For those interested in the full account of her life, Sophie Jackson's book is available at retailers like Amazon and Waterstones .
While many of her contemporaries, such as rocket scientist Wernher von Braun , "reshaped" their images to fit the post-war world through programs like Operation Paperclip , Reitsch refused to distance herself from her past.
Reitsch wasn't just a pilot; she was an ardent supporter of the Nazi cause. She famously volunteered for a Nazi "kamikaze" squadron and tested the dangerous V-1 flying bombs. Hitler's Heroine : Hanna Reitsch
: She continued to fly and win competitions after the war, but she remained a pariah to many due to her unrepentant Nazism.
Reitsch’s obsession with flight began early. She famously broke glider endurance records and became the first woman to be awarded the title of flight captain. Her skill was undeniable; she was the first woman to fly a helicopter and served as the first female Luftwaffe test pilot. For those interested in the full account of
: Reitsch died in 1979 at age 67. To this day, a mystery remains as to whether she died of natural causes or finally used the cyanide pill Hitler had given her decades earlier.
Her achievements earned her the respect of the highest levels of the Nazi regime. She was awarded the Iron Cross (First and Second Class), becoming the only woman to receive the First Class distinction during World War II. "Hitler’s Heroine" She famously volunteered for a Nazi "kamikaze" squadron
Her devotion was most evident in the final days of the war. In April 1945, she and Generaloberst Robert von Greim flew a light aircraft into a besieged Berlin to reach the Führerbunker . She was among the last people to see Hitler alive and reportedly begged him to let her die with him. A Controversial Legacy