Ever wonder about Dresden’s early aviation dreams? Here at the final resting place of Hermann Reichelt, Selma Steglich, and Martha Reichelt, we uncover a story of daring flights. It is a story of tragic accidents and a memorial of lasting remembrance.
Hermann Reichelt was born in Dresden in 1878. He was a man of many talents. Reichelt worked as a freelance photographer and artist. But in 1909, everything changed for him. He saw real flying machines for the first time at the International Aviation Exhibition in Frankfurt.
Inspired, Hermann built his own glider. He won a prize for the best gliding flight. Soon, Reichelt was hooked and started building motorized airplanes. He earned his pilot’s license in 1913. Later that year, he founded the Melli Beese GmbH flight school in Berlin.
Reichelt’s ambition soared. He won a major prize for a long-distance flight from Kiel to Posen. Then he completed an even longer flight from Berlin to Paris. His next goal was to fly from Berlin to San Sebastian in Spain. Reichelt started at night, making him the first pilot to fly a long distance at night. Engine failure forced him to land on a farmhouse roof near Cologne. But he and his passenger were safe.
In late 1913, Hermann Reichelt returned to Dresden. He opened the AERO aircraft construction and flight school. This was together with engineer Hugo Allers Jr. Reichelt also offered passenger flights.
Tragedy struck on April 10, 1914. Hermann Reichelt’s plane crashed because of a wing defect. The accident happened near the Dresden-Kaditz airfield. Reichelt and his passenger Selma Steglich died. They were buried here on the New Annen Cemetery in Dresden. Reichelt left behind his wife Anna Martha Reichelt and three sons.
Today, Hermann Reichelt is remembered as an aviation pioneer. The Hermann-Reichelt-Strasse near Dresden Airport bears his name. In 2014, a stainless steel memorial was placed near his grave. It was created by the artist Roland Fuhrmann. The memorial helps preserve Reichelt’s story.
Selma Steglich also rests here. She was Reichelt’s sister-in-law. She died alongside him in the crash. Martha Reichelt, Hermann’s wife, is also buried here. She supported his dreams. She also shared in his tragic fate.
Standing here, we remember Hermann Reichelt’s pioneering spirit. We also reflect on the risks. We honor the memory of Selma Steglich and Martha Reichelt. Their stories are forever linked in Dresden’s aviation history. The memorial beside us serves as a reminder. It reminds us of their contributions. It reminds us of their sacrifices.