View source for Hellmuth Hirth

{{Short description|German aerospace engineer (1886–1938)}}
{{inline| date=March 2025}}
{{Expand German|topic=bio|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Hellmuth Hirth
| image              = Hellmuth hirth.jpg
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1886|4|24|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Heilbronn]], [[Kingdom of Württemberg|Württemberg]], [[German Empire|Germany]]
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1938|7|1|1886|7|1|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Karlovy Vary|Karlsbad]], [[Reichsgau Sudetenland|Sudetenland]], [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| death_cause        = Plane crash
| known_for          = Founder of [[Mahle GmbH|Mahle]] and [[Hirth|Hirth Engines]]
}}
'''Hellmuth Hirth''' ({{IPA|de|ˈhɛlmuːt ˈhɪʁt|lang|Helmuth Hirth.ogg}}; 24 April 1886 – 1 July 1938) was a German engineer who founded the [[Mahle GmbH]] and [[Hirth]] companies, manufacturing engine components and complete [[aircraft engine]]s respectively.

==Biography==
Hirth was born in [[Heilbronn]], the son of engineer and tool-maker Albert Hirth. He was the elder brother of [[Wolf Hirth]] who would go on to become a famous [[sailplane]] designer and manufacturer.

As a young man, Hirth was sent to the [[United States]] to train with the [[General Electric|Edison General Electric Company]] as a mechanic. While abroad, he developed an interest in aircraft, and on his return to Germany in 1909 became involved with the emerging industry. He built his own aircraft in 1910 and soon went to work for the [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin|Zeppelin Company]] building [[airship]]s. He also became a prominent pilot.

Since 1914 he was a [[Leutnant]] of the [[Luftstreitkräfte|Fliegertruppe]], winning the Iron Cross II and being severely wounded.

In 1920, he founded his own company to manufacture engine components out of light alloys, and by 1927 split the company in order to focus more closely on the aero engine side of the business.

==Death==
On 1 July 1938 Hirth was killed in a plane crash in [[Karlovy Vary|Karlsbad]].

==See also==
*[[Hirth]]
*[[Hirth joint]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{NDB|9|237||Hirth, Helmut|Gert Behrsing|118551590}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hirth, Hellmuth}}
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:German aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:People from Heilbronn]]
[[Category:German businesspeople in transport]]
[[Category:Engineers from Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1938]]
[[Category:Luftstreitkräfte personnel]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Germany]]
[[Category:German businesspeople in manufacturing]]
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