Manfred von Richthofen

From Kaiserreich

Revision as of 12:19, 24 November 2007

Manfred Albrecht, Freiherr (Baron) von Richthofen (born in May, 2 1892 at Kleinburg, Germany), better known as the Red Baron (Der Rote Baron in German), is a German fighter pilot. He is famous of being the most successful flying ace of the Weltkrieg with 80 confirmed air combat victories, the first German Generalfeldmarschall coming from the Air Force, and the current Chief of the Luftstreitkräfte, more precisely his founder as an integrant part of the German army.

Biography

Early life

Manfred von Richthofen was born in Kleinburg, near Breslau, in Silesia, in the well-known family of old Prussian nobility (see below). Moving to the nearby Schweidnitz at 9, the young von Richthofen enjoyed horse riding and hunting: after completing cadet training in 1911, he joined the cavalry unit Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexanders des III. von Russland (1. Westpreußisches). When the Weltkrieg broke out, he served as a cavalry scout in both eastern and western fronts: with the cavalry becoming obsolete with the use of machine guns and barber wire, von Richthofen soon became disappointed to not being able to participate more often in combat operations, and asked for a transfer to the young Luftstreitkräfte (Flying Service): his request was granted and he joined it at the end of May 1915.

The Flying Circus

Initially a reconnaissance observer over the Eastern Front from June to August 1915

"Der Rote Baron"

Personal life

Family

Military career

• Cavalry - Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexanders des III. von Russland (1. Westpreußisches) - Rittmeister: 1911-May 1915
• Flying Service - No. 69 Flying Squadron - Reconnaissance observer : June-August 1915
• Flying Service - Kampfgeschwader 2 - Pilot : March 1916-August 1916
• Flying Service - Jagdstaffel 2 - Pilot : August 1916-January 1917
• Flying Service - Jagdstaffel 11 - Commander: January 1917-July 1918
• Flying Service - Jagdgeschwader 1 - Commander: July 1918-April 1920
• Flying Service - Generaloberst: November 1923
• Flying Service - Chief: February 1925
• Generalfeldmarschall: May 1932

Decorations and awards

• Prussian Pour le Mérite Order: 12 January 1917 (in recognition of his 16th aerial victory).
• Prussian Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class with Crown and Swords: 6 April 1918 (in recognition of his 70th aerial victory).
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross with Swords: 11 November 1916.
• Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914): September 1914.
• Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords: 29 April 1917.
• Saxon Military St. Henry Order, Knight’s Cross: 16 April 1917.
• Württemberg Military Merit Order, Knight’s Cross: 13 April 1917.
• Saxe-Ernestine Ducal House Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords (issued by the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha): 9 May 1917.
• Hesse General Honor Decoration, “for Bravery”
• Lippe War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds: 13 October 1917.
• Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Faithful Service: 10 October 1917.
• Brunswick War Merit Cross, 2nd Class: 24 September 1917.
• Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Duke Carl Eduard Medal, 2nd Class with Swords and Date: 30 December 1916
• Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
• Bremen Hanseatic Cross: 25 September 1917.
• Lübeck Hanseatic Cross: 22 September 1917.
• Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class with War Decoration: 8 August 1917.
• Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
• Bulgarian Bravery Order, 4th Class (1st Grade): June 1917.
• Turkish Imtiaz Medal in Silver with Sabers
• Turkish Liakat Medal in Silver with Sabers
• Turkish War Medal (“Iron Crescent”): 4 November 1917.
• German Army Pilot’s Badge
• German Army Observer’s Badge
• Austrian Field Pilot’s Badge (Franz Joseph pattern)

His nickname

Von Richthofen was, during the Weltkrieg, rarely referred to as "Baron", but as Freiherr, his correct title of nobility. His 1917 autobiography was titled "Der Rote Kampfflieger, translated by J. Ellis Barker in 1918 as The Red Battle Flyer. His nickname is known as "Der Rote Baron" in German, "the Red Knight" or "the Red Baron" in English, and "le Diable Rouge" or "Le Petit Rouge" in French.