThepilotofvonNeurath’splanetoldmethathehadflownalongtheedgeofthestormuntilhispetrolwasexhausted.Asitwasdarkitwasnoteasytoseetheground,buthefoundasmalllakeglimmeringinthegloom,andbesideitastretchhethoughtmightbesuitableforalanding.Unfortunatelytherewasnotsufficientroom,andthemachineranoffthefirmergroundintoabog,takingoneortwobircheswithitontheway.WhentheygotoutoftheplanevonNeurathandhiscompanionsimmediatelysankuptotheirkneesinthebog,buttheymanagedtoreachfirmlandandgettoatelephone.

Afterthatallthatremainedtobedonewastoteachthatpilotwhattodothenexttimeheranintoastorm.Generallyspeaking,astormareaisnotmorethantenortwelvemilesdeep.Inhiscase,ashecouldseethedirectioninwhichitwasmoving,heshouldhave

foundthebestspothecouldandthenflownatrightanglesintothestorm.Hewouldsoonhavecoveredthattenortwelvemiles,andthenhewouldhavehadcalmerweatherbehindthestormfront,andwouldhavebeenabletoreachRastenburgeasily.

JodlwastomakeavisitofinspectiontoDietlinFinland,andIflewhimthere.OurfirststopwasinReval,wherewereceivedpermissiontoflyintoFinlandandwereinstructedwhatcoursetoset.WeflewoverHelsinki,butdidnotlandthere,andwentonoveratypicalFinnishlandscapeofwoodsandlakestoMichelinearViborg.Thefrontwasnotfarawayfromthere,andoneofthetasksIhadbeengivenwastoreportwhethertheairfieldatMicheliwassuitableforlandingCondors–itwas.ThenIflewontoRovaniemi,wherewewereamiablyreceivedbyGeneralDietl,wholivedinasmallFinnishhousewhichhadbeenpresentedtohim.Itwasveryagreeablyfurnished,andinthelargeliving-roomtherewereseveralbearskinsonthefloorfromanimalswhichDietlhadhimselfshot,whilstonthewallswereantlersfromotheranimalshehadbagged,togetherwithsportingriflesandfishing-rods,forDietlwasnotonlyagoodsoldierbutalsoanenthusiasticsportsman.

WhilstIwasinRovaniemiIhadanopportunitytoringupmyobserverfromtheFirstWorldWar,LieutenantvonHengel–nowGeneralvonHengel–whosesectorwasalongthePolarHighway.Hewasastonishedtohearmyvoiceagain,andwarmlyinvitedmetocomeandvisithim.Iwouldhavelovedtodoso,butunfortunatelyIhadtoflybackagaintoRastenburgwithJodl.

AlittlelaterIagainflewtoSofiatofetchKingBorisforafurtherconferencewithHitler,towhomheinvariablyreferrednotas‘the’Führer,asGermansdid,butas‘our’Führer.ThenextdayIflewhimbacktoBucharest,andstayedthenightasusualintheGermanEmbassy.Ihadintendedtoflybackthefollowingmorningat11.00,butbeforeIwentamessengercamefromtheKinginvitingmetocometothepalace.AsIwasundernoobligationtobebackinRastenburgatanyparticulartime,Iwentthere,andwasreceivedatoncebytheKing,whosaidthathewishedtoshowmeroundhiscapital–whichhethendid,sittingatthewheelofthe200-horsepowerMercedesHitlerhadgivenhim,whilstIsatbesidehim.

Heshowedmeroundveryamiably,andeverywherehewassalutedwithrespectfulfriendliness;heseemedtobeapopularking.Thenhedrovemebacktothepalace,whichwasquiteasmallbuildingbutsetinanenormouspark.WhenwearrivedtheQueenandthetworoyalchildren,agirlofelevenandaboyofnine,werewaitingforusinthepalacegarden.Thetall,slimQueenwasthedaughterofKingVictorEmmanuelofItaly,andshetoospokeGerman.TheKingshowedmeoverthepalace,andthenwewentoutintothegroundsagaintoseehis‘plaything’,ashecalledit.Itwasamodelrailwaywithabouthalfamileorsoofelectricallyequippedtrack.FromwhatIcouldseeofit,theKinggotatleastasmuchfunoutofitashisnine-year-oldson.

AfterthatwemadeatourofinspectionofthepalacegardensandorchardswiththeQueen,andtheKingremarkedthathewouldlovetomakeatourinmyCondoroverhiscapitalwithhisfamily.Iagreedatonce,ofcourse,buttheQueenequallypromptlyrefused,declaringthatshewouldnotallowthelifeofthesuccessortothethronetoberiskedforpleasure.‘Ishouldbefrightenedtodeath,’sheinsisted.

Thechildrenbeggedhard,fortheywereveryanxioustogo,andKingBorisaddedallhispowersofpersuasion,buttheutmosttheQueenwouldagreetodowastogoandinspectmyplane.Beforeweleftinhiscarhetookmetooneside:‘Ithinkweshallbeabletomanageit,Baur,’hesaid,‘butyoumustaddyourvoicetohelppersuadetheQueen.’

AttheairfieldwewentovermyCondor.Iexplainedeverythingtothem,andIwastrulyabletosaythatinmyviewtherewouldbenoriskatallfortheheirtothethroneinsuchatripoverBucharest.AndIaddedthatIwasreallyaveryexperiencedpilot,havingflownabout700,000milesinallweathers.TheQueendidnotdoubtthis,butsherefusedtobepersuaded,andtheKinghadtogiveupresignedly.

InSeptember1943IflewHitlertoInsterburg,wherethelatestmodelsproducedbytheGermanaircraftindustryweredemonstratedtohim.Practicallyallthehigh-upswerepresent,includingGöring,Milch,Körner,ProfessorMesserschmittandProfessorTankoftheFokke-Wulfconcern.Firstofallwewereshownrocket-firingplanes,andthentwotypesofjet,abomberandafighter;theformalpartoftheaffairwasconcludedwithademonstrationoftheso-calledRotterdamradarapparatus.

WhenIwasonmyownIturnedmyattentiontothemodelsJunkershadonshow.TheJu.290struckmeasspeciallysuitedformypurposes.Itwasafour-enginedjob,andeachenginewasof1,800horsepower.IwasinsidethismachineandexaminingitverycloselywhenHitlerputhisheadthroughtheentrance.Iinvitedhimtocomeinandexaminethemachinewithme,andhedid.Hewasnotlonginrecognisingtheadvantagesofapowerful,long-range,heavilyarmedplanethatcouldcarryfiftypassengers.

InthemeantimeHitlerhadbeenmissed,andGöringwaslookingforhim.Hetoolookedthroughtheentrance,andHitlerinvitedhimin,tellinghimthatIwouldverymuchlikeaJu.290forourflight.Göringimmediatelyagreedtoletmehaveone,butthenchangedthesubjectatonce.Messerschmitt,itappeared,hadundertakentomanufactureathousandjetfightersbythespringof1944,bywhichtimeitwassupposedthattheAllieswouldlaunchtheirinvasion.Göringthenwentontosaythatallthenecessarymaterialwasavailable,exceptthenickelfortheturbines.

Onlyrecently,asHitlerknew,allavailablestocksofrawmaterials,includingnickel,hadbeenapportioned,sothatunlessotherarrangementsweremadetherewouldnotbeenoughnickelforthejetfighters.

WhenHitler,GöringandIgotoutoftheJu.290,MesserschmittandMilchwerewaitingontheground.HitlerconfirmedfromMesserschmittwhatGöringhadsaid,andthendeclared:

‘Verywell,I’llseetoitthatyoureceivethenickel;youseetoitthatyouproducethem.Thejetfighterisenormouslyimportant.’

ButFebruary1944arrived,andthenMarch–butthejetsdidnot.InthemeantimetheGermanfighterarmwasrunningintomoreandmoretrouble.ThebomberhostsinvadingGermanyweregrowinglargerandlarger–onsomedaysbetweenthreeandfourthousandplanesflewin–buttherewerenojetstomeetthem.Nooneknewwhy,thoughthereweremanyrumours.SomethingwaswrongintheAirMinistry,itwassaid.Inanycase,alittle

laterMilchwasdeprivedofhispost.

TheinvasionbeganinJune,buttherewerestillveryfewjetsintheair,andourpilotsintheiroldpiston-enginedplaneswerehopelesslyoutnumbered.

HitlerwantedtocongratulatetheFinnishmarshal,Mannerheim,inpersononhisseventiethbirthday,soitwasarrangedthatIshouldflyhimtoMichelitomeetthemarshal.Attheteststartthemachineshowedatendencytoveertotheleft;acheckindicatedthattherewassomethingwrongwiththebrakesonthatside,sotheywereadjusted.ButevenwhenItookoffwithHitleronboardtherewasthesametendency.However,weflewontowardsReval.IthadbeenarrangedwithHelsinkithatweweretohaveaFinnishfighterescort,andwepickeduptheirsquadronovertheBaltic.Theweatherdeterioratedrapidly,anditbegantorain.BeforelongIwasflyingataboutahundredandfiftyfeet,andbeyondHelsinkitheweathergrewworse,soIhadtogodownstilllower.

Bythistimeonlyoneofthefighterswasleft–theothershadlostusinthemist–andonaccountoftheheavyrainthewoodsbelowusweresteamingandtherewaslessvisibilitythanever.Notwishingtoloseus,thelastFinnishfighterwasflyingveryclose,andbecauseofthedangerofacollision,Iwarnedhimoff.Beforelongwelosthimtoo.However,wereachedMichelisafely,andasItoucheddownthetendencytoveertoportshoweditselfagain.IhadtotaxibetweensevenandeighthundredyardstowherePresidentRyti,MarshalMannerheimandaguardofhonourwerewaitingtowelcomeHitler.

AswerolledtowardsthemIsawmenrunningandpointing,andthenIsawandsmeltsmoke.SomethingwasburningunderourCondor.Wecametoahalt,andHitlergotoutoftheplanewithoutnoticinganything.Whilsttheceremonyproceeded,wegottoworkwithchemicalextinguishers:oneofourwheelshadcaughtfire.Wediscoveredthatonceagainourbrakesontheportsidehadbeenoutoforder,causingfrictionandthenfire.

Wehadbeenlucky.HadwehadthesamelongdistancetotaxiatRastenburg,thewheelwouldhavecaughtfirethereatthetake-off,andIwouldhavedrawnupmyundercarriagefoldingtheburningwheelupbeneathourrump,dangerouslyneartoovertwohundredgallonsofpetrol–andtherewouldhavebeenenoughdraughttoencouragethefire!LateronwesawthenewsreelofourlandingatMicheli;Hitlernoticedthesmokeandaskedmewhatitwas.Justaburnt-outbrakeblock,Itoldhim.

Thereweremoremeteorologicalstationsduringthewarthaneverbefore,buttheirforecastswerenotalwaysasreliableastheymighthavebeen,becausemanyofthenewmenhadbeenhastilytrainedandsomeofthemwereinclinedtogiveoracularforecastswhichwereopentoalmostanyinterpretation.Accurateweatherforecastingwasparticularlyimportantforme,allthemoresoasarrangementsweresometimeschangedrightatthelastmoment,soIaskedthatanexperiencedandreliablemanshouldbesecondedtoustoflywithme.

ALuftwaffepilotwhohadflownGeneralDietltoObersalzbergtoseeHitler,andwas

nowtoflyhimfromtheretoGraz,consultedmynewweather-merchant–because,ashesaid,hewasnotanexperiencedmountainflyerandwasratherdoubtfulabouttakingthedirectroute.Theweatherthatdaywasmixed:heavyshowerstobemetwithallalongtheroute,butwithbrightperiodsduringwhichtherewouldbegroundvisibility.MyweatherexpertadvisedDietl’spilotnottoflythedirectroute,buttoflyalongtheAlpstoViennaandthenturnsouth.

Thepilottookthisadvice,andGeneralDietlarrivedsafelyinGraz.ThenextdaythesamepilotwastoflyhimbacktoFinland.Thistimethereportedcloudcoverwasatabouttwothousandfeetandtheupperceilingatsixtoeightthousandfeet,soalthoughtheGrazmeteorologicalofficeadvisedthepilotnottoflyovertheAlpsbuttoflyfirsteastwardsandapproachViennaovertheplains,Dietlobjected,pointingoutthatthecloudswerehighandthatheknewtheAlpswell,andwouldbegladtogetbackintothemasachangefromtheeternalflatnessofFinland.HethereforeinstructedthepilottoflyfromGrazoverthevalleytoJudenberg,andthenalongtheSemmeringrailwaylineoverMürzzuschlagtoVienna.

ThepilotflewasDietlhadinstructedhim.TheygotasfarasMürzzuschlag,buttherethegroundrisesverysharply.Thecloudcoverwaspressingdownnowandtheyhadtoflymuchlower.Aheadofthemthemountainpeakswerealreadylostinmistandcloud.TheJu.52flewoveroneridgesafely,butthenfounditselfsurroundedbycloud.Thepilotturnedrighttogetoutoftheclouds,butonewinghitatree;theplanecrashed,andeveryoneonboardwaskilled.

InMarch1944IhadflownKingBorisofBulgariabacktoSofia,andwasonmywayhometoMunich.NotfarfromBelgradewereceivedamessageadvisingustolandbecausestrongUSbomberforceswithfighterescortwereenteringthearea;suchfighterplaneshadalreadyshotdownseveralofourregularplanestoBelgrade.However,wehadnopassengersonboard,soIdecidedtoriskit,merelywarningourmachine-gunnerstokeeptheireyespeeled,andaskingbothBelgradeandGraztokeepusinformedoftheenemy’swhereabouts.

AbouttenminutesbeforeGrazwereceivedaW/TsignalindicatingthatstrongforcesofAmericanplaneshadjustpassedUdineflyingtowardsGraz.AroundGrazitselftheweatherwasveryclear,butasweapproachedtheAlpswefoundcloudcoverbetweenaboutthirteenthousandandeighteenthousandfeet.Iwasflyingatabouttwelvethousandfivehundredfeet.TheAmericansnowappearedaboutfivethousandfeetaboveus:severalhundredbombersescortedbyfighters,andtheGrazantiaircraftgunsopenedup.AtthesametimethebombsbegantofallonGraz.Ichangedcoursetothenorth-west.

Sofarnoneofthefightershadspottedme,buttheymightdosoatanyminute.Iremainedcloseabovethelowestcloudlevel,anddidmybesttomakeanunseengetaway.BeyondEisenbergIflewovertheLeobenironworks,andheavyflakbegantocomeup.Thefiringwasveryaccurate,too:attherightheight,andallofitwithinaradiusoffiftyyardsorso,withusinthecentre.Mypropellerswereconstantlycuttingthroughdisagreeablelittlewhiteclouds.IinstructedZintltofirerecognitionsignals,buthefounditverydifficulttogetthecartridgesintotherocketpistol,andquiteimpossibletofire

them.Aswediscoveredlater,thecartridgeswerecoveredwithanextrathicklayerofcolourlesslacquerandwouldn’tslideintothechamberproperly.

Inthemeantimethefiringwenton,burstafterburstofit.Ourwindowswereholed,ourwingswerehitbysplinters,andoneofourtankswasleaking.Aswewereunabletogiverecognitionsignals,mywireless-operatorputaPAN,orairSOScall,throughtoMunich,tellingthemthatwewerebeingheavilyfiredonbyourownflak,amessagewhichcausedconsternation.Afteraboutfiveminuteswewereoutofrange,andwegotbacktoMunich,whereacoupleofdays’intensiverepairworkputusinorderagain.

TwoweeksbeforeMussoliniwasarrested,IflewHitlertoTrevisowithField-MarshalKeitelandGeneralJodl.By16.00hourswewerebackontheairfieldagain.ItwaseasytoseethatthingshadchangedinItaly.Thepopulationkeptwellinthebackground,andtherewerenoenthusiasticcrowdsthistime;infactthewholeatmospherewascoldandhostile.Hitlerpretendedtohavenoticednothing,andwhenhetookleaveofMussoliniitwaswithstressedwarmth.

Atthetake-offmyouterstarboardenginebeganmisbehaving,butwegotawayallright.TheweatherwasbadovertheBrenner,soIflewviaUdinetoWiener-NeustadtandontoVienna,andfromtheretoObersalzberg.Wehadn’tbeenflyinglongwhentheenginewhichhadbeengivingtroublecutoutaltogether,andIhadtomakedowiththreeengines,butwearrivedsafely.

ItappearedthatinthespecialtrainwhichhadtakenHitlertotheconferenceItalianofficershadtriedagainandagaintoseparateHitlerfromhiscompanions,andthismysteriousaffairtookonasinisterairacoupleofweekslater,whenweheardofMussolini’sarrest.Jodlinparticularwasfurious,becauseduringtheconferencetheItalianGeneralStaffofficershadmadepromisesandacceptedundertakingswhichtheycouldobviouslyhavehadnointentionofkeeping.

HitlerwasveryupsetbythefatewhichhadbefallenhisfriendMussolini,andheimmediatelymadeplanstoreleasehim.Thecoupwasverydaring,anditsucceeded.ButwhenMussoliniarrivedatourheadquartershewasobviouslyabrokenman.Hehadlostsomuchweightandhelookedsoillthatitwasnoteasytorecognisehimatall.HitlerhandedhimovertoProfessorMorellfortreatment.AfterMussolinireturnedtoItalyandtookuphisheadquartersnearMilan,Morellkeptintouchbytelephone,untilonedaytheItaliandoctorsinformedhimthathistreatmentwasnolongernecessary–thepatientwascompletelywellagain.

ThingsbegantobreakupinBulgaria,too,andacoupleofweeksbeforehisdeathIflewKingBorisfromSofiatoRastenburg.Onthereturnflighttheweatherwaswonderful,butalthoughtheKing,whohadinthemeantimebecomeanenthusiasticflyer,greatlyenjoyedtheflight,hewasunabletoconcealhisdepression.Hehadstakedeverythingon‘ourFührer’,andnowhewascompelledtorealisethathiscardhadbeentrumped.

TwodaysafterhisarrivalinSofiatheGermanEmbassyinformedHitlerthatKingBoriswasseriouslyill.HitlercalledmeandtoldmetogetreadytoflyProfessorMorelltoSofia,buttheKingthankedHitlerforhiskindness,sayingthathehadgooddoctorsinSofiawhocouldlookafterhim.Amatterofdaysafterthatweheardthathewasdead.Our

intelligenceservicereportedthat,infact,hehadnotdiedofanginapectorisatall,aswehadbeentold–hehadbeenpoisoned.

IflewHitlertoRheims,andfromtherehewentbycartoabaseonthecoasttowatchthedischargeofthefirstV-2onEngland.Thenextmorningwhenweflewback,Hitlerwasfullofit,andheseemeddeeplyimpressed.WhathelongedtohearnowwashowtheBritishhadtakenit.ButtheBritishdidn’tleton.Unarmedtwo-seaterjetplanesequippedwithcamerasweresentovertoseewhattheycouldfindout.Ofcourse,theycouldeasilyoutflyanyBritishfighterplane,buttheyflewatbetweentwentythousandandtwenty-fivethousandfeet,andthephotographstheybroughtbacktoldusverylittle.

Thentheinvasiontookplace,andscotchedtheideathatwecouldcrippleBritainbeforeitcouldbelaunched.7ThefirstoperationsontheFrenchcoastdefinitelyburiedGermany’slasthopes,andbeforelongthebasesfromwhichtheV-2swerefiredwerelosttoo.IftheV-2hadbecomeoperationalinstrengthtwelvemonthsearlier,thingsmighthavebeendifferent…

IoftenhearditsaidfrominformedquartersthatHitlerhadwaitedwiththeV-2untilasufficientnumbercouldbeaccumulated,andIcanrememberthetremendousimpressionthefirstdemonstrationofthisnewweaponmadeonus.Itwasshortlyafterthesuccessfulculminationofthemilitarycampaigninthewest,i.e.in1940,andIflewHitlertoPeenemünde.Onthetestinggroundswetookupourpositionbehindathirteen-foot-thickconcretebarrier.Alittledistanceawaywasthesnail-likehousinginwhich,weweretold,thepropermixtureofliquidoxygenandperoxidewasobtainedtofueltherocket.Behindthefiringplatformwasagreatpitaboutsixty-fivefeetdeep.Ican’trememberwhichimpressedmemostatthetime,theear-splittingnoiseastherocketwasdischarged,orthetremendouswhitecloudwhichstabbeddownwardsintotheenormouspitandblewoutthegreattree-trunkswhichlinedit,tossingthemintotheairasthoughtheywerematchsticks.Weweretoldthatapproximately500,000horsepowerhadbeengeneratedbytheexplosion–asimplygiganticconcentrationofpowerforthegeneraltechnologicallevelofthosedays.

Thoseresponsiblefortheproductionandtestingoftherocketbelievedthatitcouldbemadeoperationalwithinayear,butinfactvariousdifficultieswereencountered,andtherewerelongdelays.Thetestrocketsdidnotkeeptotheprescribedcourse,andforalongtimeitprovedimpossibletofindoutwhy.Finallyitwasdiscoveredthattheemptyingofthetanksduringtheflightupsettheflightstabilityandcauseddeviations.Specialbulkheadswerethenincorporated,andfinallytheV-2wasreadytobecomeoperational.

ThescientistsresponsiblefortheV-2werewellawarethattheyhadopenedupanewphaseinthedevelopmentofwar,andthattheV-2wasthepioneerofballisticmissileswhichwouldonedaysoaroverwholecontinents.

InJulyIonceagainflewtoRomania,andbroughtMarshalAntonescubacktoHitler’sheadquartersinRastenburg.Itprovedtobehislastvisit.IhadorderstolandatacertaintimeinRastenburg,andinordernottogettheretoosoonImadeanintermediatelanding

inCracow–whichwasjustaswell,becauseoneofmyengineshadbeengivingmetroubleontheflightfromBucharest,andinCracowIwasabletohaveitputright.

ThemarshalwastoflybacktoRomaniathesameafternoon,andwhenhearrivedontheairfieldheseemedverydepressed.Hitlerhadobviouslybeenabletoofferhimonlyverycoldcomfort.Wehadn’tbeenintheairmorethanaminuteortwowhenanenginedefectmadeitselfapparent,andIputbackandlanded.Antonescuwasverydisturbed,andunwillingtobelievethatitwasmerelyanaccident;hefearedsabotage.Iorderedanothermachinetobemadeready,butbeforethiscouldbedoneourownmachinewasputinorder,andweusedthatafterall.

WhenwelandedinBucharestfourhourslatertherewerefarmorepeopleontheairfieldtogreetthemarshalthanwascustomary.Assoonashedescendedhewassurroundedbygeneralsandotherhighofficersandbombardedwithquestions.Itwasnotdifficulttoseethattheanswershegavesatisfiednoone–thegeneralairofdisappointmentwastooobvious.Clearlynothinghecoulddoorsaycouldnowaltertheconvictionofthemallthattheywerefacingdefeat.Thecommandantoftheairfieldtoldmethatcasesofsabotagewererapidlyontheincrease,andthattherewasagooddealoffeelinginthecountryagainstGermany.

WithinacoupleofweekstheRussiansoccupiedthewholeofRomania.Anotherchapterhadended.

Weeksbefore20JulyIreceivedspecialinstructionsfromGeneralMüller,theheadoftheReichSecurityService,tointensifyallprecautionsandtotakespecialcaretoensurethatallsecurityarrangementswerestrictlyadheredto.FromtimetotimedummyattemptsweremadeonHitler’splanetotestwhether,infact,theseinstructionswerebeingcarriedoutwithsufficientcare.Andononeoccasionsomethingactuallywasoverlooked.TherewereinsistentrumoursthatanattemptwasbeingplannedonHitler’slife.

On20JulyIwaswithFlight-CaptainDoldiatthedentalclinicattachedtoHimmler’sheadquarterswhenIwascalledtothetelephone,andtold:‘ReturnatonceandbringDoldiwithyou.’Doldihadjusthadaninjectionpriortohavingatoothextracted,buthehadtogooffwithmewithouttheextraction.HewaswantedtoflyHimmlertoBerlin.WithintwentyminuteswewereatHitler’sheadquarters.Therewelearnedwhathadhappened,andsawthehutwhichhadbeendevastatedbytheexplosion.ColonelStauffenberg,anofficerwhohadlostaneyeandanarminaction,wassuspected,andtherewasahueandcryafterhim.

Theconcretebunkerinwhichthesituationdiscussionsusuallytookplacewasnotbeingusedatthetime.Workwasgoingontostrengthenitbyafurthertenfeetofconcrete,becauseIntelligencehaddiscoveredthattheAmericanshadperfectedten-tonbombswhichwereinallprobabilityheavyenoughtopenetratethethirteen-foot-thickconcretebunkerspreviouslyused.Forthemoment,therefore,meetingstookplaceinanordinarywoodenhutaboveground.

Graduallytheinvestigationpiecedtogetherwhathadhappened.AHeinkellandedonRastenburgairfieldwithColonelStauffenbergandhisadjutant,whodrovetogetherbycartoHitler’sheadquarters,whereStauffenberginformedthedutyofficeratthefirstcontrol

postthathehadurgentinstructionsfromthecommanderoftheReserveArmy,GeneralFromm,andthathemustspeaktoField-MarshalKeitelatonce.Thedutyofficerimmediatelytelephonedthefield-marshal,whoorderedthatStauffenbergshouldbeallowedtopass.InthiswayStauffenbergpassedtwocontrols,andpresentedhimselftoField-MarshalKeitel.OnhearingwhatStauffenberghadtosay,KeitelgotintouchwithHitler,whoorderedthatStauffenbergshouldtakepartinthesituationdiscussionwhichwasthenjustabouttobegin,ashe,Stauffenberg,couldthenseetheexistingsituationforhimselfandbeabletoreportbackaccordingtotheinstructionsGeneralFrommhadgivenhim.

Thesituationdiscussionsusuallystartedatmidday,andthisonewasnoexception.Alargeandheavytablehadbeenbroughtintothehutforthediscussion,anditwasthesolidityofthistablewhichprobablysavedHitler’slife.WhenColonelStauffenbergenteredthehutHitlerwasalreadythere,lookingatamapwhichwasspreadoutonthetable-top.Hewasleaningforwardwithonearmrestingonthetable,andwiththeotherhandhewasholdinghisforehead.Stauffenbergputdownthebrief-casehewascarrying–whichcontainedthetime-bomb–belowthetableoppositeHitler,sothatHitler’sfeetwerenotmorethanafewfeetaway.

Stauffenbergthenwalkedoutofthehut,sayingtosomeonewhoaskedhimwherehewasgoingthathehadtotelephoneandwouldberightback.Hedidtelephone–totheairfield,orderingthattheenginesofhisHeinkelshouldbewarmedupforanimmediatetake-offashehadtoflybacktoBerlinatonce.Hethenwenttohiscar,whichwaswaitingforhimlessthanahundredyardsfromthehut,andtherehewaitedfortheexplosion.Whenitdulytookplaceheassumedthathisattempthadbeensuccessful,andthenexttaskwastogettoBerlinasquicklyaspossibletoletitbeknowntherethatHitlerwasdead.Hegotintohiscar,andinstructedhischauffeurtodrivebacktotheairfield.Thefirstcontrolpostwaslessthantwohundredyardsaway,andthishepassedwithoutdifficulty.Buttheoutercontrolposthadalreadyreceivedthealarm,andStauffenberg’swaytofreedomwasbarredbyananti-tankgunandportablebarbed-wireentanglements.Thedutyofficerinformedhimthatthealarmhadbeengiven,andthathewasnotallowedtoletanyonepass.StauffenbergdeclaredthathehadcomestraightfromtheFührerwithurgentinstructionstoflybacktoBerlinatonce,andthatanyonewhoattemptedtohinderhimwouldundertakeaheavyresponsibility.Thiswarningmayhavedisturbedthedutyofficer,butitdidn’tmakehimgiveway.Stauffenbergthendemandedtoseetheofficercommandingthepost,whohappenedtobeatlunch.Hewascalledfromthemessatonce,andbecauseheknewthatField-MarshalKeitelhadpersonallyinstructedStauffenbergtobeletin,henowgavetheordertolethimoutagain.Thebarbed-wireentanglementswereremoved,thepolerose,andStauffenberg’scardrovethroughandofftotheairfield.

Itwasaten-minutedrivewithnofurthercontrolpoints,andwhenStauffenbergarrivedtheHeinkelwaswaitingwithrunningengines.Therewas,ofcourse,noreasonforanyoneattheairfieldtosuspectthatanythingwaswrong,andnothingwasdonetopreventthetake-off.WhenStauffenbergarrivedinBerlin,fullyconvincedthatHitlerwasdead,hischief,GeneralFromm,wasalreadyawarethat,infact,Hitlerwasalive.Hethentookastepwhichsubsequentlygaverisetoconsiderabledifferencesofopinion–heorderedStauffenberg’simmediateexecution.

InthemeantimethemostpainstakinginvestigationintothewholeaffairwasproceedinginRastenburg.Stauffenberg’schauffeurwasinterrogated,andtheonlythingofanyusehecouldsaywasthathethoughtStauffenberghadthrownsomethingoutofthecaronthewaybacktotheairfield.Acompanyofmenwasthensettosearchthesidesoftheroad,andinapatchofstingingnettlesapackageofexplosivewasfound–thesametypewhichhadbeenusedintheattempt.ItwasofBritishorigin,andithadaten-minutemercuryfuse.Ihadalookatitmyself:itwasabrownlumpofplastic,lookingsomethinglikewax,sixinchessquarebytwoandahalfinchesthick.Accordingtoexpertstheexplosiveforceshouldhavebeensufficienttokilleveryoneintheimmediateneighbourhood–andinallprobabilitywouldhavebeen,hadtheconferenceandtheexplosiontakenplaceintheconfinedspaceoftheundergroundbunker.Butinthelightlybuilthutabovegroundthewallswerejustblownoutwards,sothattheveryimportantresistancefactorwasabsent.Inconsequencetheforceoftheexplosionwasdissipatedinalldirections,insteadofbeingconcentrated.HeinrichBerger,theofficialstenographer,whowassittingatthetableoppositeHitler,lostbothlegsandquicklybledtodeath,butHitlerwasjustthrownbackwards,andtheonlyinjuryhesustainedwasaslightoneinthearm.

SecurityprecautionsatHitler’sheadquartersweregreatlyincreasedafterthat.ColonelStrebe,withmenoftheGreater-GermanyDivision,hadpreviouslybeencompletelyresponsibleforallsecuritymeasuresatRastenburg,butnowhalftheguardswereWaffenSSunits,andtheotherhalfmenoftheGreater-GermanyDivision.Precautionswerealsotakenagainstparachutists;trenchesweredugandmineswerelaid;andaltogetherHitler’sheadquartersbegantolookverywarlike.Inaddition,certainmeasures,suchasthepersonalsearchingofvisitors,etc.,wereintroduced,andthisgaverisetoagooddealofresentment.Thegeneralatmospherewasmuchtenser,too,andasaresulttherewereoneortwoincidentscausedbysheernervousness.Ononeoccasion,forexample,ananti-tankgunwentoffduringanexercise.Theshelltorethroughahutandexplodedagainstatree,butnoonewashurt,thoughtheexcitementwastremendous.

ThefightingintheeastwasnowrollinguptoGermany’sfrontiers,andHitlergaveinstructionsthattrenchesandotherdefensiveworksshouldbepreparedtoresisttheinvader.AfterawhilehehadtheimpressionthathisorderswerenotbeingcarriedoutwithsufficientzealbytheWehrmachtcommanders,sohesentforKoch,theGauleiterofEastPrussia,andinstructedhimtocarryouttheworkwiththeVolkssturm,orHomeGuard,andthelocalcivilianpopulation.ThewholeofeasternGermanywastobedefendedwithlineafterlineoftrenches,earthworksandtank-traps.And,infact,duringflightswemadeovertheborderareaswecouldseethatKochwasconscientiouslycarryingoutHitler’sorders.

BytheautumnthefightingwasonlyaboutsixtymilesorsofromRastenburg.ForthetimebeingHitlercontinuedtooccupyhisheadquarters,partlyIbelieveundertheimpressionthathispresencewouldstrengthentheresistance.Russianplanesweremoreandmorefrequentvisitorsnow,andIbegantowonderhowlongitwouldbebeforetheyattackedourairfield.Ihadalreadytakenprecautions:mostofmymachineshadbeendispersedtovariousairfieldsintheneighbourhood,andIhadsentawaythegreaterpartofmyequipmentandmaterial,includingourspareengines,tosafety.Asamatteroffact,the

expectedattacknevertookplace.

WhenwewerebackintheReichChancelloryagain,SpeeraskedmeifIwouldflyajetplaneforhimandlethimhavemyimpressions.Iagreedatonce,butIpointedoutthatIshouldhavetogetpermissionfromHitler.

‘Listen,Baur,’saidHitler,whenIraisedthematter,‘therehavebeensomanyunexplainedcrasheslatelythatIdon’twantyoutotaketherisk.Ineedyoustill.’

Sotherewasnojetflyingforme,butonedayIwentalongwithSpeeronavisitofinspectiontoRechlin,forademonstrationofthenewVolks-jet.Thiswasasimplifiedjetwithoneengineonly,andSpeerreckonedthathecouldprovidetheLuftwaffewithathousandamonth.Bythistimethejetshadbecomeoperational,andtheyhadalreadybookedsomestrikingsuccesses;forexample,ononeoccasionasquadronofsixjetsattackedabomberformationofthirtymachines,shootingdowntwenty-eightwiththelossofonlyonejet.Uptothattime,whenyouheardthatfiftyenemybombershadbeenshotdownyouknewperfectlywellthatatleastthesamenumberofourownfightershadbeenlost.Butthejetshadaspeedofalmostsixhundredmilesanhour,whichwasfantasticforthosedays,andfargreaterthananythingtheenemycouldputintotheair,sothejetfighterwasobviouslytheanswertotheirmassbomberattacks.

WhenwearrivedinRechlintheweatherwassobadandvisibilitywassopoorthatanydemonstrationofthenewVolks-jetwasoutofthequestion,butatleastweweregivenallthetechnicaldetailsandinformedofallthelatestdevelopments.Theoldorder,firstgivenin1943,forathousandjetsamonth,wasnowrepeated–but,asitturnedout,withnogreatersuccess.

InDecember1944HitlerorderedtheabandonmentofhisRastenburgheadquarters,andthegreaterpartofmyequipmentandmaterialwassentbyrailtothesouth.FiftyofmymenwentoffwithaheavilyloadedgoodstraintowardsPockinginLowerBavaria.OnitswaythroughPolandthistraincameintocollisionwithanothergoodstrain.Seventeenofmymenwerekilledonthespot,andmanyothersweremoreorlessseriouslyinjured.Itwasthefirsttimeourflighthadsufferedsuchheavycasualties.

On22DecemberthelastmembersofthestaffleftRastenburg,andIflewHitlertoBerlin.Iwasthengivenleaveofabsenceforafewdays,andflewtoMunichtospendtheChristmasholidayswithmyfamily.SoonafterwardstheRussianscapturedRastenburg.

ThoseofusfromBavariahadnotgonewillinglytoRastenburg,butwestayedtherethreeyears,andinthattimewelearnedtoappreciatetheverydifferentcountrysideofEastPrussiaandthesterlingqualitiesofitsinhabitants,sothatintheenditwasarealwrenchtoleaveit,forweknewverywellthatweshouldnotbegoingbackthereagain.Butatfirsttherewereotherthingstothinkof.InBerlinthelastactwasabouttobeginforHitler–andformethepenultimate…

IspentNewYear’sDay1945inamaternityclinicinSeefeldnearMunich,wheremywifehadjustgivenbirthtoourthirddaughter.TocelebratetheNewYear,aswellasthebirthofmydaughter,Ihadtakenalongsufficientglassesandchampagnetosupplyallthenurses

too;andwhenmidnightcame,manytoastsweredrunkandtheusualgoodwishesexchanged.Theatmospherewascheerfulenoughforthemoment,butIwassecretlywondering–andIhavenodoubtagoodmanyotherpeopleweretoo–what1945wouldbringforus.Allhopeofvictoryhadgone,andtheoutlookwasunpromising.

On15JanuaryIflewbacktoBerlin.TheRussianshadburstoutoftheVistulabulgeandwerenowfightingonGermanterritory;andinthewestHitler’slastcardhadfailed.Aftergreatpreliminarysuccesses,theArdennesoffensive,whichwastohavedriventheBritishandAmericansbackintothesea,hadbeenbroughttoahalt.HitlerreturnedtoBerlin,andneverleftitagain.

TheAllieswerenowbombingBerlinheavily,andtheSupremeCommandoftheWehrmacht,theOKW,whichhaditsheadquartersinZossen,triedtopersuadeHitlertomoveouttothem,butherefused.TheregularsituationdiscussionsnowtookplaceintheReichChancellory,andtheyusuallylasteduntilearlythefollowingmorning.Onefollowedquicklyontheheelsoftheother,becausethesituationwasconstantlychanging–andalwaysfortheworse.TheatmosphereintheconcretebunkersundertheReichChancellorywasbecomingmoreandmoremacabreasonedepressingpieceofnewsfollowedtheother,withneverarayofhope.Thebestnewsinthosedayswasofadefeatwhichwasnotactuallyadisaster.

WhenanyeventgaveHitleraparticularlyhardjolthewouldclasphishandsbehindhisback,andmarchupanddownforawhilewithraisedhead.Thenhewouldgraduallybecomecalmer;hisfacewouldassumeitsnormalexpressionandhewouldbehaveasusual,thoughperhapsaminuteortwobeforehehadseemedalmostattheendofhistether.

Hisfitsofangerwerebecomingmoreandmorefrequentnow,andsometimesheshoutedandraved,usuallywhenhesuspectedthathisorderswerenotbeingcarriedout,orthattheywerebeingcarriedoutunwillinglyandwithresistance.Ihavereadagoodmanynewspaperreportspurportingtodescribetheseoutbursts–theallegedcarpet-biting,andsoon–butIcanonlysaythatalthoughHitlerwascertainlytemperamental,IneverwitnessedanythingofthatsortinalltheyearsIknewhim.

Bythebeginningof1945,wewhowereclosesttohimhadtheimpressionthathehadagedbyatleasttenyearssince20July.Hisrightarmoftentremblednow,andhisbackgrewmoreandmorebent.Itfrequentlyhappened,ofcourse,thatmencameintohispresencewhohadnotseenhimforsometime;andthenwecouldseefromtheexpressionsontheirfaceshowshockedtheywereathischangedappearance.Hewasobviouslygoingdownhillfast,andnothingProfessorMorellcoulddoforhim–pills,injections,hormones,vitaminsandsoon–didhimanygoodorhelduptheprocessofdecline.Towardstheendherarelysleptmorethanthreeorfourhoursanight,whichwasnotenoughtocounteracthisincreasingexhaustion.

Whentheair-raidsonBerlinbecameheavythebomb-proofbunkersundertheReichChancellorywerethrownopenforchildreninHitler’sabsence,andtheyhadbeenbroughtinfromallpartsofthecapitalsothattheyshouldatleastbesafeatnightsandgetundisturbedsleep.Everyeveningafterthatthebunkerswerelikeagreatchildren’shome.Thelittlebedswerethere,thetowels,thehair-andtooth-brushes,theglasses,thenight

things–everythingthechildrenneeded.Roundthewallswereillustratednurseryrhymes.Andastheraidsgrewheavier,andmanyhospitalswerehitanddamaged,partofthebunkerswasturnedintoamaternityclinicwherewomencouldhavetheirbabiesinsafety.ButwhenHitlerreturnedtoBerlinforgoodin1945thematernityclinicbecameahospitalforseriouslywoundedmenofHitler’sownLeibstandarte,andbyApriltherewereaboutathousandmenbeingattendedtothere.

TheReichChancelloryhadbeenhitanddamaged,andKannenberg,whowasstillinchargeofthedomesticside,wasverymuchworriedaboutthefateofhispreciouswines,soheevacuatedthemtoDresden–aproceedingwhichannoyedHitler,because,ashesaid,fuelwasneededformoreimportantpurposes.ByMarchtheRussianswerestilladvancing,andKannenbergfearedthathiswineswouldnolongerbesafeeveninDresden,sohegotholdofacoupleofarmylorries,drovetoDresden,loadeduphiswines,andwentofftoUpperBavaria.IntheneighbourhoodofBayreuthhewasstopped,andhislorrieswererequisitioned,butatleasttheylethimunloadhiswines.HemanagedtofindprovisionalshelterforthemandthenhewentbacktoBerlinandtriedtoenlistHitler’said,butHitlertoldhimbluntlythatthelorrieshadbeenveryproperlyrequisitioned.KannenbergthenappealedtoBormann,whoshowedmoreunderstandingforhiswines,andprovidedhimwithtwolog-burninglorries.WiththeseKannenbergdrovebacktoBavaria,loadeduphiswinesagain,andfoundahomeforthemsomewhereinthesouth–andthatwasthelastBerlinsawofhim.

Asthesituationgrewworse,GöringusedtovisitusintheReichChancelloryabouteveryotherday.OnedaywhenHitlerhadonceagainreproachedhimbitterlyforthefailureoftheLuftwaffe–notsomuchforitsfightingqualities,asforthewayinwhichresearchanddevelopmenthadbeenallowedtolag–hecametome.

‘Baur,’hesaid,‘you’reoneoftheoldguard.You’veseenthedevelopmentofflyingfromthebeginningrightdowntothepresentday;andIdon’tmindtellingyoufranklythatIdon’tknowanythingaboutmodernflying.Thethinghasjustpassedovermyhead.’

‘Howrightyouare!’Ithought.‘Itwouldhavebeenbetterforyouifyou’dkeptupyourflyinginsteadofrollingaroundinspecialtrainsallthetime.’AndIrememberedthosedaysjustafterHitlercametopowerin1933.IflewGöringalotthen,andhewasstillanenthusiasticflyer.HewouldsitnexttomeinouroldJu.52,andeventrytolearninstrumentflying,butlateronhewasgivenhisownpilot,averyexperiencedcolleagueofmine,Flight-CaptainHuckeoftheLufthansa.NowandagainGöringwasflowninverybadweather,andhedidn’tcaremuchfortheexperience.Graduallyhisenthusiasmforflyingdeclined,andheflewlessandless.

IrememberonedaywhenwewereinVinnitsa.Göringarrivedinafour-enginedCondorfromCracow.AfterwardshewasgoingbacktoBerlin.ItwasexcellentflyingweatherandIpointedoutthatitwouldsaveagooddealoftimeifheflewstraightontoBerlin,butherefused,sayingthataspecialtrainwaswaitingforhiminCracow.BythattimeithadalreadybecomecleartousallthattheheadoftheLuftwaffedidn’tcareforflyinganymore,anddidaslittleofitashecould.Forexample,weknewthathehadcomebyplanefromCracowtoVinnitsaonlybecause,partisanactivityhavingmadeanyjourney

overlanddangerous,HitlerhadgiveninstructionsthatVIPsshouldtravelonlybyplane.ItwasalreadyajokeamongstusthatGöringoughtreallytohavebeenRailwayMinister,notAirMinister.Andnow,atatimewhentheLuftwaffecouldgetoffthegroundatallonlywithdifficultyandatthecostoflives,thepersonresponsibleforit,theReichMarshalandReichAirMinister,wasforcedtoconfessthattechnicaldevelopmentsintheairhadgonebeyondhim!

TheworktoconvertthenewJunkers290planeforourusebeganinthesummerof1944.Itwasamachineoriginallydesignedasalong-distanceAtlanticreconnaissanceplane;ithadfourengines,eachof1,800horsepower,atotalweightoffortytons,andarangeofalmostfourthousandmiles.Itsnormalcruisingspeedwaswellovertwohundredmilesanhour,anditstopspeedwaswelloverthreehundredmilesanhour.Itscrewconsistedofapilot,amechanic,awireless-operatorandobserver,andtenmentomanitsheavymachine-guns.Infact,itwasaveritablefortress,anditrepresentedtremendousprogress.Inallitcouldcarryfiftypassengers,andIamconvincedthatinordinarycircumstancesitwouldhaveprovedaworthysuccessortothefamousJu.52whichconqueredtheworld–peacefully–in1932.

ThreeofthesesplendidmachineswerenowconvertedatPocking,betweenBraunauandPassau,forouruse.TheplacewhereHitlersatwasprotectedwitharmour-plate,andthesafety-glasswasofathicknesscalculatedtowithstandbullets.FromHitler’sseattothecabinentrancewasoverfifteenfeet,whichwasmuchtoofarinanemergency,soapowerfulhydraulicdevicewasinstalledcapableofopeningaspecialtrapdoorathisfeetagainstthestrongestair-pressure,whilstaparachutewasbuiltintotheseatinsuchawaythatitcouldnotbeseen.AllHitlerhadtodoinanemergencywastopullared-handledleversituatedataconvenientspotbesidehisseat.Thisoperatedthehydraulicmechanismandopenedthetrapdoor.Hitlercouldthenescapebyparachute.Wetriedthismechanismoutrepeatedlywithadummyofthecorrectweightandsize,anditalwaysworkedsatisfactorily.

AssoonasoneofthesemachineswasconvertedIwentdowntoPockingtotryitoutforitsflyingqualities,anditcameuptomyhighestexpectations.ItwasequippedwithanadvancedtypeofW/Tapparatuswhichallowedmoreaccuratebeamingandposition-finding,andithadfullyautomaticthree-axissteeringlinkedwiththegyro-compass.Allthesethingsareamatterofcoursenowadays,butthentheywerequitenew.

ThedaybeforeIwastotakeoverthismachineandflyittoBerlin,therewasaveryheavyraidonDessau,wherethemachinehadbeenflownforitsfinalcheckbeforehandingover.Ifoundagreatpartofthetowndevastatedandagreatdealofdamageontheairfielditself–butournewJu.290wasunscratched!

BythistimethehopelesstrekofhundredsofthousandsfromtheoutlyingareasofGermanyintotheinteriorwasreachingitsheight,andinBerlintherewerelargenumbersofwomenandchildrenfromEastPrussiawhonolongerknewwhattodoorwheretogo.EverytimeIflewdowntoPockinginconnectionwiththenewJu.290IwouldloadmyplanewithasmanyoftheseunfortunatesasIcouldcarry.WhenIreturnedfromRussiaaftermylongimprisonmentIwasdelightedtofindthatagoodmanyofthesepeoplewhomIhadflownhadsettleddownsatisfactorilyandmadethemselvesnewhomes.

Shortlybefore09.00on17MarchItoucheddownwithmyJu.290onMunichairfield.AlmosteverymorninglargeformationsofAmericanbomberscomingfromItalywouldpassoverMunichontheirwayintoGermany.Ihadalreadygivenordersformyplanetoberolledintoahangar,forwereitleftoutitsunusualsizemightattractunwelcomeattentionfromthepassingenemy.ThenIdroveintotown.Ihadnotbeengonemorethantenminuteswhenanair-raidwarningsounded.Wedroveoutoftownagainasquicklyaspossible,andstoppedundertreesinLaimtoawaitdevelopments.BeforelongbombsbegantofalltotheeastofMunich.Theattackingbombersthenturnedawaytothesouth,andIdrovehome.Beforelongtherewasatelephonecallforme.Theairfieldhadbeenheavilyattacked;theJu.290hadbeenburntout,andtherewerecasualties.

ThistimetheAmericanshaddoneagoodjob.Theyhadoftenattackedtheairfieldbefore,butusuallytheirbombshadfallenharmlesslyinnearbyfields,onlyoccasionallydamagingabuilding.Previouslytheyhadalwaysflownfromsouthtonorth,orfromnorthtosouthontheirwayback,butthistimetheyhadflownfromeasttowest,anditseemedtohaveimprovedtheiraiming,fortheairfieldanditsinstallationsweredevastated.IrangupBerlinandorderedamachinetopickmeup.WhenitarrivedIflewtoBerlin–andthatwasthelastIsawofMunichuntil1955.InBerlinIreportedthefateofourJu.290toHitler,buthetookitverycalmly,justnoddinghishead.

InMarch,Giesler,Inspector-GeneralforthereconstructionofMunich,cametovisitusinthedamagedReichChancellory,andunderthepresentcircumstanceswewonderedwhatonearththerewastodiscussaboutMunich’sultimaterebuilding.ButGieslersawnothingincongruousinhisarrival,andinformedusthathisplanswerenowready.Forexample,theyprovidedfortherebuildingofthefamousFrauenkirchewithitsdoubletowers,whichhadalwaysbeenMunich’sdistinctivearchitecturalcharacteristic.GieslerwasparticularlydelightedatthethoughtthatthiswouldpleaseCardinalFaulhaber.

WhenHitlerheardwhatGieslerhadcomeforhepositivelybeamed–wehadn’tseenhimlooksocheerfulforalongtimeandthetwoofthemwentoffbythemselvestodiscusstherebuildingofMunich.InthemeantimeBerlinwasbeingrapidlyflattened.Hitlerspenthoursontheplans,andmademanysketchestoshowwhathewanted.Heseemedveryhappy,butfortherestofus,whoknewthatthefinaldisasterwasatthegates,itwasanextraordinaryandunrealexperience.

AttheendofMarchIwentouttoSchönwaldetoinspectmymachineparkandvisitmymen.WhilstIwasthereanair-raidwarningsounded,andthemachineswereputawayasrapidlyaspossibleinthehangarsinthewoods.Butbeforealltheplanescouldbegotoutofsightabigformationofbombersflewoveraccompaniedbytheusualstrongfighterescort.Twoofthefightersspottedusanddiveddown.Oneofthemshotupthefour-enginedCondorofGrandAdmiralDönitz,whichhadsixteenhundredgallonsofpetrolinitstanksandflareduptremendously,whilsttheotherattackedRibbentrop’smachine,aJu.52.

AsthefightingcamenearerandnearertoourairfieldIhadtoreckonthatsuchlosseswouldincrease,soIhadsomeofthemachines,myspareenginesandthegreaterpartofmysuppliesandstorestransferredtoPockingandReichenhall.ByAprilthefrontwas

evennearertoBerlin.Bythistimeeveryoneknewthatthesituationwashopeless,andBerlinersspentmostoftheirtimeincellarsandair-raidshelters.TherewereevenrumoursthatHitlerwasnolongerinBerlin,but,infact,hewasstillintheReichChancellory.On1Aprilthevariousministrieswereinstructedtoleavethecapital,andby10AprilonlytheForeignOffice,partofthePropagandaMinistry,andHitler’sReichChancellorystaffwereleft.

Barriersweregoingupeverywhereinthecapitalnow,buttheylookedverysketchyandnotasthoughtheyhadbeenplannedinanydetail.Mymachinesweredistributedamongstvariousairfieldsintheimmediateneighbourhood:Rangsdorf,Finsterwalde,Gatow,SchönwaldeandTempelhof.BeforelongRangsdorfandFinsterwaldehadtobeevacuated.ColonelBöttger,thecommandantofTempelhofairfield,cametoseemeinBerlin.

‘HerrBaur,’hebegan,‘IhavedonewhatIcantoputTempelhofinastateofdefence,andwe’llholdoutaslongaspossible.ButiftheRussianstaketheplaceIdon’tproposetoletthemtakeme.’On22ApriltheRussianstookTempelhofairfield,andColonelBöttgershothimself.

HitlerhadpersonallytakenchargeofthedefenceoftheReichChancellory,andon15April–itwasabeautifulsunnyday–heappearedinthegardentogivevariousinstructions.Mortarpositionswerebeingbuilt,wallswerebeingknockeddowninordertoobtainafreelineoffire,anti-tankgunpositionswerebeingsetup,andconcretedefenceswithloopholeswerebeingbuilt.AthousandmenofhisLeibstandarteunderthecommandofGeneralMohnkeweretheretodefendHitler’slaststrongholdtotheend.

FrauGoebbelsarrivedintheReichChancelloryonthatday,andwhenHitlersawherhewentuptoher,exclaiming:‘Forheaven’ssake,FrauGoebbels,whatareyoudoinghereinBerlin?Youshouldhavegoneawaylongago.BaurherewillflyyoutotheBerghofwhilstthere’sstilltime.Youwillbesafetherewithyourchildren.’

‘IftheRussianstakeBerlinmyhusbandwillbekilled,’sherepliedcalmly,‘andwhatpointwouldtherebetheninourlivingon?Ididn’tbearmychildrenforthemtobeputonshowintheUnitedStatesorSovietRussiaastheprogenyoftheNazipropagandistGoebbels.No,IamgoingtostayhereinBerlinwithmyhusband.’

Asshewasobviouslyquitedetermined,Hitlerarrangedforhertolivewithherchildreninthebunkers,whereGoebbelshimselfwasnowspendinghisnights.IwaslivingintheKanonierStrasseatthetime,butwhenthehousewasbombedIwasgivenquartersinwhathadbeentheYugoslavEmbassy.Iwasshavingonemorningnearthewindowwhenmortarshellsfell.Therehadbeennoair-raidwarning,andtherewasnosignofanyairactivity,butaboutacoupleofhundredyardsawaywasaflakbunkerandtheRussianswereobviouslygettingtherange.IhappenedtomentionittoHitler,andhewasstartledtofindthatIwasstilllivingoutsidetheReichChancellory.HenoworderedthatIshouldbegivenquartersinit.Cubicleshadbeenrunupinthebunkers,andIwastherenowwithMartinBormann,Rattenhuber,Betz,andthedetectiveHögl,whohadbeenwithHitleratthetimeoftheRöhmputsch–hewasnowahighpoliceofficial.

ThenewReichChancellorylookedprettydepressing.Therewasnolongeranylifeaboveground-level.Allthewindowsweregone,andthecurtains,tornanddirty,wavedwildlybackwardsandforwardsintheconstantblast.TheWilhelmPlatzandtheVoss

Strassewerealreadyinthefiringline,butundergroundforfivehundredyardsorsotherewasanetworkofcellarsandbunkerslinkedupwitheachother.ItwaspossibleforlorriestodrivedownfromthesurfaceintothebowelsoftheReichChancellory.Atonetimetheyhadbroughtcoke;nowtheybroughtwounded–whentheycameatall.Duringthelastfewdaysaboutsixhundredwoundedwerebroughtin;andalmostathousandcivilians,mostlywomenandchildren,wereallowedtotakeshelterafterdesperatelyrunninghereandthereonthestreetstryingtofindarefuge.

Hitlerhadhisownbunkerwithjustafewroomsforhimself,hisdoctor,hisservantandtheabsolutelynecessarypersonnelofhisstaff.Thisbunkerwasaboutfortyfeetunderground,thoughtheentrancewhichleddowntoitfromabovewasonlyaboutthreefeetorsobelowgroundlevel.Duringthelastdaysofthefightingashellpenetratedthecoverofthisentrancecorridorandburstinside.Lightwassuppliedbyasixty-kilowattdieselengine,whichalsoprovidedpowerforthewater-pump.Fire-brigadehoseswerelaidthroughtheundergroundcorridorstoserveaswater-pipes.InthiswayHitler’sbunkerandthegeneralundergroundcityoftheReichChancellory,includingthesick-bay,hadlightandwaterrighttotheend,longafteralloutsidesourceshadbeencutoff.

On17AprilGöringarrivedintheReichChancelloryaccompaniedbyMajor-GeneralChristian,whohadbeenourLuftwaffeadjutantforawhile.IaskedhimwhatGöringhadcomefor,andhesaiditwastopersuadeHitlertocometoObersalzberg,whereGöringhimselfwasgoingthateveningbytheAutobahn,whichwasstillopen,butmightnotbemuchlonger.GöringwaswithHitlerforaboutanhourandahalf,andthenthetwoofthemappearedintheanteroom.Theyshookhands,andIheardHitlersay:‘Mindyousendreconnoitringpartiesonahead.FightingistakingplacebetweenNurembergandBayreuth,andAmericantanksmightbreakthrough.Goodluck,anyway.’

ThenextdayHitlertoldmethatGöringhadarrivedsafely.‘AtleastsomeoneIcantrustcaninfluencethedevelopmentofaffairsfromoutside,’hesaidoptimistically.

Thefightingincreasedinviolenceon18and19April.AfterabreakthroughfromtheSeelowhillstheRussianslaunchedapincerdrivetoencircleBerlin,andafterthatthebattleforthecentreofthetownbegantotakeshape.Iwasconstantlyontheairfieldwewerestillusing,andinthenightplaneswerestilltakingoffwithdocuments,andsoon,forMunich.PartoftheReichChancellorypersonnelwasalsoflownout.

Hitler’slastbirthdaywasasadaffair.GrandAdmiralsRaederandDönitzappearedwithHimmlerandGoebbelstocongratulatetheFührer.On22April,bywhichtimetheRussianswerealreadyinthesuburbsandpressingforwardtothecentreofthetown,HitlerdeclaredthathewasdeterminednottoleaveBerlin.Atthesametimehegaveinstructionsthatasmanyothersaspossibleshouldbeflownout.Everynightafterthatmymachinescarriedpeopleouttothesouth.TheonlyairfieldwehadnowwasGatow,anditwasfromhereon25AprilthatpeopleandmaterialwereflownouttoMunichandSalzburgforthelasttime.Theywouldtakeoffat2a.m.inordertobeattheirdestinationbeforedawn.ThelastmachinetoleavewaspilotedbyMajorGundelfinger.Unfortunatelyhecouldnotgetawayontime,becausesomeofhispassengersdidn’tarrivepunctually.Whenhefinallytookoffwereckonedhewouldhavenearlyanhour’sdaylightflyingbeforehereachedhisdestination.Alltheotherplanesreportedtheirsafearrivaleitherduringthenightorintheearlyhoursofthemorning,butweheardnothingofGundelfinger’splane.

Hitlerwasveryupsetatthis,becauseoneofhisfavouritepersonalservantswaswiththisplane.

‘AndIentrustedhimwithextremelyvaluabledocumentswhichwouldshowposteritythetruthaboutmyactions!’heexclaimedindismay.

ItwaseightyearsbeforeitwasdiscoveredthatGundelfinger’splanehadbeenshotdownneartheBavarianForest–indaylight.Themachinewasburntout.Peasantsburiedthebodieswhichwerefoundinthewreckage.

ThatsamenightProfessorMorellwasalsoflownout,butinanotherplane.Acoupleofweeksbeforethathehadhimselfsufferedaslightstrokeandneededtreatment.Iwasastonishedattheextraordinaryexpressiongiventohisfacebytheparalysingofthemusclesoftheleftsideofthemouthandtheeyelid.Powerfuldosesofhisownmedicinegavehimtemporaryrelief,butitwasawarningsignal.MorellweptwhenheleftHitler.HetoldmethatHitlerhadsaidthatduringtheveryshorttimethathe,Hitler,stillhadtolive,DrStumpfeggerwouldlookafterhim.

On25AprilHitlerreceivedatelegramfromGöring,whowasintheBerghof.Itsaidingist:‘Youhaveappointedmetobeyoursuccessor.YouarenowcutoffinBerlin,andcannolongerexerciseyourauthorityexceptwithinaverylimitedarea.Ithereforecalluponyoutotransferfullpowerstome.’AtfirstHitlerdidnottakethistelegramveryseriouslyandmerelycommentedthatGöringprobablyhadnoideaofthesituationinBerlin.Wewerestillabletobroadcastonlongandmediumwavelengths,butashort-wavebroadcastingstationhadbeenoverlooked,whichmeantthatweneededanoutsideaerial.Thiswasagreatnuisance,becausetheaerialwasconstantlybeingdamagedbybombardmentandwecouldnotalwaysrepairitimmediately.Allincomingnewswasheardonordinaryreceivers,andoursignalssectionputtogetheradailybulletinforHitlerfromtheBritishandAmericanbroadcasts,whichwerealreadybeingissuedinGerman.

ThatsameeveningareportcamethroughthatGöringhadopenednegotiationswiththeAmericans.AtthisHitlerbecamereallyangry,andinstructedBormanntodespatchamessagetoGöringatonce.Bormannshowedmethemessagebeforeitwentoff.Itsgistwas:‘Youractionrepresentshightreason,which,intheordinaryway,wouldbepunishablebydeath.Onlyyourlongandvaluableservicespersuademenottoimposesuchasentence.However,Iorderyoutolaydownallyourofficesandappointmentswithintwenty-fourhours.’AnanswerarrivedfromGöringtheverynextmorning.Hecametoheelandrelinquishedallhisauthority.HitlerthenappointedGeneralRittervonGreimasGöring’ssuccessor,andinstructedhimtoflyintoBerlinatonceandreport.

Asallourairfieldswerenowlost,arunwayforplaneswasestablishedontheavenuefromBrandenburgerTortotheVictoryColumn,andIwasinstructedtosupervisethework.TheRussianswerebombardingthisareaveryheavily,becausetheyknewthatitwasusedbyusfortransportandcommunication,andonthewaythereashellexplodedafewyardsawayfromourcar.Thechauffeurwaswoundedinthehandandthecarwasdamaged,butIdidn’tgetascratch.ColonelEhlerswaswaitingformeattheVictoryColumntodiscusstheundertaking.ThefirstthingIpointedoutwasthattheavenue,thoughwideassuch,wasmuchtoonarrowforourpurpose.Itwasaboutseventyyardsacross,whereasevenaJu.52hadawingspanofninety-fivefeet,whichmeantthatevenif

itlandedintheexactcentretherewouldbelessthansixtyfeettospareoneitherside.Ithereforegaveordersthatthetreesshouldbecutdownoneachsideoftheavenueinordertoextendthewidthtoahundredandthirtyyards.WhilstIwasstandingtherewithColonelEhlersweheardtheengineofaFieselerStorch,andsawittouchdownsomedistanceawayjustbeforetheBrandenburgerTor.Igotintomycaranddrovetoitatoncetofindoutwhohadarrived,butwhenIgottherewhoeveritwashadalreadygone.Twosoldierstoldmethatawoundedgeneralandawomanhadgotoutoftheplane,takenacaranddrivenoffatonce.

WhenIgotbacktotheReichChancelloryIdiscoveredthatHannaReitschwasthewomanpilot,andthatshehadflowninwithGeneralRittervonGreim.IknewthegeneralwellfromthedaysoftheFirstWorldWar,andIfoundhimnowlyingonanoperatingtable.Hehadreceivedabulletinhiscalfonthewayin.Hitlerappearedtoo,welcomedvonGreim,congratulatedhimonhissuccessfulflightintothebeleagueredcityandwishedhimaspeedyrecovery.

VonGreimstayedacoupleofdays,andItalkedtohimonseveraloccasions.HetoldmethatHitlerhadgivenhimadetaileddescriptionofwhathadhappenedduringthepastfewdays,andparticularlytheincidentwithGöring.VonGreim,itappeared,hadalsobeenappointedchiefoftheLuftwaffe,andpromotedtotherankoffield-marshal.Inthenightof28AprilHannaReitschflewhimoutofBerlintotakeuphisnewcommand.

On29AprilHitlermarriedEvaBraun.Itwasalldoneveryquietly,andevenIknewnothingaboutituntilHitlertoldmewhenhesaidgood-byetome.OnthesamedayseveralothermarriagestookplaceintheReichChancellory.DrNaumannperformedtheceremonies,whichtookplaceaboveground.Therewasagooddealoffiringgoingonatthetime,andthevariouscouplesweremarriedtotheaccompanimentofbreakingglass,fallingmasonryandheavyexplosions.Theywerethengivenseparateroomsinthebunkersforahoneymoonperhapsuniqueinitstragedy,fornotoneofthosepairscouldhopeforanyhappiness,or,indeed,foranyfutureatall.

ThateveningIspoketoEvaBraun,orEvaHitlerasshenowwas.Shetoldmewhat,infact,Ialreadyknew,thatHimmlerhadalsobrokenaway.HewasexpelledfromtheNationalSocialistPartythatevening.On26AprilhehadtriedtopersuadeHitlertoleaveBerlin,sendingayoungofficerwithanarmouredgroup,spearheadedbysixTigertanks,intoBerlin.OnthewaytotheReichChancellorytheyhadshotupnineRussiantanks.Beamingwithdelightathissuccess,theyoungofficersalutedHitleranddeliveredhismessage.Hitlerreceivedhimveryamiably,butrepeatedthatitwashisintentiontostayinBerlin.TheyoungofficerwasthensecondedtoGeneralWeidling,thelastcommanderofBerlin,andlateronImethimagaininPosen.

SSGroup-LeaderFegelein,theliaisonofficerbetweenHitlerandHimmler,wasmarriedtoEvaBraun’ssister,whichnowmadehimHitler’sbrother-in-law.ThedayHitlermarriedEvaBraunhesummonedFegelein,whocouldn’tbefound.ThensomeonegottheideathathemightbestillinhisownflatontheKurfürstendam.GeneralRattenhuberranghimupthere–incidentally,theBerlintelephonenetworkworkedrightuptothelastmoment–andFegeleinansweredthetelephone.ThegeneralinformedhimthatHitlerwantedtoseehimatonce,andthateveryonehadbeenlookingforhimforhours.Fegeleinrepliedthathewasdrunkandcouldn’tappearbeforeHitlerinsuchastate.ButRattenhuberdeclared

thatorderswereorders,andhewouldsendalongacartofetchhim.AcarwithseveralSSmensetoff,buttheydiscoveredthattheareainwhichFegelein’sflatwassituatedwasalreadyinRussianhands.However,theyfoughttheirwaythrough–onemanwaswounded–andreachedFegelein’sflat,wheretheyfoundhimtipsy,ashehadsaid,andincivilianclothes.Hewasstillunwillingtocome,butpromisedthatassoonashesobereduphewouldcome.

Buthedidn’t,andafterseveralmoretelephonecalls–Fegeleinwasstillinhisflat–anothercarwassentroundataboutnineo’clockintheevening.ThistimeanofficeroftheWehrmachtandanumberofsoldierswent.Onceagainoneoftheirnumberwaswounded.ThistimeFegeleingavehiswordofhonourthathewouldcomelater,andataboutmidnightheactuallydidcome.WhenHitlerwasinformedthatFegeleinhadarrivedatlast,hesaidthathenolongerwantedtoseetheman,andheorderedaninvestigationonachargeofdesertion.

AtHitler’sinstructionsGeneralMohnke,thecommanderoftheLeibslandarle,deprivedFegeleinofhisrankinsigniaandhismedals,andhewasthenlodgedintheGPUbunker,whichwasbelowachurchoppositetheHotelKaiserhof.EvaHitlernowcametomeinhorror,declaringthatHitlerwouldshownomercy:hewouldshoothisownbrotherinsimilarcircumstances.Itwashersistershewasthinkingofprimarily,shedeclared,aboveallbecauseshewasabouttohaveababy.

EarlythatmorningtheresultsoftheinvestigationwerelaidbeforeHitler:Fegeleinhadbeenfoundguiltyofdesertion.Hitlerthenorderedhisimmediateexecution.Anexecutionsquadwassentofftocarryoutthesentence.Everyattempttomoveintheopenwasverydangerousbythistime,butthemenmanagedtoreachtheirobjective,andFegeleinwasexecutedinthegardenoftheForeignOffice.

On28AprilIhadatalkwithFrauGoebbels.Wesattogethercalmlychatting,butIwasveryconsciousallthetimethatIwastalkingtoawomanwhoknewthatshehadonlyaveryshorttimetolive,andthatasamothershemustfirstkillherchildren.

‘Youknow,HerrBaur,lifehasn’treallygivenmeverymuch,’shesaid.‘Iborechildrentomyhusband;Iwenttoallthebigmeetingsbecausehewantedmeto;andIdidmybesttodevotemylifetohimandmychildren.Itwasn’talwayseasy.Myfriends,whoenviedme,mademeseeagooddeal.TheywouldtellmeaboutthisorthatwomanIoughttokeepmyeyeon.Iknewquitewell,ofcourse,thatmyhusband–whowassurroundedwithattractivewomen–didn’ttakehisobligationofmaritalfidelityveryseriously.Perhapsitwasthefaultofthewomen;theycertainlyflungthemselvesathishead.Heoftenhurtme,butIhaveforgivenhim.Iknowthatweshallnevergetoutofthisbunkeralive…Inanycase,Ihavenothingmoretohopefor–anditisn’tonlyjustrecentlythatIhavefeltthat.EveryeveningIputtheinjectionsformychildrenready,andwhenthetimecomesthedoctorwillmakethemforme.TheRussiansarenotmorethanacoupleofhundredyardsawaynow,andeverynightwhenItuckmychildreninandsaygoodnighttothemIneverknowwhetherit’sforthelasttime.’

Asshespoke,herchildrenwereplayingaroundus,ortalkingtothewounded,towhomtheysometimessanglittlesongs.Whenthebombardmentoccasionallyreachednewheightsandthewholeplaceshook,theywoulddanceandclaptheirhandsandwish‘the

wobbling’wouldgoon–itwassuchfun.

ThelasthopeofthemenfightinginBerlinwasthealmostlegendaryreliefarmyofGeneralsSteinerandWenck.On29AprilHitlercalledmeandtoldmethathewassendingColonelvonBelow,whohadbeenliaisonofficerbetweenhimandGöring,andwasnowhispersonaladjutant,withvariousinstructionstoGeneralWenck.Thenhewenton:

‘Thewaywestwardsisstillopen,andIwantyoutoleaveBerlinwithColonelvonBelow.Idon’tneedyouhereanymore.’

IrepliedfirmlythatIhadalreadymademydecisioncleartohim,andthatmyopinionhadnotchangedinthemeantime:‘Iamstayinghere,’Isaid,‘andI’venodoubtI’llfindvariousthingstodo.Forexample,IcantakeColonelvonBelow’splacewhenhe’sgone.’Therewasn’tverymuchleftforanadjutanttodo,butHitleragreed,soonceagainIhadajob.

LookingbackonitnowitseemsastonishingthattherewerepeopleeventhenwhostillwantedtoseeHitler.Forexample,thenurses,whohadbeenworkingnightanddayforweeksinourundergroundhospital,askedthatheshouldvisitthem.ProfessorHaaseandFrauGoebbelswenttoHitlerandtoldhim,andheagreedtodoso.

Youhadtogothroughacanteenbeforegoingdowntothehospitalbelow,andthenursesweregatheredtherewithFrauGoebbelsandherfourchildrenandabouttwentyotherchildren.WhenHitlercameintotheroomthechildrenbegantosing.Withhishandsinhisjacketpocketshewalkedpastthenursesnoddingtothem;thenhehaltedandstoodthereforabouthalfaminutewithoutsayinganything.Therewassilence,andmostofthenurseswereintears.Stillwithoutsayinganything,Hitlerturnedandlefttheroom,andthenurseswentbacktotheirpatients.

On29April29ththebattlefortheReichChancelloryitselfopenedup.ThefollowingdayIwasrepeatedlycalledintoHitler’sbunker,for,afterall,Iwasnowhisadjutant.ThelasttimeIwascalledinIwastoldtobringmyownadjutant,ColonelBetz,withme.Hitler’sroomwasquitesmall,andthefurnitureconsistedofacouch,asmallsideboard,atableandafewchairs.Theconcretewallshadbeencoveredwithwoodpanelling.

AssoonasIentered,Hitlercameuptomeandtookbothmyhandsinhis.

‘Baur,Iwanttosaygood-byetoyou.’

‘Youdon’tmean…’Ibeganindismay.

‘Yes,’heanswered.‘Thetimehascome.Mygeneralshavebetrayedme;mysoldiersdon’twanttogoon;andIcan’tgoon.’

Itriedtopersuadehimthattherewerestillplanesavailable,andthatIcouldgethimawaytoJapanortheArgentine,ortooneoftheSheiks,whowereallveryfriendlytohimonaccountofhisattitudetotheJews.HitlermadehimselfmanyenemiesovertheJewishquestion,buthealsowonanumberoffriends.Afterthewar–which,ofcourse,hehadexpectedtowin–heproposedtotakeMadagascarawayfromtheFrenchandturnitintoanationalhomefortheJews.Itwastobeasovereignandindependentstate;andallJews,includingthoselivinginEgypt,wouldbesentthere.Thisplannaturallywonhimthe

sympathyoftheMufti,whowaslivinginEgypt,andhadvisitedHitleronanumberofoccasionsintheReichChancellory.Ihadseenhimthereonceortwicemyself,andHitlertoldmewhenhewasgonethathewasaverycunningfoxindeed.

HitlerdeclaredonceagainthathewouldundernocircumstancesleaveGermany.Hecouldgointothemountains,ofcourse,orhecouldgotoGrandAdmiralDönitzinFlensburg.Butwhatwouldbethegoodofthat?Inacoupleofweeksattheoutsidehewouldbeinthesamesituationashewasnow.

‘ThewarwillendwiththefallofBerlin,’hedeclared.‘AndIstandorfallwithBerlin.Amanmustsummonupcourageenoughtofacetheconsequences–andthereforeI’mendingitnow.Iknowthattomorrowmillionsofpeoplewillcurseme–that’sfate.TheRussiansknowperfectlywellthatIamhereinthisbunker,andI’mafraidthey’llusegasshells.Duringthewarweproducedagaswhichcouldputamantosleepfortwenty-fourhours.OurIntelligencetellsmethattheRussiansnowhavethisgastoo.Theconsequenceswouldbeunimaginableiftheycapturedmealive.Therearegas-lockshere,Iknow,butcanyourelyonthem?Inanycase,I’mnot–andI’mendingittoday.’

Hitlerthenthankedmeforthemanyyears’loyalserviceIhadgivenhim,andhelookedroundtheroom.

‘Iwanttogiveyousomething,’hesaid.‘Whataboutthispictureonthewallhere?–It’saLenbachofFredericktheGreat.I’veownedmanypicturesinmylife,someofthemmuchmorevaluablethanthisone,whichcostmethirty-fourthousandmarksin1934.Iwantitpreservedforposterity;ithasconsiderablehistoricalvalue.’

IrepliedthatIwouldgladlyacceptit,andthatinmorepeacefultimesIwouldpresentittosomeartgallery.

‘No,’hesaid,‘that’snotwhatIwantatall.It’sforyou.It’senoughifit’sinyourhands.Iknowyou’veoftengrumbledaboutmypictures,includingthisone–butthatwasanothermatter.’

Imusthavelookedathiminastonishment,forheexplained:‘YourememberthatwheneverIchangedmyheadquartersformorethanadayorsothispicturehadtogoalong.Theytoldmelongagoaboutthewayyouusedtogrumble.’

AndthenIrememberedthatawkwarditemofbaggagethatwasneverallowedtobesentonwiththebaggageplanebutalwayshadtogoinourmachine,leaninginthegangwayineverybody’sway.Iknew,ofcourse,thatHitlerwasveryfondofhispictures,andlikedtohavethemaroundhim–sothatwhenwewentawayfromoneplaceforlong,hispictureshadtogoalongtoo.

Itriedtoexcusemyselfandexplainthatotherpeopleusedtocomplainwhentheyhadtopassthatlargepackageinthegangway…butHitlersmiledandinterrupted:

‘Allright,Baur.Allright.’

Andthenhewentonmoreseriously:‘NowI’vestilltwojobsforyou,Baur.Iammakingyouresponsibleforburningthebodiesofmywifeandme.Andthen,IhaveappointedDönitzmysuccessor,andBormannhasimportantinstructionsfrommetobecommunicatedtoDönitz,andIwantyoutogethimoutofhere.Itisveryimportantthat

BormannshouldgettoDönitz.’

HitlerthenshookhandsfirmlywithmeandturnedtoColonelBetz,thankedhimforhisservicesandshookhandswithhimtoo.IhadalreadyturnedtoleavetheroomwhenHitlerwalkedaftermeandcaughtholdofmeimpulsivelywithbothhands.‘Baur,’heexclaimed,‘onmytombstonetheyoughttoputthewords:“HewasthevictimofhisGenerals!”’WhenImadesomecomment,hewenton:‘Baur,there’sagooddealyoudon’tknow,andyou’llfindoutsomethingsthatwillastonishyou.’

Lateroninprisoner-of-warcampsIwaswithgeneralswhohadbeenurgingourmentothrowdowntheirarmsandgoovertotheenemysince1944,whentheyweretakenprisoner,andIknewthenwhatHitlerhadmeant.

WhenweleftHitlerIsaidtoBetzthatweshouldhavetotrythebreak-outthatverynight,andthatweneededdifferentclothes,forweshouldhavetomakeourwaytotheplanesonfoot.Itwas19.00whenweleftHitler,andnot16.00asIhavesinceseenitsaid.IwentdowntoProfessorHaase,whowasoperatingdayandnightonthewoundedandhardlyevergotawayfromtheoperating-tableexcepttosnatchalittlesleep,andIaskedhimforacoupleofcamouflagecapesandpacksfromthekitbroughtinwiththewoundedmen.

Hefoundmethecamouflagecapes,butsaidthathehadn’tanypacks,becausethemenwerebeingbroughtinfrompositionscloseathandandthereforehadnopackswiththem.Ithenhandedoverallmysparepersonalclothing,shirts,socksandsoon,forthewounded.ImanagedtogetapackfromaLuftwaffeman,butithadnostraps,soBormanngavemesomeandIsewedthemonmyself.ThenIburntallmypapers.

Aboutanhourandhalfhadpassed,andtofindoutwhathadhappenedinthemeantimeIwentwithBetzthroughtheruinedcorridorwhichledunderthegardenoftheReichChancellorytotheFührer’sbunker.EvenbeforeIhadgonedownthetwentystepswhichledtoitIsmeltcigarettesmoke,whichwasunusualherebecauseHitlerwasanon-smokerandsmokingwasforbiddenanywherenearhisquarters.Iwentquicklydownthesteps,andthereIfoundGoebbels,Rattenhuber,MüllerandBormann,withperhapsadozenSSmen,allveryobviouslyonedge.IaskedGoebbelsifitwereallover,andhenodded.IthenaskedifHitler’sbodywerestillinhisbunker,whereuponGoebbelsrepliedthatitwasalreadybeingburnt.WhenItoldhiminsurprisethatHitlerhadmademeresponsibleforburninghisbody,herepliedthatHitlerhadgiveneverybodythoseinstructionswhenhesaidgood-bye.

‘HitlercommittedsuicideshortlyafterIlefthim,’headded.

Iaskedwhetherhehadshothimself.

‘Yes,inthetemple.Hewaslyingonthefloor.EvaBrauntookpoison,andshewassittingonthesofaasthoughshewereasleep.’

ItappearedthatHitler’sbodyhadbeenwrappedinblanketsandcarriedupstairsintotheopen.Hitler’schauffeur,Kempka,hadbroughtalongtinsofpetrol.Goebbels,Bormann,RattenhuberandMüllerhadbeenpresentattheburningofthebody.RattenhubertoldmethatduringtheburningEvaBraun’sbodyhadtwitchedviolently,anditis,infact,wellknownthatthisphenomenoniscommon.Hitler’sbodyhadshrunkinonitself.

WiththisIregardedthematterasended,andIdidn’tevengoupandlook–anomissionIwastohavecausetoregretlateroninRussia,becauseinvestigationsshowedthatthecremationofthebodieshadnotbeencomplete,andthatcertainparts,thoughcharred,hadnotbeendestroyed.

WhenIwasreadytogoIreportedtoMartinBormann,whotoldmethatitdependedonGeneralRauch,whowasnowincommandofthedefenceofCharlottenburg,whetherwemadetheattempttodayortomorrow.RauchwouldbearrivingattheReichChancelloryat22.00.Bormannalsosaidthattherewasasuggestionthatsurrendernegotiationsmightbeopenedup,becauseitwasnowwellestablishedthattheRussianswererapingeverywomantheygotholdof,irrespectiveofage;forexample,allthenursesandevenbedriddenpatientsattheWeissenseeHospitalhadbeenraped.

Whenournursesheardthis–andsomeofthemwereveryprettyandattractivegirls–theyallbegantoclamourforpoisontodoawaywiththemselvesratherthanfallintoRussianhands.Therewerealsoquitealargenumberofwomeninthebunkers,andtheywereallobviouslythreatenedwiththesamefate.

GoebbelshadbeenaskedtohandovertheReichChancelloryofficiallytotheRussians,inorder,ifpossible,topreventthesortofthingthathadhappenedatWeissensee.GeneralKrebs,whospokeRussian,wastogotoMarshalZhukovtoopenupnegotiationsandseeifreasonableconditionscouldbeobtained.

AfterthatIwenttoLinge,whowasHitler’svalet,togetmyLenbachportraitofFredericktheGreat.Wetookitoutofitsframe,androlleditup–theactualsizeofthecanvaswasabouttwenty-fourbysixteeninches–andtieditontopofmypack.

Itwas22.00hoursnowandGeneralRaucharrived.ThroughBormannIlearnedwhatRauchhadtotellus:theRussianswerealreadyinGrunewaldandSpandau,buttheHeeresStrassewasstillopen,andthebridgeovertheHavelwasbeingsuccessfullydefendedbyHitlerYouthdetachmentsunderAxmann.Therewasthereforenourgentreasonwhyourdepartureshouldtakeplaceatonce.

FrauGoebbels,RattenhuberandIweretogetherthatevening,andourconversationwasnotverycheerful.At03.00hoursapolicemanarrivedandreportedtoRattenhuberthatthebodiesofHitlerandEvaBraunhadbeenconsumed,apartfromnegligibleremains,andburiedinshell-holes–thegardenandforecourtoftheReichChancellorywaspittedwithshell-holes.IlearnedonlylaterinMoscowthatthisreportwasinaccurate.

AmbassadorHewel,whohadbeenliaisonofficerbetweenHitlerandRibbentrop,satatalittledistancefromus,lookingataphotographofhisyoungwife–theyhadbeenmarriedonlyafewmonths.Iaskedhimwhetherhewasgoingwithus.Thereweretearsinhiseyeswhenhereplied:

‘Idon’tknow,Baur.Ireallycan’tgivemyselfuptotheRussians.’

IpointedoutthatnoneofusintendedtogiveourselvesuptotheRussians.‘Itdoesn’tlookveryhopeful,’Iadmitted,‘butwemightmanageit;youneverknow.’

‘Right,’hesaidwithdetermination,‘I’llcomealong.Andifitlooksasthoughthey’regoingtotakemeIcanalwaysshootmyself.Idon’twanttobecomeatraitortoHitler,thoughIoftendisagreedwithhispolicy.’

Whenwestartedoutthenextday,Hewelcouldseethatthesituationwashopeless,andheblewhisbrainsoutbeforetheRussiansgothim.

AlittlelaterthateveningGeneralBurgdorfaskedmetoshoothim,butIrefused,andthenheshothimself.GeneralKrebsshothimself,andsodidSchädle,whowaswoundedinthelegandthereforecouldn’tcomewithus.GeneralMüller,thechiefoftheGestapo,alsodecidednottocomewithus.

‘IknowRussianmethodstoowelltotaketheriskoffallingintotheirhands,Baur,’hesaid.‘They’dshootmeinanycase,butatleastIcansavemyselfthepreliminarybeatingsandthetorture.’

Awaveofsuicidesnowsweptthroughthebunkers,formanyhighlyplacedpeoplepreferredaquickdeathattheirownhandstoimprisonmentbytheRussians.IoftenthoughtaboutthemlateronwhenIwasinRussianhandsandsubjectedtoendlessill-treatment,andIoncetoldaRussiancommissarthatIenviedmycomradeswhohaddecidedtoenditwithaquickshot–theywerebetteroffthanIwas.

AtdawnthefollowingdayGeneralRauchsetofftoreturntohismen,butatmiddayhewasbackintheReichChancelloryinaverydowncastmood.HehadbeenunabletogetfartherthantheZoobunker,forduringthenighttheRussianshaddrivenawedgethroughtheTiergarten,andwewerenowcompletelysurrounded.

ThereportsonthesituationreachingtheReichChancellorywereveryconfused,anditwasdifficulttogetaclearpicture,butGeneralWeidlingdecidedthatasthewestwardescaperouteseemedclosed,weshouldtrytomakeourwayoutnorthwardsovertheWeidendammBridge,wherethefirstRussianlinesweresituated.ThesecondlinewasinOranienburg,buttothenorthofthatwasanSSdivisionunderSteiner.Ifwecouldgetthroughtothemweshouldbesafe–forthemomentatleast.Orderswerenowgiventhatthebreak-outshouldstartat21.30hoursthatevening.

ShortlybeforeweleftIwentdowntoDrGoebbelstosaygood-bye.Hewasinhisbunkerroomwithhiswife.Ididn’tseethechildren,andIdidn’taskaboutthem,soIdon’tknowwhethertheywerealreadydeadthenornot.WhenIwentintheybothgotup,andthereweretearsintheireyes.

‘Berliniscompletelysurroundednow,Baur,’Goebbelssaid,‘anditwon’tbeeasyforyoutogetout,butIwishyouluck.Doyourbest;BormannhasimportantinstructionsforDönitz.IfyoumanagetogetthroughtellDönitzwhatthesituation’sbeenlikeherethispastthreeweeks.Andtellhimthatweknewhowtoliveandfight,andthenhowtodie.’

Ishookhandssilentlywiththemboth,andthenIleft.

Justbefore21.30hourswewereorderedtogoforwardinsmallgroups.IkeptwithBormann,asIhadbeeninstructedtodo.Therewereaboutfifteenofusinourgroup,andwewentoutoftheVossStrasseentrance–wheretheSAsentrieshadalwaysstood,andfromtherewerantowardstheKaiserhofundergroundstation.Ithadbeenbadlydamaged,andtherewerenostepsleft,sowewentdownintothestationonourbehinds.Apartfromwherebombsandshellshadbrokenopenthetunnelitwasquitedark.Wehadnotorches,andwewentforwardinthedarkovertheFriendrichstrassecrossingandontoGendarmenmarkt,wherewecameoutagainandfoundeverythinginflames.Wenow

wentbacktotheFriedrichStrasse,andfromtheretowardsWeidendammBridge.Alittlewaybeforethistherewasananti-tankbarrier,andaboutahundredyardsfurtheronburninglorriesinfrontoftheRussianlines.

TheRussiansknewthatanyoneattemptingtogetoutofBerlintothenorthwouldhavetopassoverthisbridge,andsotheyputupaconcentratedbarrage,withtheresultthatcasualtiesinthisareawereveryheavy.MartinBormanncrouchedonthestonestepsofahousedoorwayonthecornerofSchiffbauerdam.AyoungRussianlaydeadjustinfrontofhim.Iwasstilltryingtofindawayforward.FromtheFriedrichStrasseweweretomakeourwayintotheZiegelStrasse,andfromthereintoabigbrewery,whichwasourmeeting-point.ButeverytimeItriedtogoforwardIhadtoturnback.

‘Staywhereyouare,Baur,’Bormanncalledout.‘Idon’twantyoushot.Youcanseeforyourselfhowmanywoundedarestreamingback.Ineedyou.Staywithme.’

Itoldhimthatitwasimpossibletostayput.Wemusttrytogetforward.Thenightwasshortenoughasitwas,andwehadalongwaytogo.

ThenIwentforwardagaintoaruinedhouse.Ithadoncebeenahotel,andbeyonditwecouldalmostreachthecorneroftheZiegelStrasse.Itwasabouttwoo’clockwhenBormannandIranforward.TheRussianswerefiringpersistentlyfromthedirectionoftheChauseeStrasse,aswesprangandclamberedoverheapsofrubbletogettotheruinedhotel.Wetookrefugeinadoorwayanddiscoveredthatthehallbehindit,andthecellarbelow,wasfullofpeople,mostofthemwounded.Theirpositionseemedprettyhopeless,buttherewasnothingwecoulddoaboutit,andIwentoutontothestreettoseeiftherewereapossibilityofgoingon.GermanandRussiantankswerefightingitoutinthestreets.SeveralgiantRussiantanksweredestroyedbyanti-tankweapons,andIwasstandingquiteclosetoaGermantankwhenitsuddenlyopenedfire,andIwasthrowntothegroundbytheblast.AfterwardsIdiscoveredthatmyfacehadbeensosearedbytheexplosionthatittookmemonthstogetthelittleblackpowderspotsoutofmyskin.Iscrambledtomyfeetandranbacktothedoorway.ThenIheardthesoundofshootingfromthecourtyardattheback,andIranupthestairstolookdown.

IntheflickerofburningcarsIsawaboutascoreofRussiansdownbelow.AsquicklyasIcouldIranbacktoBormannandtoldhimthatalltheRussianshadtodotofinishusoffwastoopenthebackdoor,anditwasthereforetimewemoved.Itwastimeanyway,fortherewasonlyaboutanhour’sdarknessleft.

Therewereonlyfourofusleftnow:Bormann,Naumann,DrStumpfeggerandmyself,andweallknewthatonceitwaslighttherewouldbenochanceatallofgettingoutofthetrap.Therewas,wehadheard,apossibilityofgettingoutofinnerBerlinunderground.Youthsandgirls,whoknewtheirwayaroundthroughthecellarsandthepassagewaysthathadbeenknockedbetweenthemforair-raidpurposes,hadtakenoutmanysoldiersundertheRussianlines.Infactyoucouldgoforhundredsofyardsundergreatblocksofbuildings,though,ofcourse,duringthebombardmentandthefightingitoftenhappenedthatthewaywasblockedbyfallendebris.

Butwecameacrossnoonewhocouldhaveguidedusthroughtheundergroundlabyrinth,andwehadnotorcheswithwhichwemighthavefoundourownway,so,forbetterorforworse,wehadtochanceourluckaboveground.Wehadverylittletimeleft

now,andafterashortdiscussionwedecidedtomakeafinaldesperateattempt.

DrNaumannofthePropagandaMinistrywentfirst,followedbyMartinBormann;thencameDrStumpfegger,andIbroughtuptherear.Butwehadhardlyputournosesoutsidethehousedoorwayinwhichwehadbeenshelteringthantheshootingstartedupagain.WegottotheZiegelStrasseandranalongitinIndianfile.Theshootingseemedtobecomingfromeverywhere,windows,doorsandcorners.Carswereburning,andthewoundedweregroaning.ShortlybeforetheUniversityClinicIthrewmyselftotheground.WhentheshootingdieddownIlookedupagain,andtherewasnoonetobeseen.Theywerenottroublingtopursueanyone;theymerelyfiredonanythingthatmoved.

TothisdayIhaveneverheardanymoreofBormannandDrStumpfegger,butIfeelsurethattheywerebothkilled.Bormannwaswearingasimplebrownuniformwithnospecialdistinguishingmarks,andinallprobabilityhisdeadbodywaspickeduptogetherwiththethousandsofothersthatlayaroundinthestreetsatthetimeandburiedasthebodyofanunknownmaninoneofthemassgraves.NodoubttheRussianscarefullyexaminedallthedeadbodiestheypickedupintheneighbourhoodoftheReichChancellory,butBormannwaskilledsomedistanceaway,andinanycasehisfeatureswerenotsowellknownasthoseofmanyoftheothers.Naumanndidsurvive,asIdiscoveredlater.

ItwasdaylightwhenIranbackintheotherdirection.Otherswererunningnow,andIranwiththem.WewentalongtheSpreeCanalasfarasthebridgeleadingdowntotheWilhelmStrasse,andtherewell-aimedfiremadeusturnback.ThenwewentalongtheStadtbahntowardsLehrterStation,butagainwewereturnedbackbyheavyfire,thistimefromthedirectionoftheReichstag.Thenwetriedagainintheprotectionoftherailwayembankment,aimingtogetpastCharitéHospital,buttheRussianswerealreadyinoccupation,andthereweremanycasualties.QuiteclosetoLehrterStationweracedthroughacourtyardrightintothelineoffireofRussiantommy-gunners.IfeltaviolentblowinthelegsandIfelldown.

Thefirstsearingpainprobablymademecryout,andmengrabbedmeanddraggedmeintoahousethatwasalreadyburningandhadlostthegreaterpartofitsfacade.GoodSamaritanssplintedonelegwithpiecesofwoodandcardboard,andbandagedtheotherleg,whichhadgotabulletcleanthroughitwithouttouchingthebone.InthefirstexcitementIdidn’tevennoticethatIhadalsobeenhitinthehandandchest.

Thefirewasspreadingnow,andIcouldfeelthegroundundermegettinghotterandhotter.BymysidelayapistolwithwhichIintendedtoblowmybrainsoutratherthanbeburntalive.Thehousewasstillunderfire,andbulletswerericochetingwildlyoffthewalls.Somewherequiteclosewoundedwerecryingout.AfteraboutfourhoursofthisaRussianarrivedwiththreeGermanprisonerstocollectthewounded.ItwasfromthisRussianthatIfirstheardthewordsthatweretobecomesofamiliartoeveryoneatthetime:‘Ury,ury,’fromtheGermanwordUhr–watch,wrist-watchinthiscase.Mywatch,anairman’sjobwitheverypossibledevice,pleasedmycaptortremendously.Heseemedtohavebeendoingwell,forhealreadyhadaboutadozenwristwatches,butminewasthebestofthemallandhewasdelighted,forhekeptrepeating‘Khorosho!Khorosho!’–‘Good!Good!’

InthecellarinwhichIwaslyingtherewasabedstead,andthiswastakentopiecestoformastretcherforme.IwaslaidonthisandcarriedoutintotheInvalidenStrasse.

PARTFIVE

InRussianHandsIWASARussianprisonernow,andtherewerefiftyorsixtyofusatthecollectingcentretowhichIwastaken.TherewasaGermanpolicemanwhospokeRussianthere,andhewashelpingtotakedownourparticulars.WhenheaskedmemyrankandItoldhimlieutenant-general,helookedupinsurprise.Noonehadtakenanyparticularinterestinmesofar,butafterthatitwasdifferent.ThepolicemanrushedofftotheRussianswiththenews,andafterawhileaRussiancolonelarrivedwithapieceofpaperonwhichheaskedmetowritemyname.ThisIrefusedtodo,sayingthatIdidn’tproposetogiveanyoneablankcheque.

ThecolonelthencondescendinglyexplainedthatheneededthesignaturesofallfieldofficersunderanappealtothoseGermansoldierswhowerestillholdingout,callingonthemtolaydowntheirarms.ItoldhimthatIwasapilotandthatIhadnothingwhatevertodowithmilitaryaffairs.AsfarasIknew,thedefenceofBerlinwasinthehandsofGeneralWeidling:thatwasthemanheshouldapplyto.Helookedatmesuspiciouslyandthenbegantothreatenme,butwhenthishadnoeffectheorderedmyremovaltoanemptyroom,whereIwaslaidoutonatableandleft.

Iwasveryweakfromlossofblood,andnowIhadanattackofague.Iremainedonthattableforabouttwohours,andthenIwascarriedofftomyfirstinterrogationbytheGPU–orMVD,asitcalleditselfbythistime.HavingfoundoutwhoIwas,theynowwantedtoknowwhathadhappenedtoHitler,whetherhewasreallydead,and,ifso,whetherhisbodyhadreallybeenburnt.ThiswasthefirsttimeIwasquestionedonthematter.Itwasnotthelast,andatthetimeIhadnoideahowmuchtroublethewholebusinesswasgoingtogiveme.

AtmyinsistentrequestIwasfinallygivenaglassofwater.Iwasseriouslywounded,ofcourse,butIwasn’ttobespared‘themarchthroughBerlin’.ItappearedthattherewasageneralorderthatallprisonersshouldbecartedthroughBerlintoseehowmanywhiteandredflagstherewerehangingouteverywhere;soIwashoistedintoacar,andoffwewent–alightRussiantankfollowingintherear.WedroveoutofBerlintoSchönwald,Bernauandback.Theroadswere,ofcourse,inaverybadstate,havingbeenshottopieces.AsthecardrovealongatspeedIwassometimesthrownrightintotheairbythebumping,andatsuchmomentsthepaininmylegwassoexcruciatingthatIscreamed.TherewasaMongolsoldiersittingnexttome,andhejustnoddedhishead.Beyondthatitdidn’tseemtobotherhim.IwasdrivenroundBerlinforacoupleofhours–orderswereorders.

IfbychanceIhadsupposedthatafterthisformoftortureIshouldbetakensomewherefortreatment,Iwouldhavebeenmistaken–thoughIhadbeenpromisedit.IwasnowquestionedbyanotherGPUinterrogator,andattheendofitcametherenewedpromise:‘Hospitalwillbe!’ThatnightIwastakenbycartoafarmnearStraussberg,wheretherewereadozenothergenerals,includingGeneralWeidling.Istillreceivednomedical

treatment,andtherewerefurtherinterrogations–foraweek!Andalwaysontheonetheme:Hitler’sdeath.

AttheendofaweekItoldtheinterrogatingcommissarbluntly:‘FromnowonI’mnotansweringanyofyourquestionsuntilyouprovidemewithmedicaltreatment.Inanycase,youkeepaskingmethesamethingoverandoveragain.HitlerisdeadasfarasIknow,andIbelievehisbodywasburnt.’

OnceagainIwasaskedtosignsomething;onceagainIrefused;andonceagainIwasthreatened.

‘Shootmeorgivememedicalattention;oneortheother,’Isaidwithdetermination.

Whenthefellowsawthattherewasreallynothingmoretobegotoutofmehemusthavegivenorderstotakemetoanotherfarm,whereoperationsweregoingon.TherewerefourcouchescoveredwithAmericancloththere,andonthreeofthemlaywoundedRussiansstillunderageneralanaesthetic.Iwasputunderananaesthetictoo,butithadn’tworkedbeforesomeonestartedtocut.Iletoutawildyellofpain,asaresultofwhichtheygavemeanotherwhiff,whereuponIreallywentoff.WhenIrecoveredconsciousnessbothmylegswereinplaster,butInoticedthattheplasterontherightlegwassoakedwithblood.However,forawhileIwasfreeofpain.

TheunwoundedgeneralsweretakenawayacoupleofdayslaterandsentofftoMoscowbyplane.ThesickandwoundedwenttoPosen,wheretherewasavasthospitalcampwithaboutthirty-fivethousandinmates;therewasadesperateshortageofmedicineandnosurgicalinstrumentsatall.ProfessorSchneiderinformedmethatitwouldbenecessarytoopenuptheplaster,astherewasnoX-rayapparatusbecauseintheirinitialenthusiasmtheComradeshaddestroyedthemall.Iwasputunderananaesthetic,andwhathehadtotellmewhenIcametowasn’tencouraging:

‘They’vejustslityourwholecalfopenfromtoptobottom.Why,Ican’ttellyou,fortheydidn’tevenextractthebullet.Itwasstillembeddedinthebone.Someoftheboneismissing,bytheway;butlateronwhenthingssettledownyoucanhaveabone-graftingoperation.’

Buteventhatwasn’ttooencouraging,becausenowmylegbegantosuppurateandIfellveryill.Ihadweighedahundredandninetypounds;nowIweighedahundredandten.Atlast,andwithaheavyheart,Ihadtogivepermissionformylegtobeamputated.Therewasnoscalpelavailable,sotheGermansurgeonamputatedwithapocket-knife.OnmyreturnIreceivedaletterfromapastorwhosaidhestillhadthepocket-knifewithwhichthejobwasdone.

AftertheoperationIwasputinatent.Itwasheatedbyastovewhosechimneypipewentthroughthecanvasroof–withtheresultthatthecanvasoftencaughtfire.Andonestormynightthewholethingfellinonusandthepipedroppeddownonmybed.AfterthatatleastIwasputintoaproperbuilding,andthatwouldhavebeenagreatadvantagebutforthebed-bugs.Thereweretwothingswhichstayedwithmethroughoutmyimprisonment:oneofthemwaskasha,thecoarsemilletporridgewhichwasthechiefsourceofournourishment,andtheotherwasbed-bugs.ThereweremyriadsoftheminPosen;inonenightItookthetroubletocountmybag–sixhundredandforty.Notthattherewasanysenseinkillingthemeveninsuchnumbers;therewerefartoomanyof

them,butatleastitgaveyousomethingtodo.

Awomandoctorwiththerankofcaptainwasinchargeofourhospital,andonedayshecametomeandinformedmethatIwasnowwellenoughtobesenttoasanatoriuminMoscowwiththeotherGermangenerals,whereIshouldbewelllookedafterandgetplentytoeatandadailyrationofschnapps–apointwhichtheRussiansseemedtoregardasofgreatimportance.Itsoundedallright.IhadsucceededingettingaformertelephonistintheReichChancellory,acorporalnamedMisch,allowedasmybatman,andnow,withsomedifficulty,IgotpermissionforhimtoaccompanymetoMoscow,thoughI’mnotsurethatitturnedouttohisadvantage.Incidentally,whilstIwasstillinPosenIsenttwelveletterstomywifethroughfellowswhoweregoingback,but,asIlearnedafterwards,shereceivedonlytwoofthem.

On24November,fourhundredandfiftyofuswereloadedintocattle-truckstomakethejourneytoMoscow.Thetrainhadeightytrucks,buttheywerenotallatourdisposalbecausesomeofthebootyofwarwasbeingtakenbacktoMoscowwithus:furniture,factoryequipment,pianos,horses,cattle,oldstoves,stovepipes,baths,oldwater-pipesandsoon.

WeactuallywenttoaprisoncampatMoshaisk,aboutseventymilesthissideofMoscow,andbecauseIwastobesentontothis‘generals’sanatorium’Iwasquarteredoutsidethecamp.AfterawhileIsetoffwithagroupofotherofficers,andmybatmanMisch.InMoscowwehadtowaitforalongtimeinawaiting-room,andthenasmallOpelcarpickedusup.The‘sanatorium’turnedouttobeaprison–onelookattheforbiddinggateswasenough.Itwas,infact,thenotoriousButirka.

MischandIwereputtogetherinacell,whichwasjustaboutbigenoughtotaketwo,andtherewewaited–waitingwasanotherthingweweretogetveryusedto.Ataboutfouro’clockinthemorningwewerewokenuptohaveourparticularstaken,andanofficerinformedmethathenceforththewearingofrankbadges,medalsandsoonwasforbidden.WhenhehadtakenawayeverythingtherewastotakeawayIwasgiventheusualassurancethatsomedayIshouldgetitallbackagain.Itdidn’ttakeuslongtolearnthatthephrasewewereconstantlyfobbedoffwith,‘Willgeteverything’,neededthewords‘takenaway’addedtobringitintolinewithreality.Wewerenotalone:GeneralsWeidlingandRattenhuber,forexample,werebothinprisonwithus.

BycomparisonwithwhatwehadsofarbeengiveninRussianhandsthefoodwasn’ttoobad,thoughIcouldn’tgetenthusiasticaboutthefishsoup.Youcouldspotafish’shead,orfishbonesinitoccasionally,butneverapieceoffish.Andwehadthatsoupeverydayoftheyear.Fromtimetotimemystumpwasgivenlighttreatment,andIwasassuredthatbeforelongitwouldbeallright–budit,‘willbe’,wasanotherexpressionwegotveryusedto.Itwasthefuturetense,andthereforeitneverneededtobetrue,thoughitwasalways‘goingtobe’:jamtomorrowandtomorrow,butneverjamtoday.

Theinterrogationswenton,andonandon,andImadetheacquaintanceofamanwhowastosticktomelikealeechforyears.HewastheGPUagentwhohadmycase‘inhand’,andhisnamewasDrSaveli.Atfirsteverythingwasmoreorlessrightandproper,thoughmyexaminerpreferrednight-work–asbeingmoreinconvenienttome.ThefirstnighthejustgotmetotellhimaboutthefinalhoursintheReichChancellory,whilsthe

scribbledawaylikemad.

NeitherMischnorItoldthemthatwehadknowneachotherintheReichChancellory,andMisch,havingseenwhatbeingintheReichChancelloryhaddoneforme,wasveryanxioustoavoidanymentionofthefactthathehadbeentheretoo.Buttheygottoknowaboutitsomehow,andoneeveningduringaninterrogation,thisDrSavelisuddenlythrewabookatMischandsaid:

‘Well,Misch,howwasitintheReichChancellory?Tellmeallaboutit.’

PoorMischwassoflabbergastedthathecouldn’tconcealhisastonishment.Afterthatwewereseparated.WhenImethimagainlaterhetoldmethathehadbeenbadlyknockedabout.TheRussianshadbeatenhimunconsciousfivetimes,thrashedhimonthesolesofthefeet,andthenthrownabucketofwateroverhim,broughthimto,kickedhiminthebacksideandsenthimbacktohiscell.TheyknewhehadbeenatelephonistintheReichChancellory,andthereforetheyassumedthathemusthaveheardeverything.Theyweren’tpreparedtobelievethattherewasaningeniousdevicewhichpreventedthetelephonistsfromhearingathingoncetheyhadputthecallthrough.

Iwasinterrogatedalmostdailyfortwomonths,andthenIwastransferredtotheLubianka,thenolessnotoriousGPUprison,where,asIlearnedatonce,GrandAdmiralRaederandhiswife,andField-MarshalSchörnerwerealsobeingheld.IntheLubiankatheyweren’tsatisfiedwithhearingwhatwehadtosay:wehadtowriteitalldown.SometimesIwasscribblingawayforsixhoursaday–allabout…Well,allaboutwhat?Threeguesses!ThelasthoursintheReichChancellory.Iwroteahundredandthirtypagesofit,butwhenmyinterrogatingcommissarreadithejusttoreupthelastthirtypagesinfrontofmyeyesandaskedmewhetherIwassillyenoughtothinktheyweregoingtobedeceivedbysuchrubbish.Theyjustweren’tpreparedtobelievethatIhadtoldthemallIknew,andmycommissartoldmemenacinglythattherewerewaysandmeans…Themachineryofintimidationstartedupinearnestnow.

FirstofalltheycutdownmyfooduntilIwassoweakthatIcouldn’tstandproperly,andhadtobehalf-carriedalongtointerrogation.Ialsobegantosufferfromfitsofgiddiness,forwhichthedoctorprescribedsomeverybittermedicinewhichdidnogoodatall.Andwhyshouldithavedone?AllIneededwasabitmoretoeat.

OnenightIwastakenoutofmycellandbroughtbeforeGeneralKapulov–hewasafterwardsshotwithhischief,Beria.

‘Nowlook,Baur,’hesaid.‘Youwereineverything,weknow;andnowyouwanttotellusyoudon’tknowanything.’

IpointedoutthatIhadalreadywrittenahundredandthirtypagessettingoutallIknew,andthattherewasnothingmoreIcouldsay.Atwhichhelaughed,andsaidIwouldhavetochangemymindoneday,sowhynotnow?Inthemeantimehewasleavingmeingoodhands.Thetwoofficerswithhimhadinstructionstopersuademetotalkfreely.

‘Theywon’thesitatetotreatyouveryrough,Baur.We,naturally,don’tlikebeatingupgenerals.Butyourattitudeforcesourhand.’

AfterthatIwastakenfromtheLubiankaandsentbacktotheButirka–andthewholethingstartedagainfromscratchasthoughnothingatallhadhappenedinthemeantime.

Therewereendlessseriesofinterrogationsintheoldfashion.Myself,Rattenhuber,Hitler’svaletLinge,AdmiralVoss,twoGermandetectivesnamedHofbeckandHentschel,SturmbannLeaderGünscheandmyunfortunatebatman,Misch,werealltakentogethertotheexaminationroomonenight,andthereeverythingwehadwastakenawayfromus:–evenanybandageswererippedoff;Ihappenedtohaveanastyboilatthetime.Thensomeoldragsweregiventous.Mysharewasapairoftrousersaboutrightinsizeforaboyoffifteen.IwasalsogivenabastshoefortheonefootIhadleft.

Inthisget-up,andobjectsofgreatamusement,wesufferedtwenty-onesuccessivenightsofinterrogationfrommidnightuntilfiveo’clockinthemorning–andwhenwegotbacktoourcellswewerenotallowedtomakeupforthesleepwehadlost.Afavouritetrickwastoplayoneofusoffagainsttheother;butwhenyouaskedtobeconfrontedwiththefellowwhohadallegedlysaidthatorthisaboutyou,yourexamineralwayschangedthesubject.

Myparticularexaminerwasalwaysrunningroundinexcitedcircles,andwhenhepausedforamomentitwasusuallytoswallowallsortsofpills,apparentlytosethimupagain.WhathewantedmetotellhimwasthatHitlerwasn’treallydeadatall,andthatIhadflownhimawaytosomeplaceofsafety.AccordingtohimthiswasalsowhattheAmericansbelieved.NowwherehadIflownhim?Youmightwonderwhy–ifIhadflownHitlertosafety–IhadreturnedtotheReichChancelloryandletmyselfbetakenprisoner.Butthatwasjustthedevilishingenuityofitall–itwastoputthemoffthescent!Norwasthisall.Myadjutant,ColonelBetz,hadbeenintheknow,andassuchknowledgewasdangerous,Ihadmurderedhimtomakesurehecouldnevertalk.ThiswasthefirstIhadheardthathewasdead.However,ifIonlytoldthemwhereHitlerwasnow,everythingwouldbeallright.Infact,IwouldbeliberallyrewardedandgivenagoodjobinChile–orifIfeltIwouldn’tbesafeabroadafterthat,IcouldstayinRussia…

Thewholethingwasludicrous,butgrimlyso;andsometimesIusedtowonderwhetherIwasstillinmyrightmind,fortheyinsistentlyaskedmeexactlythesamequestionsoverandoveragain,usingexactlythesamethreats–andthenexactlythesamepromises.ThroughoutallthisIwasn’tallowedtosleepproperly,andIwasgivenlessandlessfood.

Oneday,afterswallowingahandfulofpills,myexaminersprangaspecialsurpriseonme:Hitlerhadn’tcommittedsuicideatall,andthebodywhichhadbeenburntintheforecourtoftheReich’sChancelloryhadbeenthatofadouble,whohadbeenshotandthenburnt.NowitwasafactthatononeoccasiontherehadbeensometalkaboutusingadoubletorepresentHitler,andasearlyas1934,Rattenhuber,whowasthenheadoftheReichSecurityService,hadapproachedmeandaskedmetoletHitlerknowinthecourseofconversationthathe,Rattenhuber,hadamanwhogreatlyresembledhim,andthatwithalittletitivationthemancouldeasilypassforhimifnecessary.

Ipassedontheinformationasrequested,butHitleronlylaughed,sayinghewasn’tStalinanddidn’tneedadouble.ItoldmyexaminertoaskRattenhuberaboutit;hemightstillknowwherethemanwas.Ifbychancehehappenedtobestillalivetheycouldconvincethemselvesthatnothingofthesorthadtakenplace.Fourweekslatermyexaminerwasbeaming.

‘Baur!’heexclaimed.‘We’vegotholdofthatman.’

Youcouldnevertellwhentheyweretellingthetruthornot;inanycase,asfarasIwasconcernedthatwasthelastIheardofHitler’sdouble.Butitwasn’ttheendofmyinterrogations.TheRussianswereingeniousatconcoctingnewmethods.Forexample,atoneperiodwewereallbusilyengagedindrawingsketchesoftheReichChancellory,showingalltheactualentrances,andallthepossibleones.

OnenightIwasgivenaterribleshock.Iwentalongtomyinterrogationasusual,andtheexaminerglaredatmeandshoutedtriumphantly:

‘Baur,you’regoingtotelluswhatyouknownow–orelse.Inadayorsoyourwifewillbehere,andifyoudon’ttalkthenwe’llripherknickersoffinfrontofyou.Andifthat’snotenoughwe’llturnheroverandthrashher.Andifeventhatdoesn’tloosenyouupwe’llmakeherintoawhore.’

Thatwasabadnightforme.Suchthreatsmaysoundfantastic,butfromoneortwothingsthathadalreadycometomyknowledgetheyweretobetakenseriously.Infact,whenIreturnedhomein1955Ilearnedthatatthetimeanattempthadactuallybeenmadetokidnapmywife.Amangotintotouchwithher,tellingherthatIwasinCzechoslovakia,andclaimingtobeabletogetmereleased.Hewouldneedtwothousandmarks,however,andasanearnestofhisauthenticitymywifewouldhavetogowithhim.Intheirdesperation,mywife(whohasnowbeendeadtwoyears)andhermotherfellforthisswindler,andmywifewentwithhimbytrainasfarasMarktredwitz,fromwheretheywentonfootthroughthewoodstotheCzechfrontier.Butshortlybeforethefrontiermywife’sstrengthgaveout,andshecouldgonofarther.Themanwentoff,allegedlytogethelp,buthenevercameback,andinthemeantimeafrontierpatrolcamealongandfoundmywife.

OnedayIandothersweregivenourthingsandputonatrain.Fromthepositionofthesunwecouldtellthatweweretravellingwestward.Wetravelledforninedays,andduringthattimeourdailyrationsconsistedofsomebrownishwaterfromthelocomotive,halfasaltherringandaboutapoundofbread.Wearrived–inBerlin!–halfstarved.Wethoughtthatweknewathingortwoaboutbadprisonconditions,butBerlin-LichtenbergprisonundertheRussiansbeatthelot.Thewardersweresadistswhotookpleasureinbeatinguptheirprisoners.OnedaymycelldoorwaswrenchedopenandIwasbeatenupandlefthalf-unconsciousonthefloor–vaguelyIheardthroughamistofpainthatitwasbecauseIhadbeensittingontheedgeofmybed.

However,wehadn’tbeenbroughttoBerlinjustforthosebrutestokickusaround–ortomaketheacquaintanceofcellsinwhichtherewasoftennothingbutonepailforallpurposes:washing,fetchingsoup,urinating,andsoon.SoafterfourweeksofthisIwasbroughtbeforeaGPUcommissar,amanwhosefaceIknewfromMoscow.HetoldmethatthebodiesofHitlerandhiswifehadnotbeenburntatall,butpreserved,andthatIhadbeenbroughttoBerlintoidentifythem.Linge,Hitler’svalet,wasalsowithus,andhewastakentotheruinsoftheReichChancelloryandmadetoexplainalltheinsandoutsoftheplace.

Amanwhohadbeenamemberoftheanti-HitlermovementinGermany,andwasnowatrustyinLichtenbergprison,toldmethathehadbeenpresentwhentheRussiansdugup

allthecorpsesburiedintheforecourtoftheReichChancellory.Theyhadfoundtwocharredbodies,andthesehadprobablybeenpreserved,ashadthebodiesofGoebbelsandhisfamily.

ActuallyIwasnevercalledupontoinspectanybody.OnedayIwasinterrogatedbyaRussiancolonelinconnectionwithastatementallegedlymadebyDetectiveHofbeck,thatIhadactuallybeenpresentattheburningofHitler’sbody.AndthenIwasaskedwhetherIwasquitecertainthatthemanwhohadsaidgood-byetomeasHitleractuallywasHitler.NowIhadbeenwithHitlerforhoursonendonmanyhundredsofoccasionsthroughouttheyears,andIhadknownhimaswellasamancanknowanyone;inparticularIknewthatoddmixtureofAustrianandBavarianaccentwhichwastypicalofhim.Itwasthereforereallyoutofthequestionthatanyone–nomatterhowalike–couldhavebeenpalmedoffonmeasHitler.Imadethisstatementtothecolonel,andsignedit.AfterthatIwassentbacktoMoscow.

OnthewaywestoppedinBrest-Litovsk,andthereIwastakentothelocalprisonandforcedtocrawluptheprisonstepsbecauseIcouldn’tmanageitalonewithmycrutches.Thepailinmycellleaked,withtheresultthatthefloorwasdampwithurineandexcrementandstankabominably.ThewarderthenorderedmetowipeupthefloorwiththeonehandkerchiefIhad,andthisIsteadfastlyrefusedtodo.Afterfourdaysofthis–withaplagueofbed-bugstoenliventhenights–Iwastakenoutofthiscellandputintoanother.AnhourlaterIwastakenbacktotheoldcell,which,inthemeantime,hadbeenwipedup.Butinonecornerthedampfloor-clothhadbeenusedtowritethename‘Misch’–somyunfortunatebatmanwasheretoo!

Itmaysoundastonishing,butallthingsarerelative,andweweregladtogetbacktotheButirka.AfewdayslaterIwastoldthatinallprobabilityweshouldsoonbesentto‘acamp’.Foranyoneinprisonsuchaprospectisthepromiseof‘thelittlefreedom’.You’restillaprisoner,butatleastyou’reamongstotherpeople,andlifeisn’tquitesomonotonousandcircumscribed.Butitturnedouttobeafalsehope,anditwasalmostayearbeforetheythoughtofmeagain.ThenIwasbroughtbeforeGeneralKapulovoncemore–thesandswererunningoutfastforhim,thoughhedidn’tknowit.

‘Well,Baur,’hedemanded,‘haveyouchangedyourmind?Areyoupreparedtotelluswhatyouknownow?’

Thereitwasagain!AllIcouldsaywasthatIhadalreadytoldthemallIknew,towhichhereplied:

‘Pleaseyourself,Baur,butyou’llstayheretwoyears,fiveyears,tenyears–totheendofyourdays.Unlessyoudodecidetotelluswhatwewanttoknow.’

Andwithacynicalgrinhehadmesentbacktomycell.

Whathesaidsoundedonlytootrue.Anditwasalltrue–exceptthewords‘totheendofyourdays’...

BythetimeIhadsufferedthissortofthingforthreeandahalfyears,IfeltthatIhadhadenough.Ihadnotbeenallowedtoreceiveanylettersfrommyfamilyortowriteany.InmydesperationInowdecidedthatIwouldendit–onewayortheother,soIpresentedanultimatum:unlessyoureleasemeandsendmehomewithinthreemonthsIshallgoon

hunger-strike–totheend.

Nothingatallhappened,sowhenthethreemonthswereupIwentonhunger-strike.Onthethirddayadoctor,awoman,cameintomycellandinformedmethathunger-strikingwasforbiddeninRussia;itwasregardedasananti-governmentdemonstration,andassuchitwasseverelypunished.WhenIrefusedtobemovedshetriedtopersuademe:itwasverysilly;whatgoodcoulditdo?And,inanycase,Icertainlyshouldn’tbeallowedtostarvemyself;shewouldseetothat.Iremainedfirm.Iwantedtogetout;Iwantedtoseegrassandgreenleavesagain;Iwantedtohearfrommyfamily.

ThenextdayIwastakendowntoapunishmentcell,whichhappenedtobeinthewomen’swing,andtheretheforcedfeedingbegan.Therewerequitealotofthemforthejob;severalofficers,severalmen,andanurse,carryingalongflexiblepieceofrubbertubingwithaglassnozzleatoneendandtheotherimmersedinacontainerwithsomefrothyliquidinit.IwasaskedwhetherIwouldconsenttoeat,andwhenIrefused,fourmenseizedmebythearmsandlegs,whilstthesisterresolutelyboredtheglassnozzleintomynostrils.Shecouldn’tmanageitbecauseitwasmuchtoolarge,butsherippedmynostrilsandthebloodpoureddownovermychinandontomychest.ThenIlostconsciousness.WhenIcameto,thenozzlewasdownmythroat.Iimmediatelyvomitedeverythingup,nozzle,liquidandall.Thenathinnernozzlewasproduced,andthegamestartedupagain.Themenwhowereholdingmeseemedtoenjoyit,andmyhowlsofpainonlymadethemlaugh.Whentheyhadpumpedalltheliquidintometheyleftmehalf-unconsciousonthefloorofthecellandwentoff,promisingmeanotherperformancethenextday.

Thenextdaythesistercameinalone,nodoubthopingthatthepreviousday’sperformancehadbeensufficienttointimidateme,butIstillrefusedtoeat,sothenthewarderstroopedin,andthethingwasrepeated.ThistimeIshriekedsowildlythatthewomenintheneighbouringcellsbegantopanic.Onceagainthepartywentoff,againwiththepromisethattheywouldreturnthefollowingday,whichtheydid.Iaskedthesistertogetathinnernozzle,butsherefused.Ithenappealedtothedoctor,whowasusuallyquiteconscientious,butshesaidthatitwasentirelyuptome:Iheldthesolutioninmyownhand–Ishouldeat,untilIdidshecoulddonothingforme.Shecouldnotorderathinnernozzle,andshecouldnotordertheforcedfeedingtotakeplacethroughthegulletjustbecausemynostrilsweretornandthemucousmembraneinjured.

Onthefourthdaythedoctorherselfstoodinthedoorwayandwatchedtheproceedings,andbeforelongthetearswerestreamingdownherchecks,butshecouldn’tinterfere–shehadherorderstoo.

WhenIwasaloneagainIstartedtogetoutasmallthinpieceofsteelwhichwashiddeninthecollarofmycoat,keepingmyeyesontheJudas-holewhilstIworked.Ihadwhettedthatpieceofsteeltorazorsharpnessonthestonesofmycell,andIwasdeterminedthatifIcouldn’tenditonewayIwouldendittheother.Butsuddenlythedoorwaswrenchedopenandawardercameinwhofromtimetotimehadshownmealittlehumansympathy.Helookedatmeandthenwentoutagain.HastilyIrolledmycoatupandputitaway.ButGPUmennowcameinandtookawaythecoat.Atfirsttheyfoundnothing,buttheywerethorough,andpatient,andexperienced;andfinallythesmallpieceofsteelcametolight.

Afterthattheysearchedeverything.Thepailwastakenaway,andeventhebenchonwhichIsat.Ialsohadtostripstark-naked,andtheytookeverystitchofclothingawayfromme;afterwhichIwasgivennew‘oldclothes’.Iwasprettywhackednow.ApparentlyIcouldn’tendevenmysufferings,andgoingonwiththatforced-feedingtorturewasuseless,asthedoctorhadsaidinthefirstplace.Icouldhavestarvedmyselfslowlytodeath,butIwasn’ttobeallowedto.ForaboutanhourIsatthereonthecellfloor,andmythoughtsweredespairing.Iwashelpless:therewasnothingIcoulddo.SoIdecidedtostarteatingagain.

Thedoctorcamein,beaming.Thewardercamein,beaming.YouwouldhavethoughtIhaddonesomethingkindandwonderfulforthemall.Theyevenwantedtosendmetohospital,butItoldthedoctorIwouldprefertogobacktomyowncell–therewasjustonemorejobIhadtodo:warnaHungarianfellow-prisoneragainstfollowingmyexample.

InmycellIwasprovidedwithspecialfoodatthedoctor’sorders,andIwasgivenpencilandpaper,onwhichtocomposearequesttobebroughtbeforetheprisongovernor.Iwasn’t,butthreedayslaterIwassentofftoacamp.TherewereotherGermanstherewithwhomIcouldtalk,andInolongerhadtositforhoursandhoursinacellonmyown.Atleastmysufferingsseemedtohavedonesomegood.

AboutahundredmilesorsoduesouthofMoscowliesStalinogorsk,thecentreofalargecoal-miningarea.Thereareagoodmanyforced-labourcampsinthearea,whoseinmatesarelargelyRussian.Butfrom1945to1950thereweresixteenofthesecampsfromwhichmanythousandsofGermanprisonersofwartrudgedouteverydaytoworkinthemines.Theseamsarenotverydeep,theworkingsareverydamp,theequipmentisprimitive,andthesafetymeasuresveryinadequatebyGermanstandards.

AfteranightinaprisontrainIarrivedatStalinogorskthefollowingmorningandgotoutofthetrainwiththousandsofRussianprisoners,tobemetbylargenumbersofguardswithtommy-gunsanddogs.Iwasnewtothegame,andsoIwassurprisedwhenonreachingthegroundeveryonekneltdown.IspentthenightintheStalinogorskUpravlenie,andthenextmorningIwastakenbylorrytoCampNo.3.ThefirstthingIsawwasawretchedcolumnofmeninraggedclothingwearingminers’hats.AtfirstIthoughttheywereRussians,butwhenoneortwopeoplerecognisedmeandcalledoutmyname,IrealisedthattheywereGermanprisonersofwargoingofftoworkinthemines.

Inthiscamponepleasantexperiencedidatleastawaitme:Iwasallowedtohaveabathandshave–inprisonallweeverhadwasscissorswithwhichtotrimourbeards.AmedicalexaminationshowedthatIwasundernourished,andIwastoldthatIshouldstayinthesick-bayfortwoweeks.Iaskedfornewspapers,andIwasgiventhem,andforthefirsttimefornearlyfouryearsIgotnewsoftheoutsideworld–eventhoughitdidcomethroughtheEastZonefilter.

Beforelongthefirstfacesbegantoappearatthewindow,anditturnedoutthatIhadquitealotofacquaintancesintheplace.Everyonegrumbledbitterlyaboutlifeinthecamp,andtheyfounditabitdifficulttounderstandthat–bycomparison–Ifounditwonderful.Icouldspeakmymother-tonguewithfellow-countrymen(althoughforthe

momentitwasforbidden),therewasawindowIcouldopen,abedIcouldsleepin,andthereweretreesandgrasstobeseen.Itwasparadise!Forthefirsttimesince1945Iwasalmosthappy!

MycomradesimmediatelydeclaredthatImusthaveawoodenlegandgetoffthosecrutches,sointhecarpenter’sworkshoptheymademethesortofwoodenlegIusedtosee,whenIwasalittleboy,onourmenwhohadlosttheirlegsintheFranco-PrussianWar.Thatwoodenlegservedmewell;atlastIcouldthrowawaymycrutches.

Ihadn’tbeentherelongwhenIhadabirthday.Ataboutsixo’clockinthemorningIheardslightsoundsoutsidethedoor.Thensoftmusicstruckupandthedoorwasopenedtorevealthreefellow-prisonersplayingaviolin,aguitarandanaccordioninmyhonour.Thenmanycomradesappearedtocongratulateme,bringingsmallpresentswiththem.Isaysmallpresents,butyourideaofwhat’ssmallandwhat’slargechangeaccordingtocircumstances–inmypresentsituationwhattheybroughtmewasvaluableintheextreme.Butitwasn’tthatsomuchwhichaffectedme–itwasthewayitwasalldone,andthesolidaritywithwhichallthesemenboretheircommonfate.Thewarmthandcomradeshipjustbowledmeover,andIweptunashamedly.

Duringthisso-calledquarantineperiodIwasfrequentlyvisitedbytheRussiancampcommandant,togetherwithofficersfromthepoliticaldepartment.Theyexpressedgreatastonishmentatwhattheycalledmypoliticalignorance,butItoldthemthatIneverhadbeenapolitician.Ihad,itwastrue,likesomanyothers,believedinAdolfHitler,butnow,Itoldthem,Ihadcometotheconclusionthatanyformofextremisminpolitics,whetherrightorleftwing,wouldonlyleadtodisaster.

Asthingsstood,ofcourse,itwasimpossibleformetoformanyveryreliableopinionsaboutwhatwashappeninginGermany,becauseallIhadtogoonwasthereportingoftheEastGermanCommunistnewspapers;andmycomrades,whohadbeenawayaslongasIhad,couldn’thelpmemucheither,becausealltheyhadtogooninthemeantimewasfromthesameunreliablesource.Twiceaweekthereweremeetingsoftheso-calledAntifa,acampanti-Fascistorganisation,andwewereregaledwithpoliticalspeeches,buttherewasneveranyproperdiscussion–howcouldtherehavebeeninthatatmosphereofpoliticalterror?Thecampcommandanttriedmanytimestomakeme‘takeupaposition’,ashecalledit,butIalwaysevadedtheissue,insistingonceagainthatIknewnothingaboutpolitics.Heusedtogrinincredulouslyatthat,butintheendheleftmeinpeace.

‘Thelittlefreedom’broughtanothergreatpleasureforme:Iwasallowedtowritehome.But,asIlearnedafterwards,myfirsttwocardsdidnotarrive.Thethirdonedid.ButIdidn’tgetanyanswersfrommywife!ThenonedaytheleaderoftheAntifacametomeandsaid:‘HerrBaur,ifyougivemeyourwordofhonourtosaynothingaboutitI’llletyouseeapostcardfromyourwife.’Naturally,Igavehimmywordofhonouratonce,andthenheshowedmemyfirstcardfromhome.Icopieditandhandeditbacktohim.Thesamethinghappenedwithhersecondandthirdcards,andIcouldn’tcomplainbecauseIhadgivenmywordofhonourtoknownothingaboutit.Butthenonedaychancecametomyaid:afellow-prisonerwhoworkedinthepostaldepartmenthappenedtomentionthatapostcardhadarrivedformewiththecurrentmail,sowhenIdidn’tgetthatoneIcomplainedatonce.ThedayafterthatIgotit.Istilldon’tknowhowmanycardsIlostinthisway,butwhatIdoknowisthattosomeextentweallsufferedlikethis.

TherewasanofficialorderoftheRussianGovernmentthatunconvictedgeneralswerenottowork,soIsystematicallyappealedtothisrulingwheneverthecampcommandanttriedtogetmetodoanythingwhichlookedtomeasthoughitwerejustanattempttoexploitmypositionandreputationamongstmyfellows.TheretaliationforsuchrefusalsusuallyconsistedofvisitationsduringwhichIwasbodilysearchedandmyeffectsransacked.

Theyear1949was,sotheRussianssaid,tobetheyearinwhichwewerealltobesenthome,andtheprospectcreatedagooddealoftensionandirritabilityamongstus.ThesuspensewasrelievedformebytheverywelcomeannouncementthatIwastogointoahospital,befittedforaproperartificialleg,andthenbesenthome.

IwastobeoperatedoninMoscow,butIdidn’tcarefortheidea,soIwastoldthatIwouldbegivenatemporaryfitting,andwhenIgotbacktoGermanyIcouldbeoperatedonthere.Everythingseemedtobegoingsmoothly,anditlookedtousasthoughtheRussiansweredoingwhattheyveryoftendid–makingsurethateverythingwentrightintheend.Iwasgivenmytemporaryleg,which,asitturnedout,hadtolastmeanotherfiveyears,forafterashortstayinLublinotheysentmebacktoStalinogorsk.

FromthereIwassenttoMoscow,afterhavingbeentoldthatasageneralIwasnottotravelincattle-trucksliketheothers.PersonallyIwouldn’thavegivenadamnhowItravelled,solongasIgotbacktoGermany,butIdidn’t.InMoscowIfoundmyselfintheButirkaagain,andthereIwasputinthetower,theplacewhereasarulespeciallywatchedprisonerscame.AfterawhileIlearnedthatthereweresixty-fiveothergeneralsintheButirka.Thefoodwasverypoor,ordinaryRussianprisonfood,thoughasunconvictedprisonerswewereentitledtohospitalfood.Iwastherewiththeothersfortwomonths,duringwhichnothingatallhappened,andweseemedtohavebeenforgottenagain.

Butthenforsomereasonorotherourdossiersweretakenoutoftheirpigeon-holes,andthemachinerybegantogrindoncemore.Iwasbroughtoutforinterrogation,andanewrecordwasputontheoldgramophone.AGPUexamineraskedmetwoquestions.One,hadIeverbeenwithHitlertoMussolini?–andtwo,whatdidIthinkaboutKatyn?Thejuxtapositionofthesetwoquestionsseemedodd,butIansweredthefirstone:Yes,fourtimes.Thatwasenough,andIwassentbacktomycell.ThreeweekslaterIwasallowedtoknowthenatureoftheindictmentwhichwasnowbeingpreparedagainstme:asIhadbeenwithHitlertoseeMussolinionseveraloccasionsthechargewouldbeoneofhavingtakenpartinwarpreparations,becauseduringthosediscussionsHitlerandMussolinihadhatchedtheircriminalplottoattacktheSovietUnion.

TheGPUmenseemedtofindtheirindictmentveryimpressive.IimmediatelypointedoutthatmyonlyshareinthewholebusinesshadbeenthatIhadflownHitlertothemeetingsandbackagain,andthatIhadhadnopartorhandintheactualdiscussions.Theyjustshruggedtheirshoulders.On31May1950,Icamebeforeatribunaltoanswerthisludicrouscharge.Thesolemnityofthedaywasmarkedbythespecialissueofasaltherringinadditiontomynormalbreadration,andafterbreakfastIwastakenfromtheButirkatothecourt.ThePresidentwasageneral,andtotheleftandrightofhimrespectivelysatacolonelandalieutenant-colonel.Inadditiontherewasawomaninterpreterandaclerk.Behindmestoodtwoguardsarmedwithtommy-guns.And,nodoubt,inadrawerwasthesignedandsealedverdictonlyawaitingdelivery.But,of

course,acertainamountofpalaverhadtoprecedethat.

‘WereyouwithHitlerinRussia?’

‘Yes,often.Forexample,forseveralmonthsinVinnitsaathisheadquartersthere.’

‘AndwhereelsewereyouwithHitlerinRussia?’

‘Prettywelleverywherewheretherewastrouble:Leningrad,Smolensk,Zaporozhye,theUkraine,theCrimea,andsoon.’

ThePresidentthenwantedcertaindetails,andIexplainedthatusuallyIflewgeneralstoHitler,butifthecircumstancesmadeitseemadvisableIflewHitlertotheirheadquarters,wherehewouldstayperhapsafewhours,afterwhichIwouldflyhimback.ThisseemedtosatisfythePresident’scuriosity,whothenannouncedthatthecourtwouldretiretoconsidertheverdict.

AboutanhourandahalflaterIwasbroughtbackintocourtandtheverdictwasreadouttome:‘AstheprisonerwasinvarioustownswithHitler,andthereplannedcrimesagainstSovietcitizensandagainstprisonersofwar,heistoberegardedasco-responsiblewithHitler,andheisthereforesentencedtotwenty-fiveyearsinareformatorylabourcamp.’

IdeclaredonceagainthatIborenomoreresponsibilitythanatrain-driver,andthatIhadnevertakenanypartinanymilitarydiscussions,butthegeneraldeclaredshortlythatsuchmatterswerenolongeropentodiscussionandthatIwasnowvalidlyconvictedandsentenced.However,ifIfeltthatIhadbeenwrongfullyconvictedIcouldlodgeanappealwithinseventy-twohours.Twoothersgottheirtwenty-five-years’labourcampthatday,andthenweweretakenbacktotheButirka;nottoouroldcells,buttocommoncellsforconvictedpersons,containingbetweentwentyandtwenty-fiveprisoners.

Thesamedayanumberofothergeneralswhoalreadyhadtheirtwenty-five-yearsentenceswereputintothesamecell.Thewholethingwouldhavebeenridiculousbutforthefactthatweknewthattheidiocywasdeadlyserious.Ilodgedmyappealpromptly,ofcourse,butjustaspromptly–withintwenty-fourhours–itwasrejected.

On15July1950,weweretakenoutoftheButirkaandsenttoKrasnogorsk,togetherwithseveralhundredotherscollectedfromvariousMoscowprisons,allwithtwenty-five-yearsentences.Someofthestoriestheconvictedmenhadtotellwouldhavebeenveryfunny,exceptthattheresultwasfarfromamusing.Somehadbeenconvictedonindictmentswhichhadobviouslybeendrawnupforotherpeople.TherewerecaseswhereCubahadbeenmixedupwithBaku,andAthenswithAden,andsoon.Butjusttowipethegrinsoffourfacesthereweresomeverydisagreeablegapsintheranks–someofourcomradeshadbeenunabletostandthestrain,themercilesschicanery,theconstantinterrogationsandthesenselessaccusations.Andatnightwheneachmanwasalonetherewasthethoughtofthattwenty-fiveyearsstretchingawayintothefuture.Which,ifany,ofuswouldsurvivethatlong?

Forthemoment,however,weweren’tleftagreatdealoftimeinwhichtothinkaboutanything.WewerefirstreshuffledaccordingtoRussianpractice,andthenpushedaroundfirsthereandthenthere.SomeofusweresentfromKrasnogorsktoStalingrad,andotherswenttotheUrals.SomeofusstayedforawhileinKrasnagorsk,andthenwentafterthe

otherstotheUrals–andnoneofuscouldtellwhyonewenthereandtheotherwentthere.

Specialdifficultiesaroseinmycase:inthenightof31JulyIwastakenfromKrasnogorsktoBorovitchi,aplacebetweenMoscowandLeningrad.ButwhenwegottherethelocalprisongovernordeclaredthatasIhadbeenconvictedhecouldn’tacceptme:hiswasaremandprison.WhereupontheleaderofmyescortinsistedthathehadspecificinstructionstodelivermetoBorovitchiPrison.Itlookedlikeadeadlock,butafterhoursspentonthetelephoneinanefforttoresolvetheimpasse,thegovernorofBorovitchiPrisonwon,andmyescorthadtocartmeawayagain.

ThereweretwoprisoncampsinBorovitchiinadditiontotheprisonitself.Onewasacampforprisonerswhoworkedinthemines.Iwastakentotheotherone.Iwasglad,atleast,tofindthatIwasstillwithGermans.NowthatIwasaconvictIwasnolongerentitledto‘generals’food’,butatleastthecampfoodwasbetterthanprisonfood.

Fromthebeginningoftheconvictionphaseallcontactwithhomehadceased.Wehadreceivednothing,butwehadbeenallowedtowrite–nowandagainwehadevenbeengenerouslyallowedtowriteanextraletter,asaspecialprivilege.Lateronwelearnedthatalltheseletters,afterhavingbeensolemnlycollected,weredestroyed.Outofthousandsoflettersandpostcardsnotonewasforwarded.Whenwerealisedthesituationwebegantofightfortherighttosendandreceivelettersfromourfamilies,andtherewasmorethanonedramaticsceneinwhichtheRussiansplayedadeplorablerole.Morethanonce,afteradiscussionaboutthesimplestrightsofman,thelocalRussianswouldshrugtheirshouldersshamefacedlyandhidebehindtheirgovernmentinMoscow,assuringusthatoneday,‘forcertain’,itwouldallowustowriteandreceiveletters.Inthissituation,withoutnews,andwithoutbeingabletogivenews,wesufferedgrievously;butatlast,aftermanymonths,contactwasre-establishedandlettersbegantogobackwardsandforwardsagaintoencourageusandgiveusrenewedstrength.

InourcampatBorovitchitherewereaboutthreehundredSpaniards.SomeeightyofthemhadfoughtfortheSpanishRepublicanGovernmentduringthecivilwar,andafterFranco’svictorytheyhadsoughtpoliticalasyluminSovietRussia;theresthadfoughtwithFranco’s‘BlueDivision’onoursideandhadbeentakenprisoner.DuringourstayinRussiaweoftencameacrosstheseunfortunate‘Red’Spaniards.SomeofthemhadbeenlittlemorethanchildrenwhentheyfirstcametoRussia.Nowtheywererottinginsomelabourcamporother,or,iftheywere‘lucky’,theywere‘semi-free’labourersonremotebuildingsites.

InBorovitchitheSpaniards,whether‘Red’or‘White’originally,weresolidlyinoppositiontotheBolshevistsystem.Theformer‘Reds’hadseenCommunismatfirsthand,andtheywerethoroughlyfedup,butnoneofthemwasallowedtowritehomeorreceivelettersfromhome.SomehowthesemenfromsunnySpainseemedalmostmoreoutofplaceinRussia’sgreatbarrenplainsthanwewere.TheRussiansdeclaredthatastherewerenodiplomaticrelationsbetweenSpainandtheSovietUnionitwasimpossibletoarrangeforpost.The‘Red’Spaniardsknewwhatthismeant–theyweretobepushedaroundinRussiauntilonedayFrancowasreplacedbya‘people’sgovernment’.Atonetime,nodoubt,thathadbeentheirhope,butby1950theyknewthatitwasveryunlikely.

AndalltheSpaniards,ofcourse,knewperfectlywellthatthisbusinessofthemissingdiplomaticrelationswasjustanexcuse–allthatwasreallymissingwasgoodwillontheRussianside.TheSpaniardspointedoutthatiftheInternationalRedCrosscouldorganiseanexchangeoflettersinwartimebetweenbelligerentcountries,itcouldcertainlydosonowbetweentwocountrieswhichwereatpeaceeveniftheyweren’tfriendly.AndwhentheRussiansjusttrottedouttheoldexcuse,theSpaniardsacted.

Fiftymenwentonhunger-strike.Thefollowingdayitwasahundred,thethirddayitwasonehundredandfifty,andsoon.ManyoftheseSpaniardscouldspeakRussian,andthisgavethemabigadvantageinmakinglifeawkwardfortheRussians.Thirtyofthehunger-strikerswerenowseizedatrandomandputinthepunishmentcells.ThensomethingquitefantasticforRussianconditionstookplace–rebellion!TheimprisonedSpaniardsbrokedownthedoorsandknockedoutthewindows,andrejoinedtheirfellow-countrymeninthehuts.TheRussiansinthecampthenwithdrew,andmachine-gunpostsweresetupcoveringthehutsoftheSpaniards.

Butthen,astheRussiansdidn’twantablood-bath,theusualsoft-soapcommissionarrived.ThiswasanotherRussianmanoeuvretochanneldiscontentintoharmlessbyways.Suchcommissionsneverhadanyauthority,buttheywereoftenverysuccessfulinpersuadingprisonerstocontentthemselvesforthetimebeingwithformalprotests–whichneverledanywhere.

Thistimetheydidn’tsucceed,however:theSpaniardsstoodfirm.Wedidourbesttohelpthembysmugglinginfood,butthistheyrefused,andalltheywouldtakewassweetstosuckwiththeirtea.MostoftheSpaniards–twohundredofthem–stayedonhunger-strikeforninedays,andfinallytheRussianspromisedtoallowthemtowritehome.OnthispromisetheSpaniardsdiscontinuedtheirhunger-strike,andquiteanumberofthemwereremovedtohospital.

Andtheepilogue?Thepromisewasalie,likemostotherRussianpromises.TheSpaniardswerenotallowedtowrite,andinordertopreventconcertedactioninfuture,theSpanishcontingentwasbrokenupanddistributedoveravarietyofothercamps.

Onedaycertainbuildingworkbeganinourcamp.Asmallareawascutofffromtherest,andonehutwassurroundedwithtreblelinesofbarbedwire.Naturallywewonderedwhatwasgoingon,and,havingbeenmadewisebyexperience,thefirstthingwethoughtofwasstricterpunishmentisolation,andsoon.Butwewerewrong.Womenwerebroughtintothecampandputintothishut–Germanwomen.Weknewsomeofthem;theywerethewivesofGermandiplomatsordiplomaticemployees,ortheyhadthemselvesbeenemployedinGermandiplomaticandotherinstitutionsintheFarEast.TheyhadbeentakenprisonerwhenRussiahurriedtotakepartinthewaragainstJapanbeforeitwasallover.

Therewas,forexample,FrauBischoff,thewifeoftheGermanconsul-generalinManchuria.Shehadbeensentencedtofifteenyears.Herdaughter,asafifteen-year-old,hadplayedtheaccordionatameetingoftheLeagueofGermanGirls.Forthisshehadbeensentencedtotenyears.ThewifeofAmbassadorWagnerwasservingtenyearsbecauseatofficialreceptionsshehadnaturallyfunctionedastheladyofthehouse.Andso

on,andsoon.Allthemenhad–ofcourse!–beensentencedtotwenty-fiveyears.AmbassadorWagnerhaddiedofaheartattackintheButirka.Hiswifehadlearnedofhisdeathonlyverymuchlater.

Imprisonmentisbadenoughformen;itmustbeverymuchworseforwomen,andtoseethesewomeninahardlabourcampwhenwehadnaturallythoughtthemallsafelyathomeagainwassadandbitter.

InJuly1951hopeflickeredupagainforawhile–preparationswereobviouslybeingmadefora‘transport’.Perhapsweweregoinghomeatlast?No,weweremerelybeingcartedalittlefarthereastwardsforsomereasonorother.EvenintheordinarywaythetransportofprisonersinSovietRussiaisbadenough,butthetransportof‘twenty-five-yearmen’likeourselvesissomethingtrulyterrible.‘Mallet’transportstheyarecalled,andforaverygoodreason.Tocheckasquicklyaspossiblefromtimetotimewhetheranyboardhasbeenloosenedontheway,throughwhichprisonersmightescapeintotheopen,partiesarmedwithmalletsgorightalongthetrain,hammeringawayateveryboardinthesides,bottomsandroofsofthecarriages.Theeffectonthosecoopedupinsideisshattering.Horsesorcattlewouldneverstandsuchtreatment;theywouldjustdie.Andthentheconstantcountingstomakesurenooneismissing!Thetransportguardsseemtobechosenfortheirbrutalityandtheirdelightinknockingtheirchargesabout,andtotheaccompanimentofcursesandshoutsandastreamofobscenitytheydrivetheirprisonersfromonesideofthetraintotheotherwithshoves,blowsandrifle-butts,sothatanyonewhocan’tmovequicklyisbadlyoff.

Atnormaltemperaturessucha‘transport’isbadenough,butinhotweatheritishellitself.Allthedoorsareclosed,andtheprisonersareluckyifthesmallslitsguardedwithbarbedwireareopen.Tolieonthereisnothingbuthardbenchesorthefloor,andbeforelongyouacheineverylimb.Onlytoooftenthewater-tubsareempty,andathaltstheguardscan’tbebotheredtolettheprisonerswhosejobitisgooutandfillthem.Atcertaindoorsdowntheprisontraintherearegroovestoallowtheurinetopourawayontothetrack;theneighbourhoodofsuchdoorsalwaysstinks,butinhotweather…

Andinthewagonstheatmosphereisstifling.Youpantforbreath,andfindyourbodytremblingdespitetheheat,andyouknowthatyourlungsaren’tgettingenoughoxygen.Yousweat,andthewatertricklesdownyourbody.Andthenitseemstohappenonlytoooftenthatyourfoodconsistsofboiling-hotsoup.Ofcourse,theprisonersarehungry–theyarealwayshungry–andsotheyswallowthehotsoup;thereisn’ttimetoletitcooldown.Andafterthattheyarehotterandthirstierthanever.

Farintothenight,whenthesearchlightsareoneverywhereandtheguardsontheplatformsarealreadyhuddlingupintotheirgreatcoatsagainstthecoldnightair,itisstilloppressivelyhotinthewagons,andthesweat-drippingprisonersrollrestlesslyfromsidetosideseekingsleep.Andwhenperhapstheyhavedroppedoffatlastaninfernalnoisewillstartupandcreepslowlythroughoutthelengthofthetrainasmencrawlalongthesidesandtheroofshammeringawaywiththeirmalletsatoneboardaftertheother.

Towardsdawnthingsarealittlebetter;atlasttheoppressiveheatinsidetheclosedwagonshasbeendissipated.Butitdoesnotstaylikethatforlong,becausethesunrises,

andsoonitspitilessraysarebeatingdownontotheprisontrainagain.Insuchcircumstancestimeseemsendless.WithatremendouseffortofwillIpulledmyselftogetherandbegantogivelecturestomyfellow-unfortunatesonmyexperiencesasaflyer,andothersfollowedmyexample.

ThelastblowduringourtransportfellintheneighbourhoodofMolotov,whentheshutterswereclosedovertheventilationslits,sothatwethenhadnofreshairatall.

Ourtrain,which,toanyinnocentoutsider,wouldhaveseemedtocontaintheworstcriminalsintheworld,stoppedatPervo-Uralsk.TheSovietGovernmenthaddecidedtoconcentrateGermanprisonersinthisneighbourhood,andinordertoaccommodatethemmanyhutmentsrecentlybuiltforthecivilianpopulationwererequisitioned.Whenwewereputintothemwecouldseefrompencilledobservationsandsketcheshereandthereonthewoodenwalls,inthelavatories,andsoon,thattheyhadbeenbuiltbyourfellow-countrymen.ButthetremendousthingaboutthisnewcampwasthatthehutmentshadneverbeenoccupiedbyRussians,andsotheywerefreeofbed-bugs.Ourownfellowsnowadaptedthemforcamppurposes,makingstore-roomsforpotatoesandsoon,bigkitchens,andotherrequirements.

Butthelackofbed-bugswasabouttheonlybitofluckwehadinthatcamp;forexample,thecommandantwasabruteoftheworsttype,andheseemedtotakeaparticularpleasureinpersecutingthesickprisonersandtheoldermenwhowerenolongerstrongenoughtodoanyoutsidework.

BecauseIhadonlyonelegIcountedasaninvalid,andIwasallottedtothetailoringworkshop,whereImadehundredsofpairsofgloves.Ineversawanymoneyformywork,andthenonedayIwastoldtoreporttothenatschalnik,oroverseer.Asyouneverknewwhetheryouwerecomingbackfromsuchsummonses,Iputonmypaddedjacket,etc.,soastobepreparedforthepunishmentcell.HowrightIwas!Thenatschalnikbellowedatme,declaringthatIwaslazyandjustwastedmytime.Irepliedcalmlythatmyforemanobviouslydidn’tthinkso,andthenatschalnikmustbewronglyinformed–wouldhepleasecalltheforeman?Thisrequestwasignored,andthenatschalnikwentontoaskmewhathoursIdid,althoughheknewperfectlywellthatatdoctor’sordersIdidonlyfourhoursaday.HethensaidthatIwasperfectlywellenoughtodoaneight-hourday.Afterall,tailoringwasn’treallyworkatall.Irefused,andhethenorderedmefivedaysinthecells.

Itwastheusualsortofplace,butexecutedinferro-concretethistime.AsIhadonlyoneleg,theygavemeastooltositon.Theotherprisonershadtositontheconcretefloor.Atnightsweweregivenbenchestosleepon.Inthenextcellthereweresevenmen.Thenatschalnikneverallowedthecellstobecomeempty.Atnightitwasverycold,for,althoughtherewereheatingarrangements,therewasneverenoughfuel.ThefirstmorningtheguardarrivedwithapieceofpaperandapencilandorderedmetowritedownwhatIwasinthepunishmentcellfor.Irefused,sayingthatifthenatschalnikdidn’talreadyknow,Icertainlydidn’t.Onthethirddayhearrivedwiththepunishment-cellregister,andinitthenatschalnikhadwrittenthatIwaspunishedforlazinessandbadwork.Itoldhimtotakeitawayandtellthenatschalnikitwasalie.

Thefoodinthiscampwaslikethefoodinalltheothers–justenoughtokeepyoualive,

thoughsometimeswedoubtedit.Fortunatelywehadn’ttofindout,fornowwebegantoreceiveparcelsfromhome.Quiteapartfromwhatwasinthem,itisdifficulttodescribejustwhatthoseparcelsmeanttous.Theywerecomfortingproofthatwehadnotbeenforgotten;theystrengthenedusmorallyandphysically,andgaveusrenewedhope.

Inallprisoncampsinallcountriesthereis–andmustbe–somesortofcontrolonthepartoftheauthoritiesoverthecontentsofsuchgiftparcels,butwhattheRussiansdid–sometimesbeforeoureyes–toourparcels,whichhadbeenmadeupwithloveandcarebyourfellow-countrymenandwomenathome,usedoftentofilluswithimpotentrage.Atfirstwethoughtitwasjusttheclumsypawingsofpeoplewhohadneverseensuchthingsbefore–thewayinwhichthegiftswerepacked,thetinfoil,thebrightpaper,thefastenings,andsoon,oftenmadeagreaterimpressiononthemthanthegiftsthemselves.Butbeforelongitbecameclearthattherewassysteminthewayinwhichourparcelswerewrenchedopen,thingstornandoftendestroyed,orperhapssenselesslyjumbledup.

Ofcourse,theveryfactthatstarvingGermany–everycountryinEuropeoutsidetheCommunistorbit,isipsofactohalf-starving–couldsendsuchwonderfulparcelswasamystery.Butitwassoonexplained:theparcelswerereallybeingsentbytheAmericans,whohopedtobeabletouseusaswarcriminalsagainoneday.Mostoftheguardscouldreadilybefobbedoffwithsuchrubbish,buttherewerethosewhohadhadtoomuchtodowithusnottoknowthetruth.And,beitsaid,therewereRussianswhodidnotallowthemselvestobeincitedagainstus.ItwouldsometimeshappenthataRussianwouldsecretlyhandusthings–aflower,adecoratedtwig,abeautifulbow–whichhadbeeninourparcelsbuthadbeendeliberatelythrownawaybythoseresponsibleforsearchingthem.

ASovietRussianhastoknoweverything,eventhingshedoesn’tknow;andhemustneverconfesstosurpriseatanythinghesees,forSovietRussiahaseverythingandcandoeverything–andbetter.Onedayacoconutarrivedinaparcel.ThreeSovietofficerswerepresent,anditwasobviousfromtheirbehaviourthatnotoneofthemhadeverseenacoconutbefore.Theyhandeditround,putittotheirears,rattledit,listenedtothemilkbeingshakenupinside,andsoon.Finallytheycalledamanwithabraceandbitfromthecarpentryworkshop,andheboredaholeinit.Themilkwasthenpouredoutintoacup.Atwhichthefacesofthethreeofficerslitup.Themysterywassolved.Itwasobviouslyanewwayofpreservingliquid,usingwoodinsteadofsheetmetal.

‘WehaveafactoryinLeningradmanufacturingsuchthings,’declaredoneofthemblandly.

Itwasabittoomuch,andalltheGermanspresentburstintouncontrollablelaughter.ItwasonlywhenaGermandoctorwhospokeRussianproducedaRussianencyclopaediaandshowedthemtheentryrelatingtothecoconut,completewithillustration,thattheaffairwasfinallylaidtorest–onetheoryhadbeenthatitwasaningeniouswayofsmugglingschnappsintotheprisoners.

Thewar,andtheconsequentwilly-nillytouchwiththeWesternworld,undoubtedlydidagreatdealtobroadenthehorizonoftheRussians,butmanythingswhichwetakeforgrantedarefarfrombeingacceptedbythem.Forexample,thequestionofgoingabroad–infact,notmerelygoingabroad,butevenwritingtopeopleabroad.Bythistimelifein

Germanywasbeginningtogrownormal;peopleweregoingabroad,forbusinessandpleasure,andwritingtofriendsinforeigncountries,particularlytoBritainandAmericainthehopeoffindinglong-lostrelativesandsoon.

ButforaRussianitisanaxiomthatanyonewhogoesabroadmustdosoatsomeone’sinstructionsandonsomeone’sbehalf–inallprobabilityhe’saspy.ThesespecificallyRussianviewsonforeigntravelandforeigncontactswere,ofcourse,heldbythepeoplewhocensoredourletters,andwhentherewasanymentionofforeigncontactsinthemtherecipientwashauledbeforetheGPUandcalledupontoexplainonwhosebehalfthisorthatpersonhadbeenabroad,andwhathehadbeendoingthere.Itwasallverydisconcerting.

Mystayinthisparticularcampendedassuddenlyasithadbegun.OnedayIwastoldtogetmythingstogether,andtwohourslaterIwentoff.Mynewcampwasonlyabouttwelvemilesaway,anditwasknowngenerallyasthe‘Austriancamp’,becausemostofitsinmates(fourhundredofthem)wereAustrians,thoughthereweretwohundredGermansaswell,andthirtyofourwretchedSpaniardshadendedthere.Ifoundalotoffriendsandacquaintancesinthiscamp,andtherewerejoyfulmeetings.

HeretooIworkedinsidethecamp,forIwasstillregardedasaninvalid,anditwasherethatforthefirsttimeIreceivedmoneyformywork–fortyroublesamonth.Thankstotheregulararrivalofparcelsfromhomeitwasnowpossibleforustocelebratespecialoccasions,suchasbirthdays;thentherewouldbeteaorcoffee,sandwiches,chocolateandsoontomarktheday.Andstoriesweretold.Duringthelonghoursincamptheartoftellingagoodstoryblossomedagain.I,forexample,hadagooddealtotell.Thereweremyexperiencesasaflyer,includingavisittoAfrica;myexperiencesduringthewar;andmyexperiencesduringthelastdaysintheReichChancellory.

ButtheRussiansalwayshadspiesandtale-bearersevenamongstus,andbeforelongIwashauledbeforethecampcommandant,whostrictlyforbademetosayanythingmoreaboutthelastdaysintheReichChancellory,becausethiswas,allegedly,pro-Fascistpropaganda–though,infact,Ialwaysdidmybesttobestrictlyobjective.Perhapsitwasthesestorieswhichwereresponsibleforsendingmefromcamptocamp;but,ontheotherhand,theRussiansdon’tlikesustainedpersonalrelationsanyway,andtheyarealwaysanxioustoendthem,sothesesendingshereandtherebrokeupgroups,and,sotospeak,re-shuffledthepack.

In1953wethoughtwespottedarayofhope.NegotiationsweretakingplaceinMoscowbetweentheEastGermanCommunistGrotewohlandtheSovietGovernment,andaccordingtotheEastGermannewspaperswewereallowedtosee,allGermanprisonersofwar,‘exceptseriouswarcriminals’,werenowtobereleased.Naturallythisgaverisetoexciteddiscussionsamongstus,andsomeofour‘experts’eventhoughttheyknewwhowouldbereleasedandwhonot.Butnoneoftheirfinetheoriesworkedout.Someprisonerswerereturned–andamongstthemweremenwhowouldhavesaidtheyhadn’tachance;whilstleftbehindweremenwhowouldhavesaidequallyconfidentlythatitwastheirturnnext.Youcould,ofcourse,subsequentlyworkoutsometheorytofittheknownfacts–butyoucouldneverformulateatheorybeforehandwhichwould

afterwardsstanduptothefacts.ThewaysoftheSovietGovernmentweremysterious,and,asfaraswewereconcerned,unintelligible.

Intheautumnandwinterof1953thousandsofprisonersdidgohome.Foruswhowereleftbehindtherewasatleasttheconsolationthattheywouldtakebacknewsandthattheeffortstogetusallhomewouldnowcontinuewithrenewedhopeandenergy.ByDecemberthelastmanofthebatchhadgone.Therewerefewerofusnow,butwewerestillhopingthatoneday…

On15February1954,allthegeneralswhowerebeingheldanywhereintheneighbourhoodwerebroughttogetherinourcamp.AfewdayslaterallthirtyofusweretakentoVolkovo,wheretherehadalwaysbeenagenerals’camp.Somegeneralshadbeenthereallthetime,whilstothers–usuallythosetheRussiansparticularlydisliked–werehauledaroundfromcamptocamp.Withourarrivaltherewereahundredandeighty-sixgeneralsofvariousgradesinVolkovo.AfterawhiletenHungariangeneralswereaddedtothebag,andalittlelaterfortyJapanesegenerals.

Bythistimethecampwasover-full,andalltheworkwasdonebytheinmates.Iusedtopeelpotatoesandpreparevegetables.Aspecialfeatureofthiscampwasitsparkanditsflower-beds.TheseedscamefromGermany,andsomeofourgeneralswerereallyexpertgardeners.TheoddthingwasthattheRussianswereveryproudofourlovelydisplay,andwerealwaysshowingittovisitorsasthoughinsomewayitwastheirdoing.Wealsobredrabbits,andthisgreatlyimprovedthefood.Alltheworkatthiscamp–withtheexceptionofharvest-time–wasdoneinthecampitself.

InoursparetimewehadRussianandsatellitenewspapers,andtherewaswireless;itwascentrallycontrolled,soweneverheardanythingtheRussiansdidn’twantustohear,butduringthelongyearsofimprisonmentwehadlearnedtoreadbetweenthelines.TheRussiancampcommandant,acolonel,kepthimselfwellinthebackground,andonthewholelifeatVolkovowasquitepleasant.

Inthespringof1954ourhopesroseagain–probablymerelybecausehopesjustdoriseinthespring;therewasnosoundreasonforthem.Summercame,andthenautumn–andfinallywinterclosedin.Andwewerestillthere.TheNewYearin1955openedlikealltheothersbeforeit,andtherewasabsolutelynoreasontosupposethatitwouldbeanydifferent.Wehoped;ourhopeswerecastdown;wehopedagain;andagainourhopeswerecastdown.Itwastheoldphysicallyandmentallyexhaustingroundoncemoreuntilreallyweonlypretendedtobelievethattherewasstillhope.

AfterthedeathofStalinwehad,ofcourse,seencertainchanges,butwehadlearnedthatapparentchangesweremerelytemporarydeviationsfromthegenerallineofRussianpolicy‘fortacticalreasons’.Soonerorlatereverythingwouldbeasbefore.WithanxietywenowsawRussianssmilingattheWestandtryingtocreatetheimpressionthattheleopardhadchangeditsspots.Wesawsomethingswhichweresaidtohavebeenblack,andwerenowsaidtobewhite.WesawMalenkov’sstarrise,andweweretoldbyRussiansthathewasparticularlypopularbecausehehadhelpedtoopenthedoorsofmanyforced-labourcamps–toRussians,ofcourse.ButafterawhileMalenkovwaspushedintothebackground,andothernamescametothefore.

Butthenthemuch-abusedAdenauercametoMoscow,andourcampwaswildwithrumours.Ourhopesrocketedfromzerotofever-point–andthenfellbackagain.ThislatterwaswhenBulganinpubliclydeclaredthatwewerethescumoftheearth,andthatourcrimeshadrobbedusofallhumansemblance.WecautiouslybutcloselyfollowedthecourseofAdenauer’shard-foughtnegotiations,andwecouldsensethateventheRussiansrespectedthedeterminationandintegrityofthatoldman.Butlongyearsofbitterexperiencehadtaughtusnottocounttoocertainlyonanyadvantagecomingoutofitforus.

ThenthreeRussiangeneralsturnedupinourcampandinformedourcampleader,GeneralMeinert,thattheyproposedtoorganiseaso-calledHeimkehrermeeting,i.e.ameetingofthosewhoweretogohome.AttheinstructionsoftheSovietGovernment,andfollowingonthenegotiationswithAdenauer,theyhadcometoinformusthatwewerenowallfreecitizens,andthisinformationmust,ofcourse,beconveyedinasuitablyimpressivefashion.TheywantedtheformationofapresidiumconsistingofthemselvesandthreeGermangeneralstoorganisethemeeting.

GeneralMeinertrepliedthathethoughtitveryunlikelythatanyGermangeneralscouldbepersuadedtohaveanythingtodowithsuchameeting,becausetheydeeplyresentedbeingslanderedascommoncriminals,wheninrealitytheyhadonlydonetheirdutyassoldiers.ThisembarrassedtheRussians,andtheymadeevasivereplies,sayingthat‘ofcourse’weknewthatwehadbeenkeptbackforpoliticalreasonsonly,andsoon.ButnowRussiaandGermanyhaddecidedtopursueapolicyoffriendshipandtoexchangeambassadors,sothattherewasnolongeranyreasontokeepus.TheRussiangeneralsevenappealedpersonallytoGeneralMeinerttohelpthem,oratleastnotmaketheirjobdifficult.TheyhadbeeninstructedtoorganisethefarewellmeetinginsuchawaythattheGermansshouldgohomeasfriendsandnolongerasfoes.Meinertpromisedtospeaktohiscolleagues,andthengetintotouchwiththeRussiansagain.

Suchalotdependedonitforusthatintheendweagreedtoholdthecandletothedevil,andtheHeimkehrermeetingtookplace.Chairsandbenchesweresetupinthegardenbeforeatablecoveredwitharedcloth.Filmnewsmenandpressphotographersweremobilised,andeverythingwasreadyforthelastactofthelong-drawn-outdrama.

Themeetingwasopened,andoneoftheRussiangeneralsmadealongspeechinwhichhedescribedrecentdevelopments,andthenconcludedbytellingusthatwewerenowallfreemen.

Thenvariousdetailswereannounced.Weweretobedividedintogroupsofthirty-two,andallofusweretobeoutofthecampwithinaweek;butbeforethatwewouldallbeprovidedwithnewclothes–underwear,socks,shirts,suits,overcoats,hats.WesubsequentlyreckonedthatthismusthavecosttheRussiansaboutthreethousandroublesperman,oratotalexpenditureofhalfamillionGermanmarks.TheroutewastobefromIvanovotoMoscow,wherespecialsleeping-carswouldbeattachedtothenormalMoscow–Berlinexpressforus.

WhentheRussianshadfinished,GeneralMeinertsaidafewwordsasourcampleader,andassoonashesatdownthemeetingbrokeup,leavingtheRussiansstillsittingattheirred-clothedtable.Theyseemedveryastonished,andtoldGeneralMeinertthattheyhadn’t

saidgood-byetousproperly,andthattheywantedtogiveusafarewellbanquet.GeneralMeinertagreedtoraisethematterwithhiscolleagues,andfinallyweagreedthatthefarewellbanquetshouldbeheldprovidedthatweGermansinvitedtheRussians,andnottheyus.TheRussiansweresorelievedthatthebanquetwastotakeplaceatallthattheyagreed,stipulatingonlythattheyshouldprovidethefoodandtheservice.

Thenlorriesrolledintothecampwitheverythingnecessaryforthehugebanquet:crockery,cutlery,food,cooksandwaiters.WesubsequentlylearnedthattheRussianshadjustcloseddowntheHotelMoscowinIvanovo,andbroughteverythingalong,includingthestaff.Thebanquettookplaceintwoparts:intherestaurantandintherecreationroomor‘HallofCulture’.ThethreeRussiangeneralswereintherestaurantwithsomeofourmen,andtherestofuswereintherecreationroomonourown.Therewaswine,includingchampagne;andbeerandvodka.Thentherewasasoup,schnitzel,pudding,pastriesandcoffee–anexcellentmeal,butsomehowtherightspirittoenjoyitwasn’tthere.TheleadingRussiangeneralcameintousafterhehaddeliveredaspeechintherestaurant,andexhortedustoforgetthepastnowandbehappy.Imustsaywedidn’tfinditaseasyasallthat.

Thewholeaffairlastedabouttwohours,andthentheRussiangeneralswentoff,andeverythingwaspackedupagainandreturnedtoIvanovo.

ThatsameafternoonfourteencomradesweredeliveredintothecampfromVladimirprison,wheretheyhadbeenheldfortenyearsandsixmonths;fornineyearstheyhadnotbeenabletogetintotouchwiththeirfamiliesinGermany.Someofthemhadbeenkeptinsolitaryconfinement,andtheyalllookedveryill.Theyhadobviouslyhadfarmoretoputupwiththananyofushad.Themeetingwiththemwasmovingandsobering.Ifanyspirithadbeengeneratedbythebanquet,thisgrimaftermatheffectivelydousedit.

Wereceivedournewclothesaspromised,andIleftwiththethirdbatchforIvanovo.FromtherewetravelledtoMoscow,wheretheRussianshadanothersurpriseforus–asightseeingtour!Wedroveroundthetownandsawthesights,includingtheKremlin,andweretakenouttothevastLomonossovUniversity,whichgreatlyimpressedus.By14.00hourswewerebackagainatthestationtocatchtheregularMoscow–Berlinexpress.

Ourmealsintherestaurantcarwereprovided,andallwehadtopayforwasthedrinks.InBrest-Litovskwehaltedforafewhourswhilstthechangefrombroadtonarrowgaugewasmade;andthenwewentontoFrankfort-on-Oder.WewereonGermanterritoryagainatlast,thoughitwasoccupied.TherewereordinaryGermanstobeseen,buttheywerekeptwellawayfromus.HerewechangedtrainsandwentonpastBerlintoLuckenwalde,wherenursesbroughthotcoffeeintothetrainforus.Therewerecivilianshere,too,butnochanceofgettingintoconversationwiththem.ThenwewentontoErfurt,wherenursesagainbroughtushotcoffee.WhereverwestoppeditquicklybecameknownthatGermanprisonersofwarwerereturninghomeonthetrain,andpeoplewouldcomerunningupandstandtherelookingatussilentlyand,itseemedtome,sadly.

Itisn’teasytoreturnhomeaftertenyears.Youareoverjoyed,buteverythingissonewthatthingsspringatyoulikeaclumsydog,almostbowlingyouover.However,whentheRussianofficerswhoaccompaniedushandedusovertotherepresentativesoftheFederal

GovernmentatHerleshausenovertheborder,andournameswerereadoutandtickedoffonebyone,atremendousburdenfellfromourhearts.Wereallyandtrulywerefreeatlast!Wewereinourowncountryagainafterlongandpainfulabsence.Germansoilwasunderourfeet.Ourfellow-countrymen,whomwecouldstillseeasyetonlyasthroughamist,werereal.Itwasnodreamfromwhichwecouldwakeupintothebitterrealitywhichlaybehindus.TherewereGPUmenstillthere,buttheyhadnopoweroverushereinourcountry.Theycouldnolongerhaulusbacktoprisonanddragusfromcamptocamp.Theybelongedontheothersideofthefrontier.Thissidewasourland.

Butthefirstfewminutesinourhomeland,whichhadbeenthefocusofallourlongingsforsomanybitteryears,leftuslittletimetothink.Peoplecalledout.Nameswereshouted.Flash-bulbswentoff,camerashuttersclickedandfilmcamerashummed.Iheardmynameshoutedtoo,andIshoutedbackandwaved,withoutknowingwhoIwaswavingto.Nursesweretheretolookafterthesickandthehalt,andIwasledtoasmalltentoutsidetherailwaystationwhereweweretohaveasnack.IbadlywantedmyfirstglassofgoodGermanbeer,butIdidn’tgetit–Iwasimmediatelysurroundedbyreporters;morephotographsweretaken,andtheGermannewscameraswereturningbusily.CoacheswerewaitingforusandwepiledintothemandweredrivenofftoFriedland,thebigreceptioncentre.

Thememoryofthatjourneyislikeafilmthatkeepsbreakingoff;theimpressionsweretoooverwhelming.Everyvillageandhamletwepassedthroughgaveusatremendousreception.Thereweretearsinoureyes,andweweresomovedbyourwelcomeandbythemanypresentsshoweredonusthatwecouldhardlyspeakforemotion.Againandagainhandswerestretchedouttous,andweshookthemwarmly.Wesawfacessoclearlymarkedbydeepsympathythatwefelttheurgetosaysomething,butourtonguescleavedtotheroofsofourmouths.Andthentherewerenewscenesandnewfaces.Wesawchildrencarryinglightedcandlestowelcomeus;wholevillagesweredecoratedwithlightedlampionsinourhonour;andeverywhereweheardthechurchbellsringingoutinthanksgiving.AndatlastwecametoFriedland,thesceneofmuchgladnessandmuchsorrowinGermanhistory.

Ishallneverforgetthosetremendousscenesaswewerewelcomed,andIshallneverforgetthesadeyesofthosewhohadcomeandwaitedonceagaininvain.AfteraneveningmealinFriedlandtherewasanofficialgathering.Vice-ChancellorBlücherwelcomedushomeinthenameoftheFederalGovernment;andoneofourownrepresentativesrepliedtohimonbehalfofusall.

ButtherewasonemanthereinparticularIwantedtoseeandthank,andthatwasBishopHeckel,theleaderoftheEvangelicalReliefWork,amanbetterknowntousprisonersofwarthananyoneelse.Iintroducedmyselfandshookhandswithhimwarmly,thankinghimsincerelyformyselfandallmycomrades,tellinghimhowtremendouslyimportanthisworkandthatofhiscolleagueshadbeenforus.Itwasnottoomuchtosaythatithadsavedthelivesofthousands,andgivenusallnewhopeandcourage.TheBishopwasobviouslydeeplyaffectedbywhatIsaidtohimandheheldmyhandforagoodmoment.

ButIwassoonsurroundedbyreportersagain,andmanyofthemaskedmequestionsaboutHitler.Ideliberatelysaidverylittle.Itwasn’tthetime;andIamconvincedthatI

actedrightly.InthefirstexcitementatFriedlandagoodmanythingsweresaidwhichweremadeupintosensations,buttheywerenotreallyveryhelpful.

Afteragoodnight’ssleepthereportersandthephotographersandthecameramenwerebuzzingaroundusagain,beforewehadevenshaved.Butwegotthroughthedaysomehow,andthateveningItookthenighttrain–forthefirsttimeasanordinarycivilian,withmyownticketinmypocket,andatteno’clockinthemorningIsawMunich,myoldbelovedMunich,again.ButwasittheoldMunich?

Iwasastonishedatthenumberofcarsonthestreets,andatthemanybuildingsIhadneverseenbefore.Muchwasnewandstrangetome,andyetbehinditallIcouldfeelthatitwasthesameoldMunichafterall,thegreatcityIhadknownforfortyyearsandnotseenforten.HowmanytimesinthoseyearshadIlongeddesperatelytobebackinitsstreets?

Andgreatestjoyofall–herewasmyfamily,hereweremychildren.Iwasnotonlybackinmyowncountryagain;Iwashomeatlast.

Index

Adenauer,Konrad

Almeria(Spain)

Alps

‘AmberRoom’

Antifa(anti-fascistorganisation)

Antonescu,Ion

Ardennesoffensive

artificialhorizonapparatus

Austria

‘Austriancamp’

Balbo,Air-MarshalItalo

Baur,Hans

andaircampaigning

andairmailservice

andangling

andAntonescu

appointedasHitler’sadjutant

appointedasHitler’spersonalpilot

appointedmajoroftheSchutzpolizei

artificiallegof

inthe‘Austriancamp’

birthof

inBorovitchiprisoncamp

inButirkaprison

captureof

carrieswounded

chargedwithwarcrimesagainstSovietUnion

childhoodof

childrenof

andCondor(aircraft)

crashlandings

andCrownPrinceUmberto

andDo.(flying-boat)

earlyairlineflights

escapefromHitler’sbunker

andEvaBraun

andfilming

andFirstWorldWarrecord

andforbiddenairzonesmap

andFranzHofer

andFrauGoebbels

andGoebbels

andGöring

andGovernmentFlight

firedupon

flighttraining

force-feedingof

fortiethbirthdayof

friendshipwithHitler

andHess

Hitlersaysgoodbyeto

Hitler’sconfidencein

andHitler’smeetingswithMussolini

andHorthy

onhunger-strike

andignoranceofHolocaust

interrogationof

andinvasionofPoland

andItalianAirForce

andjetfighters

andJodl

joinsairforce

joinsNaziParty

as‘keeperoftheflame’

andKingBoris

inKrasnogorskprisoncamp

andLaval

legamputated

inLichtenbergprison

inLubiankaprison

asLufthansapilot

andmakeshiftrunway(Berlin)

meetsAdolfHitler

Mercedeslimousineof

andMicheliairfield

inMoscow

andOsloairfield

inPervo-Uralskprisoncamp

andphotography

politicalviewsof

prestigeofrole

andProfessorPorsche

promotedtoflightcaptain

qualifiesasan‘ace’

receivesgiftparcels

receivesLewaldPrize

receivesmedicaltreatment

releaseof

respectforHitler

andRibbentrop

andRocroyheadquarters

andRöhmaffair

andsecrecyofHitler’sflightdetails

andskiing

andSpeer

inStalinogorsklabourcamp

story-tellingof

andsuicideofHitler

testsartificialhorizonapparatus

andtime-bombs

andTodt

andUSbombingraid

andV-2rockets

andVinnitsaheadquarters

inVolkovoprisoncamp

wifeof

andYugoslavPoglavnik

andZaporozhyeairfield

Below,ColonelNicolausvon

Berger,Heinrich

Betz,Colonel

Bischoff,Frau

bloodgrouptattoos

Boris,King(Bulgaria)

Bormann,Martin

deathof

asDeputyLeader

andDönitz

escapefromHitler’sbunker

andGöring

andKannenberg

Borovitchiprisoncamp

Böttger,Colonel

Brauchitsch,Field-Marshal

Walthervon

Braun,Eva

Britain

Brückner,Wilhelm

Bruening,ChancellorHeinrich

Bulganin,Nikolai

Bulgaria

BürgerbräuKeller(Munichbeerhall)

Butirkaprison

Chamberlain,Neville

Czechoslovakia

Deutschland(battleship)

Diem,Fraulein

Dietl,GeneralEduard

Dietrich,Josef‘Sepp’

Do.(flying-boat)

Doldi,Flight-Captain

Dönitz,GrandAdmiralKarl

Dornier,DrClaudius

EherVerlag(publishinghouse)

Ehlers,Colonel

Elser,Georg(‘Müller’)

Epp,GeneralFranzRittervon

Fegelein,Hermann

Felsennest(military

headquarters)

‘flyingfortresses’

föhn(Alpinewinds)

France

Franco,GeneralFrancisco

Fritsch,GeneralWernervon

Fromm,GeneralFriedrich

Ganzenmüller,Herr

Gestapo

Gibraltar

Giesler,Inspector-GeneralHermann

Goebbels,Frau

Goebbels,DrJoseph

andHitler’sbirthday

andHotelKaiserhof

andReichChancellorybunker

andRöhmaffair

saysgoodbyetoBaur

andsuicideofHitler

andwomen

Göring,Hermann

andaircampaigning

attemptstotakepower

flighttoItaly

andHess

andHitler’snightflights

lackofenthusiasmforflying

loveoffood

meetswithMussolini

andMesserschmittjetfighters

movestoObersalzberg

presentsHitlerwithnewplane

shoppingtrips

andStalingradoffensive

stepsdown

Gömbös,Gyula

GovernmentFlight

GPU(Russiansecretpolice)

Greim,GeneralRobertRittervon

Gundelfinger,Major

Hacha,Emil

Hailer,Major

Hainisch,Dr

Hanfstaengl,Dr

Heckel,Bishop

Hedin,Sven

Hengel,GeneralGeorgRittervon

Hess,Rudolf

attendsplanerally

fliesMesserschmitts

flighttoBritain

flighttoSweden

andforbiddenairzonesmap

requeststourofwesternfront

taughtinstrumentflyingbyBaur

Hewel,AmbassadorWalther

Himmler,Heinrich

Hindenburg,GeneralFieldMarshalPaulvon

Hitler,Adolf

and1932electioncampaign

and1933ReichCongress

andAdmiralHorthy

admirationofBritain

andaircampaigning

andaircraftindustrydemonstrations

andAntonescu

appointedChancellorofGermany

appointsBauraspersonalpilot

andArdennesoffensive

andart

assassinationattemptson

andBaur’sfortiethbirthday

andbirds

andbloodgrouptattoos

andbloodsports

bodydoubleof

andbombardmentofAlmeria

atBürgerbräuKeller

burningofbody

andCardinalInnitzer

andChamberlain

andCondor(aircraft)

confidenceinBaur

andCrownPrinceUmberto

declineofhealth

disputeswithGenerals

andDeutschland(battleship)

andDo.X(flying-boat)

andEvaBraun

andfate

fearofassassination

andFegelein

andfilms

finalbirthdayof

fitsofanger

flighttoElbing

flighttoKarlsruhe

flighttoKiel

andflyingtimes

andFranco

andFrauGoebbels

friendshipwithBaur

generosityof

andGöring

andGovernmentFlight

andGreim

andGundelfinger

andHacha

andhand-outofterritories

andHess

andHindenburg

and‘HitlerDiaries’

holidaysinWiesbaden

andHotelDreesen

andHotelKaiserhof

andHube

andHungarians

andinvasionofCzechoslovakia

andinvasionofNorway

andinvasionofPoland

andinvasionofRussia

andJews

andKingBoris

andlice

andMannerheim

meetingswithMussolini

andMesserschmittjetfighters

andMicheliairfield

andMolotov

andmosquitoes

movesintoFelsennest

andmusic

andMussolini’sarrest

andnightflights

andparachutetrapdoors

andParisexposition

andPétain

andPremierGömbös

andProfessorPorsche

puritanismof

andRastenburgheadquarters

andrebuildingofMunich

andReichChancellorybunker

reintroducesWehrmacht

respectforStalin

returnstoBerlin

andRibbentrop

andRocroyheadquarters

andRöhmaffair

saysgoodbyetoBaur

scepticismoverairtravel

andsecrecyofflightdetails

andStalingradoffensive

stonesthrownat

suicideof

andsurrenderofFrance

tearsof

asteetotaller

andTodt

trainof

andU-boatcrew

andUmanvictoryparade

andV-2rockets

vegetarianismof

andVinnitsaheadquarters

visitsKingofItaly

visitsParis

andwesternoffensive

withdrawsintohimself

andwomen

andZaporozhyeairfield

‘HitlerDiaries’

Hofer,Franz

Hoffmann,Heinrich

Högl,Detective

Horthy,AdmiralMiklos

HotelDreesen(BadGodesberg)

HotelKaiserhof

Hube,GeneralHans

Hungary

‘icing’

Immelmann,Max

Innitzer,CardinalTheodor

ItalianAirForce

Italy

jetfighters

Jodl,GeneralAlfred

JunkersLuftverkehr(airline)

Kadaniko,Colonel

Kannenberg,Arthur

Kappputsch(1920)

Kapulov,General

Keitel,Field-MarshalWilhelm

Kempka,Erich

Kluge,Field-MarshalGunter(‘Hans’)von

Krasnogorskprisoncamp

Krebs,GeneralHans

Krupp,Gustav

Laval,Pierre

LewaldPrize

Ley,Robert

lice

Lichtenbergprison

Linge,Heinz

Lubiankaprison

Lufthansa(airline)

Luft-Lloyd(airline)

Luftwaffe(airforce)

Malenkov,Georgy

‘mallet’transports

Mannerheim,MarshalCarlGustafEmil

Meinert,General

meteorologicalstations

Micheliairfield(Finland)

Milch,Erhard

Misch(Baur’sbatman)

Molotov,Vyacheslav

Morell,DrTheodor

Moscow

mosquitoes

Müller,General

‘Müller’(GeorgElser)

MunichAgreement(1938)

Mussolini,Benito

arrestof

andItaly’sentryintowar

meetingswithHitler

andUmanvictoryparade

Nansen,Fridtjof

Naumann,Dr

Nazi–SovietPact(1939)

Neurath,Konstantinvon

NightoftheLongKnives(1934)

Norway

ora(Italianwinds)

OrganisationTodt

Öschelbrunn(village)

Osloairfield(Norway)

oxygenapparatus

parachutetrapdoors

Paris

Parisexposition

Paulus,Field-MarshalFriedrich

Pervo-Uralskprisoncamp

Pétain,MarshalPhillipe

PiusXII,Pope

Poland

Porsche,ProfessorFerdinand

Prien,Lieutenant-CommanderGünther

Puttkamer,CaptainKarl-Jescovon

Raeder,GrandAdmiralErich

Rastenburgheadquarters

Rattenhuber,GeneralJohann

Rauch,General

ReichChancellorybunker

Reichenau,Field-MarshalWalthervon

Reitsch,Hanna

Ribbentrop,Joachimvon

RobertLey(cruiseship)

Rocroyheadquarters

Röhm,Ernst

Romania

Rosen,CountCarlvon

Russia

Germaninvasionof

andGermanprisonersofwar

andNazi–SovietPact

andSpanishrefugees

andStalingradoffensive

troopsadvanceonGermany

troopsinBerlin

SA(SturmAbteilung)

safetyofairtravel

Salzburgairfield(Austria)

Sauckel,Fritz

Saveli,Dr

Schmundt,MajorGeneralRudolf

Schnäbele,Flight-Captain

Schneidhuber,August

Schönbeck,Colonel

Schulenburg,Friedrich-WernerGrafvonder

Schürff,Dr

Siberia,theLandoftheFuture(book)

Spain

SpanishWar

Speer,Albert

SS(Schutzstaffel)

Stalin,Joseph

Stalingrad

Stalinogorsklabourcamp

Stauffenberg,ColonelClausvon

Steiner,GeneralFelix

Stöhr,Flight-CaptainHeinz

Stumpfegger,DrLudwig

Tempelhofairfield(Berlin)

Terboven,Josef

Timoshenko,Marshal

Semyon135

Todt,DrFritz

Toscanini,Arturo

Trentairfield(Italy)

Uhl,Julius

Ukraine

Uman(Ukraine)

Umberto,CrownPrince(Italy)

USA(UnitedStatesofAmerica)

V-2rockets

VersaillesTreaty(1919)

VichyGovernment(France)

Vinnitsaheadquarters

Volkovoprisoncamp

Volkssturm(HomeGuard)

Wagner,Dr

Wehrmacht

Weidling,General

Wenck,GeneralWalther

wirelessbearings

Wolf,Johanna

Yugoslavia

Zaporozhyeairfield(Ukraine)

Zhukov,MarshalGeorgy

Zintl(Baur’smechanic)

1 RobertHarris,SellingHitler,(London,1985),p.72,passim.

2 HenrikEberleandMatthiasUhl(eds),TheHitlerBook,(London,2005),p.289.

3 C.G.Sweeting,Hitler’sPersonalPilot,(Washington,DC,2000),p.303.

4 Harris,p.70.

5 QuotedinSweeting,p.303.

6 AvillagewhereGermanpeasantshadbeensettled,fromperhapsthedaysofCatherinetheGreat,retainingalltheirnationalcharacteristicsandtheirGermantongue–Translator.

7 Baurgetshistimingswronghere,asthefirstV-2launchwasinSeptember1944,afterD-Day.