Germany, Third Reich. A Rare Wartime Signed Photograph of Legendary Aviator Hanna Reitsch

(Hanna Reitsch Foto mit Unterschrift). A wartime signed photograph featuring legendary aviator and test pilot Hanna Reitsch, depicted wearing a ribbon for the 1939 Iron Cross II Class, as well as a 1939 Iron Cross I Class and the unique Pilot and Observer in Gold with Diamonds (of which she was the only female recipient), with the lower half of the image overlaid by Reitsch’s handwritten signature in black ink, the reverse featuring an additional handwritten dedication from Reitsch with a date of “11. IV. 44.”, measuring 7.5 cm (w) x 12 cm (h), an exceptionally rare dedicated image in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Hannah Reitsch was born on 29 March 1912 in Hirschberg, Silesia (now Jelenia Góra, Poland) to Dr. Wilhelm Reitsch and Emy Helff-Hilber von Alpenheim (a member of the Austrian nobility). She began flight training in 1932 at the Grunau School of Gliding, and soon departed medical school to enroll in a German Air Mail powered aircraft flying academy. She quickly distinguished herself with skills and daring, achieving world records in gliding, before transitioning to military aviation, becoming a test pilot for the Luftwaffe. Among many notable accomplishments, Reitsch was the first woman to fly a helicopter, and one of the first to fly a rocket-powered aircraft (the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet). These endeavours came at great personal risk, and her bravery and meritorious contributions to Germany's war effort earned her both grades of the Iron Cross, as well as the Pilot and Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds. A loyal National Socialist ideologue, Reitsch notably flew into besieged Berlin on 26 April 1945, alongside Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim, and unsuccessfully attempted to convince the Führer to flee the city. Departing with von Greim on 29 April, Reitsch escaped advancing Soviet forces to be captured by the United States Army. Remaining in captivity for 18 months, she was later released and resumed her aviation career, and continued to set gliding records. Controversial for her refusal to repudiate her wartime beliefs, Reitsch died of a heart attack on 24 August 1979 in Frankfurt.