A bit of contextual information to the story. It appears that von Greim and Reitch's trip to Berlin was not with the intent to rescue the Fuhrer. On 24 April Hitler ordered von Greim, who was in Munich as C-in-C Luftflotte 6 to report to him in person to promote him as Generalfeldmarschall and commander of the Luftwaffe after learning of Goering's so-called betrayal. That Reitsch wanted to fly Hitler out of Berlin was certainly raised once they reached the bunker, but it wasn't the reason why von Greim went in the first place. Reitsch was his girlfriend and tagged along for the ride.
Von Greim and Reitch took off from Munich (in what?) on the 25th and flew to Rechlin as Gatow, their intended destination was under attack. From Rechlin the plan was to fly by helicopter under cover of darkness, but the last one there, not sure of the type had been damaged and was not airworthy. The next day, von Greim and Reitsch were flown (by an unnamed pilot) in an Fw 190 of all things, the pilot and von Greim in the cockpit and Reitsch in the space aft of the pilot's seat, to Gatow. The aircraft had an escort of 20 fighters, of which seven were shot down en route.
From Gatow, von Greim and Reitsch collared the Fi 156 to fly to the centre of Berlin, landing in the eastern side of the Tiergarten on what was known as the Ost-West Asche (East-West Axis) of Hitler and Speer's Germania. This section of the dual carriageway had been turned into a makeshift airfield on the 24th and one of the people to land there was Hans Ulrich Rudel. The day after von Greim and Reitsch had arrived in Berlin, two Junkers Ju 52/3ms landed carrying ammunition for the city's defence, but on take off, one clipped a tree and was destroyed, its wreckage drew the attention of Allied photographers after the city's capture as it was still there. Von Greim was wounded by ground fire while piloting the Storch, which meant the decision was made that they both would stay in the bunker until he recovered.
Interestingly, von Greim and Reitsch left the bunker on the 28th as Hitler ordered him to go seek out Heinrich Himmler, who had been in contact with Sweden, leading the Fuhrer to get mad and order von Greim to bring the disgraced Reichsfuhrer-SS before him. The two left the bunker and flew from the Tiergarten airstrip in an Arado Ar 96 flown by the same fella who piloted the Fw 190 the two had flown in from Rechlin to Gatow. The fate of the Storch the two arrived in is not known, probably destroyed by enemy fire. That guy, whomever his name was also flew Speer out when he left the bunker for the last time.
The Ost-West Asche looking east from the Siegessaule, the monument that Speer had moved from in front of the Reichstag to the centre of the new road. Crossing between the Reichstag and the Brandenburger Tor, perpendicular to the axis was Hermann Goering Strasse. At the far right of the image, a block away from that road was the bunker on this side of the Reichskanzlei on Voss Strasse.
Berlin Tour 12
Von Greim and Reitch took off from Munich (in what?) on the 25th and flew to Rechlin as Gatow, their intended destination was under attack. From Rechlin the plan was to fly by helicopter under cover of darkness, but the last one there, not sure of the type had been damaged and was not airworthy. The next day, von Greim and Reitsch were flown (by an unnamed pilot) in an Fw 190 of all things, the pilot and von Greim in the cockpit and Reitsch in the space aft of the pilot's seat, to Gatow. The aircraft had an escort of 20 fighters, of which seven were shot down en route.
From Gatow, von Greim and Reitsch collared the Fi 156 to fly to the centre of Berlin, landing in the eastern side of the Tiergarten on what was known as the Ost-West Asche (East-West Axis) of Hitler and Speer's Germania. This section of the dual carriageway had been turned into a makeshift airfield on the 24th and one of the people to land there was Hans Ulrich Rudel. The day after von Greim and Reitsch had arrived in Berlin, two Junkers Ju 52/3ms landed carrying ammunition for the city's defence, but on take off, one clipped a tree and was destroyed, its wreckage drew the attention of Allied photographers after the city's capture as it was still there. Von Greim was wounded by ground fire while piloting the Storch, which meant the decision was made that they both would stay in the bunker until he recovered.
Interestingly, von Greim and Reitsch left the bunker on the 28th as Hitler ordered him to go seek out Heinrich Himmler, who had been in contact with Sweden, leading the Fuhrer to get mad and order von Greim to bring the disgraced Reichsfuhrer-SS before him. The two left the bunker and flew from the Tiergarten airstrip in an Arado Ar 96 flown by the same fella who piloted the Fw 190 the two had flown in from Rechlin to Gatow. The fate of the Storch the two arrived in is not known, probably destroyed by enemy fire. That guy, whomever his name was also flew Speer out when he left the bunker for the last time.
The Ost-West Asche looking east from the Siegessaule, the monument that Speer had moved from in front of the Reichstag to the centre of the new road. Crossing between the Reichstag and the Brandenburger Tor, perpendicular to the axis was Hermann Goering Strasse. At the far right of the image, a block away from that road was the bunker on this side of the Reichskanzlei on Voss Strasse.
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