I Was Hitler's Pilot: The Memoirs of Hans Baur

One would think that Hitler wasn't such a bad guy. He loved animals, doted on children & treated women respectfully. Hardly a word denouncing what his boss did to innumerable countrymen, silence about the mass killings or the ruin Hitler wreaked on Germany & Europe. Quick to bemoan his harsh treatment in Soviet captivity, it seemed oddly misplaced given what his boss was responsible for. Even a hint that, After all, he worked for a murderous madman, would have allowed me a sympathetic view of the author. His apparent belief that he worked for the proverbial "Dutch Uncle" had me scratching my head more than a few times.

This is an intimate look at Hans Baur's career during the early days of commercial flying in Europe, then as Hitler's personal pilot, and after WWII when he was held until the early 50s by the Soviets in prisoner of war camps. It's also and intimate look into the personal life of Hitler thru Hans Baur's eyes. Hitler was his best man at his wedding. I think you will find this story very interesting; it includes details of Baur's experiences following Hitler and Eva Braun's suicide in the Berlin bunker at the end of WWII. It's a fascinating story. Buy it.

I have read 30 books on Hitler and WWII. Hans Baur filled in some interesting and new details about incidents I had read about previously...Moscow Pact, several situations in the bunker, etc. Also, though I am not an aviation enthusiast, I really enjoyed the. information detailing the progress made in airplanes and flying during this time. The post war events involving Baur and other notable Germans was enlightening.

Some interesting insights on early flying and on Hitler. But mostly a daily log on I did this on this day and did that on this day. More insights on Hitler and the people surrounding him would have made this a much better book.

Being an aviation buff, the title of this book pulled me in. There is, of course, alot about flying and the evolving technology of flight. But it's above all a book that's a window into the life of one of the most infamous people in the 20th century, through the eyes of a man who knew him from the days after World War I to the very end, and I mean to the very end. Baur is a colorful character in his own right, a man, because of his circumstances, rubbed shoulders with the most celebrated characters in history. And what he writes about his relationship with Hitler is fascinating. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent read for anyone one who wishes to further round out their knowledge of this era, or for anyone generally interested in the period and personalities. I was especially engrossed in the events and Baurs travail during his Soviet captivity and eventual release. There is little available concerning the experiences of Germans who endured and survived as POWs. My only disappointment is that this book could have been twice as long as I'm sure that there was more than enough room for further facts, insights, and details of Baurs life from his first flight with the Fuhrer until the end of his captivity. It would also be interesting to know about his life and impressions of his country in postwar Germany.

Excellent book, well-written, hard to put down. Gives great "behind the lines" stories of what Hitler was like when not on stage. The pilot was amazingly loyal; one wonders how such a person could tolerate the evilness, although he claims, like all Germans who lived through it all, that he knew nothing of the death camps, and in fact, didn't believe it when it came to light. Amazing.

A very nice account of a person who was very close to Adolf Hitler, but not involved in any war crimes. Hans Baur was a WWI veteran and then a commercial pilot in the Deutsches Luft Hansa in the 1920s and 1930s. He was then hired by Hitler for its political campaign in the early 30s and since then became his pilot until 1945. Captured by the Soviets in May 1945, Baur was kept in captivity for more than 10 years, returning to Germany in 1955. Very interesting reading, and highly recommended.

Not sure why it has been criticized by some readers. This memoir filled in a few gaps in my knowledge of WWII. Some of it I have never been told of elsewhere. Obviously you need to factor in the personal beliefs of the author and cross reference with other sources to get a fuller picture of the events described. That should be standard practice though shouldn't it?All in all an interesting testimony.

A vision inside the inner circle of the power and the man who straightned a nation and led the war, many enlightening facts are expose and your personal life crossed with so many important characters of the time

Excellent insight by a man who not only was a superb pilot, but gives an insight into Hitler's life and ways. He also gives an insight to how life was as a prisoner of the Russians after the war.

An interesting book about a man who spent a lot of time in the company of Hitler as his pilot,and as such probably came to know him better than many other people.The book has some fascinating insights,not only about Hitler but also after Baur was wounded and captured by the Russians.