This is a great example of the men's pulp magazine genre of illustration art by renowned illustration artist Gil Cohen. This LARGE painting shows the Third Reich's most famous woman test pilot, Hanna Reitsch, flying Generaloberst Ritter von Greim into Berlin during the last days of the World War 2.
When the war began, Ritter von Greim was given command of a Luftflotte (Air Fleet) which took part in the invasion of Poland, the Battle for Norway, the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa. His greatest tactical achievement was his Luftflotte's involvement in the battle of Kursk and his planes' bombing of the Orel bulge during Operation Kutuzov. It was for this battle that Adolf Hitler awarded him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, which made him one of the most highly decorated German military officers.
On 26 April 1945, when Soviet forces had encircled Berlin and the Third Reich was all but doomed, Generaloberst Ritter von Greim flew into Berlin from Rechlin with Hanna Reitsch, in response to an order from Hitler. Initially they flew from the central Luftwaffe test facility airfield, the Erprobungsstelle Rechlin to Gatow (a district of south-western Berlin) in a Focke Wulf 190. As the cockpit only had room for the pilot, Reitsch flew in the tail of the plane, getting into it by climbing through a small emergency opening. Having landed in Gatow, they changed planes to fly to the Chancellery; however, their Fieseler Storch was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the Grunewald. Greim was hit by a bullet in the right foot, but Reitsch was able to reach the throttle and joystick to land on an improvised air strip in the Tiergarten, near the Brandenburg Gate. Hitler promoted Greim from General to Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal), making him the last German officer ever to achieve that rank, and then finally appointed him as commander in chief of the Luftwaffe, to replace Hermann Gšring, whom he had recently dismissed in absentia for treason. Greim thus became the second man to command the German Air Force during the Third Reich. However, with the end of the war in Europe fast approaching, his tenure as Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe lasted only a few days. On 28 April, Hitler ordered Ritter von Greim to leave Berlin and had Reitsch fly him to Plšn, so that he could arrest Heinrich Himmler on the charge of treason. That night, the two left Berlin, taking off from the Tiergarten air strip in a small Arado Ar 96 aircraft. Soldiers of the Soviet 3rd Shock Army feared they had just seen Hitler escape (Courtesy of Wikipedia).
Done in Gouache on illustration board, editors notes can be read in the margins. This vintage original pulp art would make a fantastic gift or addition to any man cave! Signed: Gil Cohen Overall Dimensions: 21.75" x 30" Visible Image dimensions: 15" x 22.5"
Price: Only $795.00!
To place your order, or if you have any questions please feel free to email us: CONTACT
Fossils & Meteorites For Sale (Home Page)