Peter Riedel
Encyclopedia
Peter Riedel was a German gliding
champion, and was Air Attaché
for the Nazi
government before and during World War II. Between 1977 and 1985 he published the definitive history of the German gliding movement prior to the war.
Riedel was born in Dehlitz
, Saxony
, his father a Lutheran pastor and his mother a professor of theology
at the University of Halle. His father suffered bouts of mental illness, and his mother committed suicide, meaning that Riedel was raised for some time by an uncle.
In 1920, at the age of 15, Riedel attended the first gliding championship held at the Wasserkuppe
, taking with him a half-built glider of his own design, which he completed and flew with the help of other attendees at the meet. From then on, he became a regular participant at the competitions. With the assistance of philanthropist Karl Kotzenberg, who had taken an interest in the gliding movement, Riedel was able to attend the Darmstadt University of Technology
, where he studied engineering. After graduation, he trained as a commercial pilot, but could not find work, and instead spent six years working under Walter Georgii at the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
(DFS - German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight). In the meantime, he continued competitive gliding, setting a world distance record of 229 km (142.3 mi) in 1933 and winning the Hindenburg Cup
at the Wasserkuppe competition the same year. In 1934, he accompanied Georgii on a tour of Brazil
and Argentina
to help promote the sport in Latin America. Hanna Reitsch
also went, and the two became good friends.
Later that year, Riedel finally found work as a commercial pilot, and flew for Deutsche Luft Hansa
for two years, then accepting a two-year contract with SCADTA
, an airline from Colombia
, not intending to return to Germany. In 1937, he competed in the Soaring Society of America
's national competition. While in the US, he was approached by the German Military Attaché and offered a post in Washington, DC, which he accepted and took up in June 1938. His work involved gathering intelligence on US air activities and reporting to Berlin. In time, he was made a commissioned officer of the Luftwaffe
and given the official position of Air Attaché.
In July 1938, during the 9th Annual American Soaring Contest, Peter Riedel, German star, flying a two-place German sailplane of German make with Dr. Karl O. Lange, contest director as passenger, landed on Mohawk Flats near Utica, four hours after he took off from Elmira, New-York.
When the United States entered the war, Riedel was interned along with the rest of the German embassy staff. He was returned to Germany as part of a diplomatic exchange. His wife, Helen Klug, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana
and a US citizen, agreed to join him. On his return, the Heinkel
company employed him as an engineer, but he soon took up another diplomatic post as Air Attaché to Sweden
. There, he became aware of the atrocities of the Nazi regime from reports in both the US and Soviet
press. Horrified, he began to deal directly with the US Office of Strategic Services
but was betrayed by a friend and recalled to Berlin. Guessing what fate might have awaited him there, he instead went into hiding in Sweden. After the war, he was arrested as an illegal alien but escaped after some time in custody and fled to Venezuela
, where Helen eventually joined him.
Over the next few years, they lived and worked in Canada
and South Africa, until they could finally returned to settle in the US, where Riedel flew for TWA
and Pan Am. For a while, they resided in Terre Haute, where Peter worked for Reich Manufacturing Co.
In his retirement, Riedel wrote an extensive and detailed history of the German gliding movement between 1911 and 1937, titled Erlebte Rhöngeschichte in three volumes. Shortly before his death, German Air Attaché, a biography, was published.
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
champion, and was Air Attaché
Air attaché
An air attaché is an Air Force officer who is part of a diplomatic mission; this post is normally filled by a high-ranking officer.An air attaché typically represents the chief of his home air force in the foreign country where he serves. The day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining contacts...
for the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
government before and during World War II. Between 1977 and 1985 he published the definitive history of the German gliding movement prior to the war.
Riedel was born in Dehlitz
Dehlitz
Dehlitz is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Lützen....
, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, his father a Lutheran pastor and his mother a professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Halle. His father suffered bouts of mental illness, and his mother committed suicide, meaning that Riedel was raised for some time by an uncle.
In 1920, at the age of 15, Riedel attended the first gliding championship held at the Wasserkuppe
Wasserkuppe
The Wasserkuppe is a high plateau , the highest peak in the Rhön Mountains within the German state of Hessen. Between the first and second World Wars, during the era of the so-called Golden Age of Aviation, great advances in sailplane development were made there.Remark: The German wording takes its...
, taking with him a half-built glider of his own design, which he completed and flew with the help of other attendees at the meet. From then on, he became a regular participant at the competitions. With the assistance of philanthropist Karl Kotzenberg, who had taken an interest in the gliding movement, Riedel was able to attend the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
, where he studied engineering. After graduation, he trained as a commercial pilot, but could not find work, and instead spent six years working under Walter Georgii at the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
The Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug, or DFS was formed in 1933 to centralise all gliding activity in Germany...
(DFS - German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight). In the meantime, he continued competitive gliding, setting a world distance record of 229 km (142.3 mi) in 1933 and winning the Hindenburg Cup
Hindenburg Cup
The Hindenburg Cup was a German aviation prize, founded in 1928 and awarded annually by President and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg to recognize achievements in powered flight...
at the Wasserkuppe competition the same year. In 1934, he accompanied Georgii on a tour of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
to help promote the sport in Latin America. Hanna Reitsch
Hanna Reitsch
Hanna Reitsch was a German aviator and the only woman awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds during World War II...
also went, and the two became good friends.
Later that year, Riedel finally found work as a commercial pilot, and flew for Deutsche Luft Hansa
Deutsche Luft Hansa
Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G. was a German airline, serving as flag carrier of the country during the later years of the Weimar Republic and throughout the Third Reich.-1920s:Deutsche Luft Hansa was founded on 6 January 1926 in Berlin...
for two years, then accepting a two-year contract with SCADTA
SCADTA
The Colombian-German Air Transport Society , or SCADTA, was the world's second airline, and the first airline of the American continent, operating from 1919 until World War II. After the war, SCADTA merged with Colombian regional carrier Colombian Air Service , or SACO. Together, SCADTA and SACO...
, an airline from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, not intending to return to Germany. In 1937, he competed in the Soaring Society of America
Soaring Society of America
The Soaring Society of America was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw-Hill building on February 20, 1932. Its first objective was to hold a national soaring...
's national competition. While in the US, he was approached by the German Military Attaché and offered a post in Washington, DC, which he accepted and took up in June 1938. His work involved gathering intelligence on US air activities and reporting to Berlin. In time, he was made a commissioned officer of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and given the official position of Air Attaché.
In July 1938, during the 9th Annual American Soaring Contest, Peter Riedel, German star, flying a two-place German sailplane of German make with Dr. Karl O. Lange, contest director as passenger, landed on Mohawk Flats near Utica, four hours after he took off from Elmira, New-York.
When the United States entered the war, Riedel was interned along with the rest of the German embassy staff. He was returned to Germany as part of a diplomatic exchange. His wife, Helen Klug, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
and a US citizen, agreed to join him. On his return, the Heinkel
Heinkel
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company founded by and named after Ernst Heinkel. It is noted for producing bomber aircraft for the Luftwaffe in World War II and for important contributions to high-speed flight.-History:...
company employed him as an engineer, but he soon took up another diplomatic post as Air Attaché to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. There, he became aware of the atrocities of the Nazi regime from reports in both the US and Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
press. Horrified, he began to deal directly with the US Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
but was betrayed by a friend and recalled to Berlin. Guessing what fate might have awaited him there, he instead went into hiding in Sweden. After the war, he was arrested as an illegal alien but escaped after some time in custody and fled to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where Helen eventually joined him.
Over the next few years, they lived and worked in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and South Africa, until they could finally returned to settle in the US, where Riedel flew for TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
and Pan Am. For a while, they resided in Terre Haute, where Peter worked for Reich Manufacturing Co.
In his retirement, Riedel wrote an extensive and detailed history of the German gliding movement between 1911 and 1937, titled Erlebte Rhöngeschichte in three volumes. Shortly before his death, German Air Attaché, a biography, was published.