Antonie Strassmann facts for kids

Antonie Strassmann (1901–1952) was a remarkable German woman. She was a talented stage actress and a skilled aviator. Later in her life, she moved to the United States. There, she worked as an expert in aviation before World War II.

Early Life

Antonie Strassmann was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1901. Her parents were Paul and Hedwig Strassmann. When she was 16, Antonie decided to become an actress. Her parents did not approve of this choice. They felt acting was not a respected career.

In the 1920s, she performed on stage. She acted in Germany and other countries. She played Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also appeared in Die Fledermaus and Donna Diana. In 1920, Strassmann won the role of Judith in a play. She performed with Paul Wegener in Magdeburg. The next year, she got a contract with the State Theatre of Stuttgart.

In 1928, Strassmann joined Wegener's acting group. They toured Eastern Europe for two years. However, the Great Depression began in 1930. This global economic crisis affected the entertainment world. Strassmann stopped acting because there was not enough work.

Antonie was also a great athlete. She was very good at running, swimming, boxing, and cycling.

Aviation Career

Strassmann first experienced flying in 1925. She went on hot air balloon trips with her brother and cousin. In 1926, she flew in airplanes with a friend. In September 1927, Strassmann started flying lessons. She learned at the Boornemann school in Staaken. She earned her pilot's license in 1928. Then, she learned aerobatic flying in Würzburg. Aerobatic flying means doing tricks and stunts in an airplane.

Antonie realized it was hard to earn money from flying. Women were not allowed to be commercial pilots. Money from air shows was not enough for a steady job. So, in 1930, she had a new idea. She suggested to the German Foreign Office that she organize an exhibition. This exhibition would show German aircraft in the United States. It would last a year.

Her goal was to promote German businesses. She also wanted to improve relations between Germany and the U.S. She made agreements with American groups. These included the Model Airplane League of America and the Gimbel Company. She planned to visit 12 cities. Her idea was accepted, and the exhibition began in spring 1930.

Strassmann and her friend, pilot Koenig-von Warthausen, gave talks. They spoke about German aviation. They also performed aerobatic flights. They took part in air shows and visited aviation companies. They gave interviews to newspapers. At the National Air Races in Chicago in 1930, she tested 28 different airplanes. The German Foreign Office said the tour was a big success. When she returned to Germany, Strassmann was seen as a top expert in aviation. She was asked to teach German business leaders and politicians. These included Ernst Heinkel, Claude Dornier, Hugo Junkers, and Hugo Eckener.

In May 1932, Strassmann made history. She became the first woman to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean by aircraft. She traveled on a Dornier Do X flying boat. In autumn 1932, Strassmann flew her last big flight. She left Germany on a Zeppelin airship. A Klemm sports plane was packed in the cargo hold. She traveled to Pernambuco in Brazil. From there, she went on a marketing tour. She promoted the Klemm sports aircraft company in South America. She stopped and performed flights in cities like Recife, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires.

Also in 1932, Strassmann moved to the United States. She said she loved the excitement and chances the country offered. She studied business in New York. She started working as a business consultant. She helped German aviation companies. These included Junkers, Bavarian Aircraft Company, Heinkel, Stinnes, Hapag, Focke-Wulf, Klemm, and Lufthansa. She helped them make sales deals with U.S. companies. Some of these were Bendix, Budd, Glenn L. Martin, General Tire, and Goodyear.

When World War II began, Strassmann's work as an aviation consultant ended. She moved to Westchester County, New York. She worked for the American Red Cross. She was a driver and taught first aid. Later, she worked at the Delahanty Institute. There, she trained new workers. She taught them to read blueprints and use metalworking machines. In 1943, an old friend offered her a job. She became a manager for the hearing aid division of Zenith Radio Corporation in New York City.

Antonie Strassmann died from cancer in January 1952 in New York City.