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Hans Baur, the personal pilot of Adolf Hitler, was interviewed in 1984 by a U.S. Army Sergeant Major. The family wanted the tapes to be archived for use at a Christian university
PR Web
September 1, 2013
The interview consisted of four tapes recorded in a single interview session. The tapes were donated to Wayland last spring, then were translated and added to the archives in time for students to use them when classes began on Aug. 21. Emeritus Professor of Languages and Literature Mrs. Christa Smith translated the interview. Smith, who retired from full-time teaching in 2012, grew up in Germany during WWII. The interview was officially archived this summer, leading into the fall term for Wayland students.
Recorded by Commander Sergeant Major James T. Hilyer in 1984, the interview came to Wayland nearly 30 years later due to a connection between family friends. Hilyer passed away in 2000. His son, J.T. Hilyer and his wife are friends with John Mark and Christina Spruill. Christina is the director of institutional research at Wayland.
“J.T.’s dad talked about the stories and things he had seen,” Christina said. “It was just kind of a neat thing that he had these tapes.”
Upon CSM Hilyer’s death, the family decided to donate the tapes. Spruill said they wanted them to go to a Christian university and not fall into the hands of people who might sympathize with Hitler.
“I was working for Dr. [Elane] Seebo at the time and asked her if this was something Wayland would like for history majors. She thought it would be great,” Spruill said.
J.T. Hilyer donated the tapes to the university, asking only for a translated transcript of the interview in return. Smith, who has written about her vivid memories of those years in Germany, said listening to the interview was enlightening.
