Hans Baur secured a position as Adolf Hitler’s primary pilot in 1933, marking a transition from commercial aviation to a central role in the Nazi hierarchy. Throughout his career, Baur operated across vastly different regimes, beginning as a combat pilot in World War I and concluding his life in Germany after a decade of imprisonment in the Soviet Union.
Early Aviation and Combat Service
Born in 1897 in Ampfing, Baur entered the Bavarian Army in 1915. He transitioned from field artillery to the Luftstreitkräfte as an observer and pilot. Serving in FA 295, he flew Hannover CL.III ground attack aircraft. By the end of 1918, he recorded six confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories. His service earned him the Iron Cross First Class and the Bavarian Silver Bravery Medal.
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Following World War I, Baur joined the Freikorps and subsequently worked in airmail services. By 1926, he flew for Deutsche Luft Hansa and joined the Nazi Party. In 1931, he piloted the inaugural Berlin-Munich-Rome flight. In 1933, Hitler selected Baur as his official pilot, leading to his resignation from Luft Hansa. As leader of the Fliegerstaffel des Führers, Baur organized government aerial transport and commanded a fleet of 40 aircraft, including the Junkers Ju 52, Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, and the Ju 290.
The Final Days of the Third Reich
By 1945, Baur held the rank of SS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Police. During the Battle of Berlin, he remained in the Führerbunker. He proposed an escape plan using a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch from the Tiergarten, but Hitler refused. After Hitler’s suicide on 30 April 1945, Baur attempted to escape the city but was captured. He suffered a serious leg injury, resulting in an amputation in Poznań on 10 June 1945.
Soviet Imprisonment
Held as a prisoner in the Soviet Union for ten years, Baur faced intense interrogation. His captors suspected he helped Hitler escape or possessed knowledge regarding stolen art, such as the Amber Room. Baur denied these accusations and maintained that no long-range aircraft were available to extract Hitler. Upon his release, he eventually settled in Herrsching am Ammersee, where he died in 1993.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Ampfing
- Died: 1993, Herrsching am Ammersee
- Military Rank: SS-Gruppenführer
- Major Awards: Iron Cross, Golden Party Badge, Danzig Cross 2nd Class
- Primary Aircraft: Junkers Ju 52, Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor
- Nazi Party Membership: No. 48,113
- SS Number: 171,865
- Burial Site: Westfriedhof
Questions readers ask
Did Hans Baur fly Hitler out of Berlin in 1945?
No. Baur attempted to convince Hitler to flee, but Hitler refused and died in the bunker.
Why was Baur imprisoned in the Soviet Union?
Soviet forces captured him during the collapse of Berlin and held him for ten years, primarily to interrogate him about Hitler's final movements and alleged plundered art.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy
- Worked as aircraft pilot, military personnel and airman
