Brazilian General Roberto de Pessoa passed away

Brazilian General Roberto de Pessoa died last friday, Sep 17, in Rio de Janeiro. He was 100 years old.

Roberto de Pessoa (Feb 25, 1910 - Sep 17, 2010) entered military school in 1928 and was comissioned 2nd Lt in 1933. He was secretly infiltrated in the Brazilian delegation at the Berlin Olimpic Games in 1936 by the Brazilian Ministry of War, with the mission of collecting information about the German military phisical training.

He managed to get into Hitler's balcony and shake hands with him, being presented by the Führer to Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten. Tschammer gave Roberto full access to the Berlin Sports Academy, where he learned about the German phisical training. After meeting Hermann Goering, Roberto asked to attend the airborne training, which was denied; instead, Goering granted him a glider course. Gliding and airborne courses took place in the same place - the Sylt island - and Roberto made an extensive photo report of the place.

During WWII, Roberto de Pessoa was sent for training in Fort Benning - with the 101st Airborne Division. He graduated Class 44' (thus becoming the first Brazilian airborne soldier), and went back to Brazil to become the first commander of the Brazilian Army Airborne Instruction Center. He retired in 1966.



http://saladeguerra.blogspot.com/2010/09/nota-de-falecimento-roberto-de-pessoa.html

Rest in Peace General! :mourn: