‘Robert Ritter von Greim was at the controls and we flew at treetop level. Very soon we came under intense fire again and Robert was badly injured in the foot. Maybe a bullet or shrapnel from flak, I don’t know. But he was in intense pain, bleeding badly and was in danger of losing consciousness. He could no longer fly and so I had to lean over him and stretch for the controls, which was not at all easy. The plane was struck many times by bullets. Fuel streamed from the tanks, but I suffered no hits myself. Soon our fuel tanks registered completely empty and I knew I had to glide in to land. But where? And then, amid the rubble and the uprooted trees, I spotted a small, flat space in what remained of the Tiergarten, just behind the Brandenburg Gate. The area was deserted – just a wasteland of dust and debris. The Soviet shelling was constant and shrapnel was raining on us, a torrential downpour of metal and high explosives.’

‘So you landed safely, then just walked through this bombardment to the bunker in company with a badly injured man?’

‘No, no. Once again our luck held. A Wehrmacht truck was weaving through the destruction and I managed to flag it down. They drove us up Unter den Linden right to the Reich Chancellery. Everyone in the bunker was astonished to see us, for they could not believe anyone had managed to reach them.’

‘You met Hitler?’

‘Of course. He came to the field hospital where Ritter von Greim was being treated by Dr Stumpfegger. The Führer looked in a bad way – very grey and old. He was stooped and trembling, but he took Robert by the hands and thanked him from his heart, rewarding him for his staunch patriotism and courage by promoting him from general to field marshal and commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe. Then he turned to me with tears in his eyes and called me a brave woman and said “There is still loyalty and courage in the world.” That meant more to me than any medals or prizes. You know, even as a test pilot, I was always a civilian, but I loved my country above all else, as I am sure you two gentlemen do with yours. The Fatherland was everything to me and it still is – so to be praised like that by the greatest German of all time was the finest honour that could be bestowed.’

Wilde had been listening to the exchange in silence. Heck was keeping his composure as he had promised, but how long would he be able to keep his cool in the face of this unapologetic Nazi? When would the swear words or threats come tumbling from his mouth?

Suddenly, Heck changed the subject. ‘What do you think of Jews, Frau Reitsch?’

She looked taken aback. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Curiosity.’

‘I have nothing against them. Why, are you one?’