Fighter Pilots Home

[Aufklarung]

I recently read an article in an aviation magazine about Erich Hartmann.
It mentions this "Ace of Aces" was married to his fiance', Ursula Paetsch, at "the Fighter Pilots Home in the mountains south of Munich." At first I thought they meant Hartmanns home but the use of capitol letters makes me think this was some establishment for Luftwaffe personal to rest at.

My question is if this is so and if anyone can provide me with a more detailed description of this place and it's location.

Thanx in advance
A

[Aufklarung]

I'm suprised to see no one can offer more info on this.

Thanx anyway.

regards
A

[alsaco]

Must have been some Erholùngs Platz,

We had one in the " Chateau du Marais", in "Le Marais", par Saint Maurice-Montcouronne, near Saint Chéron, in the south of the Seine et Oise, around 40 km from Paris, 10 km from Brétigny sur Orge and 15 km from Dourdan.

Historical place, Louis XVI style, very nice garden on the Remarde river, requisioned from the owner, one Polignac or Lamoignon. Used by the Luftwaffe in 1943-44 as a puff for Offizers-Matrazen from Paris and Etampes.
Left in a desastrous state, since rebuild. Can be visited when the owners are not in.

[USAF1986]

A,

Just saw your post. Erich Hartmann and Ursula Paetsch were married on 9 September 1944 at the town hall in Bad Wiesse at Tegernsee. An honor guard was formed from the pilots staying at the nearby Jagdfliegerheim (Fighter Pilot’s Home), replete with upraised daggers, to salute the new couple as they exited the town hall. Afterwards, Erich and Ursula honeymooned for two weeks at the Jagdfliegerheim.

The Jagdfliegerheim was quite beautiful and served as a rest and rehabilitation center for fighter pilots recovering from wounds or simply on leave from frontline service. A photo caption in German Fighter Ace Erich Hartmann by Ursula Hartmann (James C. Cable, translator; Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., West Chester, Pennsylvania, 1992; originally published in Germany as Der Jagdflieger Erich Hartmann) described the Jagdfliegerheim:

Here, one did not feel the war, the care was excellent, and the spirits did not run out. The daily itinerary included exercise, walking, climbing, skiing, sailing and shooting clay pigeons.

Interestingly, the large sign above the home's main entrance read “FLORIDA”!

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Of note, fellow aces Major Gerhard Barkhorn (301 total victories) and Hauptmann Wilhelm Batz (237 total victories) served as Erich Hartmann’s wedding witnesses. Walter Krupinski (197 total victories) was also present at the wedding. Following the ceremony, Barkhorn and Batz escorted the new couple on their walk through Bad Wiesse to the Jagdfliegerheim where the reception was held in the central banquet hall.

Regards,
Shawn

SOURCE: Toliver, Raymond F. & Constable, Trevor J. The Blond Knight of Germany. TAB/AERO Books, Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, 1985 (revised edition of original 1970 printing).

[Aufklarung]

Gentlemen
Thank you for replys. I see I was right in assuming there were a number of different "Fighter Pilot Homes" around Europe.

alsaco
Thank you for the description of Chateau du Marais, it sounds like it was a nice spot. Your note on visiting "when the owners are not in" wouldn't invite a rear end full of rock salt from a shotgun, would it?
I have no wish to visit the local jail in that area.

USAF 1986
Excellent info. It seems they had some very capable fliers as witnesses and guests at their wedding. 8)
Any idea if this was a situation where the whole town (ie different hotels) was available for these relaxing pilots or they stayed only in one particular building? I seem to recall Rudel mentioning his R&Rs in the south of Germany in a favourable light as well. Thank you for your help.

regards
A

[USAF1986]

A,

Glad to help! I get the impression that, in this case, only the Jagdfliegerheim and its grounds was reserved for the sole use of Luftwaffe fighter pilots and their guests. As far as the rest of the nearby town...well, I would imagine the pilots were a very familiar site. It looks like the Jagdfliegerheim served as a good "base of operations" for local forays. Proprietors of nearby hotels, bars, etc., were probably more than happy to relieve the "decompressing" veterans of their cash!:lol:

In other arenas, I'll rely on Toliver & Constable:

Tea dances were held every weekend, to which young women flocked from the surrounding areas for the attentions of the dashing young airmen.

Regards,
Shawn

[Wewelsburg]

This is a bit off-topic but,... A guy I work with, (who was an American G.I. stationed in Germany after the war), married a German Girl. She had a family Doctor which my co-worker also began to frequent. The Doctor happened to be Erich "Bubi" Hartmanns brother.

[riffraff]

"Haus Florida" still exists and is currently operating under the name Hotel Ritter am Tegernsee. The original building is still there and there has been substantial development to the property.

https://www.hotel-ritter-am-tegernsee.de

Kurheim Florida, circa 1935


circa 1961


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