Gunther Plüschow

Gunther Plüschow (February 8, 1886 – January 28, 1931) was a German aviator, aerial explorer, and author from Munich, Bavaria.

A Japanese ultimatum on August 15 demanding the German evacuation of Kiautschou Bay was understandably ignored, and eight days later Japan declared war against Germany.

He managed to obtain a pass to cross China, as well as a junk in which he sailed down a river, finally arriving safely at Nanking.

In Shanghai, Plüschow met a friend who provided him with documents as a Swiss national, as well as money and a ticket on a ship sailing to Nagasaki, Honolulu, and, finally, to San Francisco.

For security reasons, no notices were published announcing the departure of ships, but by observing the river he saw the ferry Princess Juliana, sailing for the neutral Netherlands and sneaked on board.

In November, Wilhelm II, German Emperor, was forced to flee to the Netherlands as his nation dissolved into chaos.

In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was impressed upon Germany, and Germans unhappy with the outcome held several military and civil revolts.

After he left the Navy, Plüschow worked at various jobs before he was hired on the sailing vessel Parma, bound for South America.

By December 1928, the airplane had been fully assembled and the inaugural flight brought the first air mail from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, Argentina.

In the months following, Plüschow and Dreblow were the first to explore by air the Cordillera Darwin, Cape Horn, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and the Torres del Paine of Patagonia.

There he published his explorations and photographs in a book, Silberkondor über Feuerland ("Silver Condor over Tierra del Fuego"), and a documentary film of the same name.