Robert Ritter von Greim

Robert Ritter von Greim
Perschermeier · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
Name	Robert Ritter von Greim
Caption	Greim in Luftwaffe uniform
Birth date	22 June 1892
Death date	24 May 1945 (aged 52)
Birth place	Bayreuth, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death place	Salzburg, Allied-occupied Austria
Allegiance	* German Empire * Weimar Republic * Nazi Germany
Branch	* Imperial German Army * Luftstreitkräfte * Luftwaffe
Serviceyears	1911–1945
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Commands	* Luftflotte 6 * Luftwaffenbefehlshaber Mitte * Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe
Battles	* World War I * World War II
Awards	* Pour le Mérite * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Robert Ritter von Greim was a German military aviator and field marshal who served as the last commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe during World War II. A decorated fighter ace from the First World War, he rose through the ranks of the Reichswehr and became a key figure in the development of the clandestine German air force during the Interwar period. His career culminated in his dramatic appointment by Adolf Hitler in the Führerbunker during the Battle of Berlin, succeeding the disgraced Hermann Göring.

Early life and military career

Born in Bayreuth in the Kingdom of Bavaria, he joined the Bavarian Army in 1911, initially serving with the Bavarian Railway Battalion. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 8th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment and was stationed in Nuremberg. His early military education was typical for a Bavarian officer of the era, grounded in the traditions of the German Empire's armed forces. This conventional beginning in the Imperial German Army provided the foundation for his subsequent, more specialized career in aviation.

World War I service

Transferring to the Luftstreitkräfte in 1915, he initially served as an observer before training as a pilot. Flying with Jagdstaffel 34, he achieved notable success, being credited with 28 aerial victories. His combat prowess earned him the prestigious Pour le Mérite, also known as the "Blue Max," in October 1918. His service during critical campaigns like the Battle of Verdun and the Spring Offensive honed his skills in aerial warfare. By the war's end, he was a highly decorated captain and a respected figure within Germany's nascent fighter pilot community.

Interwar period and Luftwaffe career

After the war, he remained in the scaled-down Reichswehr and was a central figure in the secret training of German pilots, often in cooperation with the Soviet Union under the Treaty of Rapallo. He helped establish the German Air Sport Association, a civilian flying organization that served as a crucial cover for rebuilding German air power. Following the official unveiling of the Luftwaffe in 1935, he held significant training and organizational commands. He also served as an advisor to Chiang Kai-shek in China, assisting with the development of the Chinese Nationalist Air Force.

World War II command

At the outbreak of World War II, he commanded a Luftflotte during the Invasion of Poland. He led Luftflotte 5 during the Norwegian Campaign and the subsequent operations in Northern Europe. Later, commanding Luftflotte 6 on the Eastern Front, he provided air support for major operations including the Battle of Kursk and the defensive battles following the Battle of Stalingrad. His commands were involved in the intense air battles over the Siege of Leningrad and the retreat across Belarus and Poland.

Appointment as last Commander-in-Chief

On 26 April 1945, with the Red Army advancing through Berlin, he was summoned to the Führerbunker. Flying a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch with pilot Hanna Reitsch through heavy Soviet anti-aircraft fire, he landed on an improvised airstrip near the Brandenburg Gate. In the bunker, Adolf Hitler formally dismissed Hermann Göring and appointed him as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, promoting him to Generalfeldmarschall. This symbolic act, during the final days of the Battle of Berlin, was one of Hitler's last official appointments.

Capture and death

After flying out of Berlin on 28 April, he made his way to Plön and then to Karl Dönitz's government in Flensburg. Following the German Instrument of Surrender, he was captured by United States Army forces in Austria. Facing likely prosecution for war crimes and despairing over the fate of Germany, he committed suicide in Salzburg on 24 May 1945. His death marked the end of the line for the high command of the Luftwaffe, an organization he had helped build and lead during its final, catastrophic collapse.

Category:German military personnel of World War I Category:Luftwaffe generals of World War II Category:German suicides