Messerschmitt Me-209V-4

In the 1930s, in the time of the rearmament, Germany tried to showcase their military power also by breaking aviation records. This effort, backed by the state, brought many new records including the most prestigious one, the world speed record. Of interest might be the fact that two German aviation companies rivaled to achieve the record, namely Heinkel and Messerschmitt, each of which had their opponents and sympathizers in the Nazi state offices.