The Women Who Flew for Hitler

Starred review from June 1, 2017

These days, it can be difficult to remember a time when flight was glamorous. In the 1920s and 1930s, airplanes were for the adventurous. The top perfume for women, En Avion, was inspired by figures such as Amelia Earhart and Helene Boucher; women ambitious enough to believe in their wildest dreams. In Germany, two of the top female aviators, Melitta von Stauffenberg (1903-45) and Hanna Reitsch (1912-79), were daring test pilots who were awarded the Iron Cross for their service to the Third Reich. While they shared a love of flight and country, their political views and personal choices were entirely different. Melitta supported an attack on Adolf Hitler's life, while Hanna died a Nazi apologist. Historian and biographer Mulley (The Woman Who Saved the Children) sheds light on the story of these two women, contrasting their personalities while also showing the impact that Hitler's rise to power had on their lives. VERDICT This compelling work has the drama and suspense of the best movie scripts. It is the perfect choice for lovers of narrative non-fiction, especially those interested in strong females.--Beth Dalton, Littleton, CO

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2017
Biographer Mulley comes through in a major way with this deep dive into the lives of WWIIera German aviatrixes Hanna Reitsch and Melitta von Stauffenberg. Their accomplishments are legendary: both were exceptionally experienced test pilots of dozens of gliders and aircraft. Reitsch is notable as the first female helicopter pilot in the world (and first pilot to fly a helicopter indoors), while von Stauffenberg was an aerodynamicist whose work on dive-bombers exceeded every other pilot in the field. Highly decorated by the Luftwaffe for their work, they were also rivals (at least on Reitsch's part) and inexorably caught up in Germany's horrific domestic policies. Mulley's gripping narrative drops readers into the drama of women battling to succeed among men while also coming to terms with their country's roiling politics. Reitsch was a true believer in the Third Reich, while von Stauffenberg's brother-in-law led Operation Valkyrie, the doomed 1944 plot to kill Hitler. Determined to assist the pilots they worked with, Reitsch sought glory and von Stauffenberg, of Jewish heritage, a return to Germany's noble past. Absolutely gripping, Mulley's double portrait is a reminder that there are many more stories to tell from this oft-examined time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)