Hans Baur

Hans Baur (June 19, 1897 – February 17, 1993) was German dictator Adolf Hitler's pilot during his political campaigns of the 1920s and 1930s, later his personal pilot and leader of the "Reichsregierung" squadron.

Johann "Hans" Baur was born in Ampfing in Bavaria. In World War I he served with the German Air Force and particapted in shooting down 6 victories (+3 unconfirmed victories-see {[[1]], which wrongly states the date of his birth as April 24, 1897; it is clear from his autobiography that it's June 19}. During one particular flight of his, the plane experienced engine failure and subsequently started to nose dive. Baur was able to restart the engine. Hitler, as was customary, took that moment as a sign of fate. After Hitler became Führer of Germany, Baur would regularly visit and dine with him at the Chancellery.

During the last days of the war, Hans Baur was with Hitler in his Führerbunker, staying with him until the end. After Hitler's suicide, Baur, along with a few others, tried to escape to the American/British lines. Instead, Baur was captured by the Russians and held for a decade.

His autobiography (1957) is titled "Ich Flog Mit Den Mächtigen Der Erde", which liberally translates as "I flew with the mighty [people] of the Earth". The French translation is more softly titled "J'étais pilote de Hitler / le sort du monde était entre mes mains", which translates to "I was Hitler's pilot / the fate of the world was in my hands".

Baur died in Herrsching in Bavaria.