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The Sky My Kingdom: Memoirs of the Famous German World War II Test-Pilot
The Sky My Kingdom is the fascinating autobiography of the famous World War test pilot - Hanna Reitsch (March 29, 1912 - August 24, 1979).
As the war progressed, Reitsch was invited to fly many of Germany's latest (and increasingly desperate) designs, including the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, and several larger bombers on which she tested various mechanisms for cutting barrage balloon cables. After crashing on her fifth Me 163 flight, she was badly injured but insisted on writing her report before falling unconscious and spending five months in hospital. Eventually she became Adolf Hitler's favorite pilot. Reitsch was one of only two women awarded the Iron Cross First Class during World War II, and the only woman awarded the Luftwaffe Combined Pilot and Observer Badge with Diamonds. She survived many accidents and was badly injured several times.
In the last days of the war Reitsch was asked to fly her companion, Colonel-General Robert Ritter von Greim, into Berlin to meet with Hitler. The city was already surrounded by Red Army troops who had made significant progress into the downtown area when they arrived on the 27th April, landing on a city street, and traveled to the Führerbunker. The aircraft she used was the justly famous Fieseler Storch already well known for the exploit that rescued Mussolini, only adding to the legend of both Reitsch and that aircraft. She is said to have overheard Hitler laying out plans for Nazi commanders to join together in mass suicide when it was obvious that the war was over. She also hoped to fly out propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels' six children, who had been staying in the bunker since April 22 with their parents, but neither Joseph nor Magda Goebbels would allow it. She escaped Berlin on 29th April by flying out through heavy Russian anti-aircraft fire.
She was a devoted and idealistic Nazi, who adored Adolf Hitler and refused to believe the reports of concentration camps and torture. Not until much later would she say that she had been "disgusted" by what she witnessed in the Third Reich. She was held for 18 months by the American military after the war, she was interrogated and subsequently released.
After the war German citizens were forbidden from flying, except, after a few years, in gliders. In 1952 Reitsch won third place in the world gliding championship in Spain (and was the only woman who competed). She continued to break records including the women's altitude record (6848 meters) and became German champion in 1955.
Table of Contents
1 The Child that Watched the Sky
2 I Take to the Air
3 From Gliding to Powered Flight
4 Medical Student at Kiel University
5 My First Flight in a Storm Cloud
6 I Become a Gliding Instructor
7 The Rhön Soaring Contests
8 Stunt Flying for the Films
9 Soaring in Brazil and the Argentine
10 The German Institute for Glider Research
11 Training Glider Pilots in Finland
12 Pupil at a Civil Airways Training School
13 Flying at Night
14 Across Europe to Lisbon
15 Test Gliding
16 A Bird Soars over the Alps
17 First Flights for the “Luftwaffe”
18 Flying Indoors
19 A Visit to the USA
20 Adventures in Africa
21 My Home
22 Test Pilot in Wartime
20 The Iron Cross
20 I Crash in a Rocket Plane
20 Conversations with Himmler
20 With the Troops on the Russian Front
20 I Fly the V1
20 The Last Journey to Berlin
20 I Live to Fly Again
Postscript
As the war progressed, Reitsch was invited to fly many of Germany's latest (and increasingly desperate) designs, including the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, and several larger bombers on which she tested various mechanisms for cutting barrage balloon cables. After crashing on her fifth Me 163 flight, she was badly injured but insisted on writing her report before falling unconscious and spending five months in hospital. Eventually she became Adolf Hitler's favorite pilot. Reitsch was one of only two women awarded the Iron Cross First Class during World War II, and the only woman awarded the Luftwaffe Combined Pilot and Observer Badge with Diamonds. She survived many accidents and was badly injured several times.
In the last days of the war Reitsch was asked to fly her companion, Colonel-General Robert Ritter von Greim, into Berlin to meet with Hitler. The city was already surrounded by Red Army troops who had made significant progress into the downtown area when they arrived on the 27th April, landing on a city street, and traveled to the Führerbunker. The aircraft she used was the justly famous Fieseler Storch already well known for the exploit that rescued Mussolini, only adding to the legend of both Reitsch and that aircraft. She is said to have overheard Hitler laying out plans for Nazi commanders to join together in mass suicide when it was obvious that the war was over. She also hoped to fly out propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels' six children, who had been staying in the bunker since April 22 with their parents, but neither Joseph nor Magda Goebbels would allow it. She escaped Berlin on 29th April by flying out through heavy Russian anti-aircraft fire.
She was a devoted and idealistic Nazi, who adored Adolf Hitler and refused to believe the reports of concentration camps and torture. Not until much later would she say that she had been "disgusted" by what she witnessed in the Third Reich. She was held for 18 months by the American military after the war, she was interrogated and subsequently released.
After the war German citizens were forbidden from flying, except, after a few years, in gliders. In 1952 Reitsch won third place in the world gliding championship in Spain (and was the only woman who competed). She continued to break records including the women's altitude record (6848 meters) and became German champion in 1955.
Table of Contents
1 The Child that Watched the Sky
2 I Take to the Air
3 From Gliding to Powered Flight
4 Medical Student at Kiel University
5 My First Flight in a Storm Cloud
6 I Become a Gliding Instructor
7 The Rhön Soaring Contests
8 Stunt Flying for the Films
9 Soaring in Brazil and the Argentine
10 The German Institute for Glider Research
11 Training Glider Pilots in Finland
12 Pupil at a Civil Airways Training School
13 Flying at Night
14 Across Europe to Lisbon
15 Test Gliding
16 A Bird Soars over the Alps
17 First Flights for the “Luftwaffe”
18 Flying Indoors
19 A Visit to the USA
20 Adventures in Africa
21 My Home
22 Test Pilot in Wartime
20 The Iron Cross
20 I Crash in a Rocket Plane
20 Conversations with Himmler
20 With the Troops on the Russian Front
20 I Fly the V1
20 The Last Journey to Berlin
20 I Live to Fly Again
Postscript
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1991
18 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Hanna Reitsch
17 books9 followersFemale pioneer aviator. Reitsch was the first woman to fly an helicopter, a rocket plane, a jet fighter and a glider across the Alps.
During the second world war she was awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds. She was the only woman to every receive those awards.
After the war she was interiogated for 18 months about the last days she spend in the Fuhrerbunker. Her family committed suicide when they got driven away from their hometown, which is now Polish territory.
After the war she was also banned from flying, but after a couple of years gliding was allowed. In 1952 she won third place in the World Gliding Championships in Spain.
During the second world war she was awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds. She was the only woman to every receive those awards.
After the war she was interiogated for 18 months about the last days she spend in the Fuhrerbunker. Her family committed suicide when they got driven away from their hometown, which is now Polish territory.
After the war she was also banned from flying, but after a couple of years gliding was allowed. In 1952 she won third place in the World Gliding Championships in Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 2, 2012
I found Hanna Reitsch's autobiography a real joy to read. The writing style is very clear and easy to follow, not at all dry as in some autobiography's I've read. She is able to articulate the emotions she feels throughout the book. More than anything else you'll come away with from this book is Ms. Reitsch's love and passion for flying. Almost everything she does through this book is motivated by a love of flight.
For someone like me who is interested in WWII history, this book will make a great addition to your Library. She was present almost at the birth of the Luftwaffe and flew the last plane out of Berlin literally right over the heads of the Russian army. What's in-between tells a story not mentioned or glossed over in every other history book I've read.
For someone like me who is interested in WWII history, this book will make a great addition to your Library. She was present almost at the birth of the Luftwaffe and flew the last plane out of Berlin literally right over the heads of the Russian army. What's in-between tells a story not mentioned or glossed over in every other history book I've read.
June 18, 2021
I purchased this book after watching a Historical Revisionist documentary about Hitler. The snippet about a wartime German female test pilot - test flying Messerschmitt aircraft; that felt like 'riding a cannonball' (Hanna's words in online interviews) - pricked up my ears, so that I sought out a hard copy of her own words in print.
The writing style is simple and vivid, focused on her passion and vocation for flying. Written in 1951, the book explores life in Germany before and during the Wars, revealing events rarely captured in print from a German insider's POV (I've not read much WW2 historical literature; I appreciate Hanna's matter-of fact style, even in translation).
She recalls a few events in the Bunker over a few days very late in the War. Her capture by the Allies and her release.
It's a whole other world of thinking and feeling - love of aircraft mostly, international travel in support of gliders and German aircraft.
I give it 5 stars because it was easy to read, bringing difficult subject matters into clear focus for me: what an early 20th century test pilot's life looked like; and, a small window into what happened in Germany during WW2. She did visit the USA in 1938 for a glider conference, and had good things to say about her experiences. Her gliding expertise took her to Finland, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina before the War. She's an aircraft engineering expert (flying experimental craft) and a German patriot, and I appreciated her lively perspectives.
A little gem of a book.
The writing style is simple and vivid, focused on her passion and vocation for flying. Written in 1951, the book explores life in Germany before and during the Wars, revealing events rarely captured in print from a German insider's POV (I've not read much WW2 historical literature; I appreciate Hanna's matter-of fact style, even in translation).
She recalls a few events in the Bunker over a few days very late in the War. Her capture by the Allies and her release.
It's a whole other world of thinking and feeling - love of aircraft mostly, international travel in support of gliders and German aircraft.
I give it 5 stars because it was easy to read, bringing difficult subject matters into clear focus for me: what an early 20th century test pilot's life looked like; and, a small window into what happened in Germany during WW2. She did visit the USA in 1938 for a glider conference, and had good things to say about her experiences. Her gliding expertise took her to Finland, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina before the War. She's an aircraft engineering expert (flying experimental craft) and a German patriot, and I appreciated her lively perspectives.
A little gem of a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2020
Excellent Memoir Though a Bit Rose Colored
I enjoyed this book immensely not only for the story of Reitsch's life but also her lyrical writing style. You truly get the sense of how transcendent and thrilling flying was for her and she was obviously brilliant at it. Interesting to hear her version of sex discrimination in the twenties and thirties against women flyers but she seemed to pass all tests superlatively. From mastering gliders to motorized planes to helicopters to V1's, she won many world championships and set records and not just for women. Her quick thinking, excellent instincts and sheer native ability saved her many times from danger and death, and she usually walked away miraculously without a scratch. Respected by all including Hitler, she went from strength to strength into the Third Reich. Towards the end of the book I became somewhat irritated at her supreme self confidence even though rightfully won. Then began the cya statements concerning her ignorance of any nasty stuff by the Nazis. And yet somehow she found herself in the bunker for two days with Hitler and company as the Russians raged above. In fact she flew in with Von Gruen whom the Fuhrer had just appointed as successor after firing Goring. She neglected to say in the book that Von Gruen was her lover. After learning that, I then revisited my respect for her as a person. Still, I would recommend this book as an exciting read.
I enjoyed this book immensely not only for the story of Reitsch's life but also her lyrical writing style. You truly get the sense of how transcendent and thrilling flying was for her and she was obviously brilliant at it. Interesting to hear her version of sex discrimination in the twenties and thirties against women flyers but she seemed to pass all tests superlatively. From mastering gliders to motorized planes to helicopters to V1's, she won many world championships and set records and not just for women. Her quick thinking, excellent instincts and sheer native ability saved her many times from danger and death, and she usually walked away miraculously without a scratch. Respected by all including Hitler, she went from strength to strength into the Third Reich. Towards the end of the book I became somewhat irritated at her supreme self confidence even though rightfully won. Then began the cya statements concerning her ignorance of any nasty stuff by the Nazis. And yet somehow she found herself in the bunker for two days with Hitler and company as the Russians raged above. In fact she flew in with Von Gruen whom the Fuhrer had just appointed as successor after firing Goring. She neglected to say in the book that Von Gruen was her lover. After learning that, I then revisited my respect for her as a person. Still, I would recommend this book as an exciting read.
March 4, 2023
An amazing life
A wonderful story about an extraordinary women in extraordinary times. Her passion for flying and natural ability carries the reader effortlessly through her many adventures pre-war and during WWII. This is all the more extraordinary give the social status of women in this period in general, and in Germany in particular. That she achieved as much as she did in male focused occupation such as aviation makes this story so much more poignant.
The only aspect that detracts from her tale is the sense of nativity that threads through it, however, this must also be considered in terms of the context and culture of the times.
A wonderful story about an extraordinary women in extraordinary times. Her passion for flying and natural ability carries the reader effortlessly through her many adventures pre-war and during WWII. This is all the more extraordinary give the social status of women in this period in general, and in Germany in particular. That she achieved as much as she did in male focused occupation such as aviation makes this story so much more poignant.
The only aspect that detracts from her tale is the sense of nativity that threads through it, however, this must also be considered in terms of the context and culture of the times.
January 1, 2020
First published in its English translation in 1955, 'The Sky My Kingdom' is the autobiography of German test pilot Hanna Reitsch. Whilst she is arguably best known a significant German test pilot in WW2, nearly three quarters of the book looks at her aviation achievements pre-war, with a lot of detail of the world records that she achieved as a glider pilot. Whilst you have to ask yourself about what she doesn't say, as well as what she does, this does make a very enjoyable read.
February 18, 2025
Fascinating read. It's hard to get a clear view of her personal beliefs since she claims ignorance/innocence throughout the entire book and also had Jewish friends. After reading an objective biography it's still hard to tell what she truly believed. Fascinating that she was one of the last people to see Hitler alive. It's very clear, however, that she truly loved to fly.
November 14, 2021
Pretty straightforward account of her life as a pilot. Her observations of Goering, Himmler and the Fuhrer are interesting. It is unfortunate that she isn't as celebrated as she should be.
September 18, 2022
Много приятна за четене книга. Но ако мислите, че ще четете мемоари на военен пилот, не е това.
August 18, 2022
A compelling story and highly recommended for anyone with an interest in aviation and history. The reason for only giving it two stars is the language. It's too obvious that the writer/translator is not a native English speaker.
February 24, 2017
Beautifully translated from German to English. In a time where it was considered that women should stay home and pop out babies Hanna Reitsch desired to become a pilot. The book covers from when she was a child and first wished to fly till after WW2.
August 21, 2016
Hanna Reitsch started flying gliders during 1932 and became one of the world's most famous aviatrix's. This, her autobiography, spends much time on the 1930s and WWII; she also contributed to aviation during the rest of her life. Yes, the book contains some politics--she met Hitler a few times. Most notably, she flew into and out of Berlin during the closing days of the war (as cargo). There is no mention of romance in her life, rather a strong sense of family. Of course, the book is filled with her aviation exploits: record setting glider flights, test pilot work and a couple of crashes. I struggled with the sentence: "Hanna Reitsch was____"
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews