From Nazi Test Pilot to Hitler's Bunker (Hardcover)

~ Dennis Piszkiewicz (Author) "Why would anybody want to fly?..." (more)
Key Phrases: tiny aircraft, tow plane, rocket plane, Hanna Reitsch, Third Reich, Robert Ritter von Greim (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“'Stratosphere' was the nickname her classmates in flying school gave to Hanna Reitsch for her daring and often reckless exploits--caught up in a storm, she flew a glider higher than that plane had ever been flown before. In this fast-paced biography, Piszkiewicz charts the career of the diminutive (barely five feet tall) pilot who abandoned her medical studies in 1934 to concentrate on training as a pilot. Reitsch rose quickly to become a renowned test pilot and came to the attention of Hitler himself. One of the most dramatic moments in the book occurs when the outspoken Reitsch, as a meeting in Berchtesgaden, openly contradicts the Fuhrer.”–Publishers Weekly

“Piszkiewicz presents the singular career of German test pilot Hanna Reitsch.... In spite of family opposition and the social climate, she pursued her love [of flying] and at one time held, unofficially, most of the glider endurance, range, and altitude records. Shifting to powered aircraft, she became one of the best-known women of the Third Reich... Her ability was outstanding, her political judgement less so, though her cultivation of top-ranking Nazis seems to have been done as much to secure mentors as to support Nazi ideology. Proof that historically 'lost' women come in all shapes, sizes, and political colorations, this biography is a worthwhile addition to the literature of aviation.”–Booklist

“The biography of this remarkable woman makes fascinating reading.”–American Aviation Historical Society Newsletter

Product Description

This is the amazing story of Hanna Reitsch, one of the most celebrated women of the Third Reich. As a decorated test pilot for the Luftwaffe and a protege of Hitler, Reitsch was one of a handful of women who achieved personal success by breaking from the traditionally defined role of wife and mother in Nazi Germany. Reitsch's skills and accomplishments ultimately earned her an Iron Cross and celebrity status. A witness to the last days of the Third Reich, Reitsch visited Hitler's Berlin bunker where she received orders to deliver letters designed to rally the Luftwaffe. She left on this futile mission only minutes before Hitler's marriage to Eva Braun.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Trade (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275954560
• ISBN-13: 978-0275954567
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,263,174 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sophomorically written, poorly researched, biased, June 6, 2004

By	Glora T. Anchors "Alpha Control Press" (Dunlap, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A poor book. Sophomorically written, better suited to youngsters. The author has a poor knowledge of the Third Reich and is heavily biased against Germans of that era. If you are interested in Hanna Reitsch find a copy of her autobiography FLYING IS MY LIFE.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Personal Commentary Included , March 25, 2008

By	Ryan C. Johnson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book to be biased against Hanna. It is quite useless. It's more of an attack on Hanna than anything else. It has personal commentary occasionally throughout the book that ruins the reading of Hanna's achievements, and is not recommended for first time Hanna readers.

It is "flying is my life" her original book, with added commentary. There is nothing really different. It ruined my Hanna experience.