Fritz Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Manfred von Richthofen, Decorations Shown are the decorations of Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, the greatest ace of WW1. It is unknown who now possesses these decorations. For many years these were in possession of the family, and were some of the few treasured mementos kept by his mother, Kunigunde Baroness von Richthofen. The home of the Richthofens in Schweidnitz (Upper Silesia) was kept as a museum until the last days of World War 2. Before the Red Army invaded Silesia (Schlesien), the Richthofen family had to flee to the West and only a few cherished possessions were brought to the West. The Richthofen Museum, his own personal room in the family villa in Schweidnitz,, held many souvenirs of his victories in aerial combat, there were aircraft motors, machine guns, roundels and numbers cut from the fabric of downed machines, as well as the sixty silver cups made for each victory and engraved with the date and known details of the downed aircraft. Altogether, Richthofen had 80 confirmed victories, but only sixty cups were ordered, as the jeweller who had mande the cups informed Richthofen that silver was no longer available, due to metal shortages, so therefore Richthofen dropped the idea of usiing inferior or Ersatz Metal for his trophies. Unfortunely there is no record of the fate of these trophies when the Red Army took over the home of the Richthofens, which was probably plundered. Their home, in the Liegnitzer Strasse No.10 in Schweidnitz still exists, and has now been converted into a hotel, but with respectful reference to the former occupant including period photos of him and a small memorial plate in the gardens. The decorations are complete except for one item, the Turkish Liakat Medal is missing from the picture, as compared to an old photo taken in the interwar period, and can be seen in the reference publication by Major Kimborogh Brown (USAF) and Heinz Nowara in von Richthofen and the Flying Circus, Harborough Publications, UK from the late 1960s. Decorations shown are - top centre: Preußen: Roter Adler Orden IV. m.d Krone u. Schwertern Preußen: Orden Pour le Mérite edge left: Deutsches Reich: Abzeichen für Flugzeugführer Lippe-Detmold: Militärverdienstkreuz I. Bulgaria: Militärverdienstorden, Offizierskreuz right edge: Austria-Hungary: Militär Flugzeugführerabzeichen, Kaiser Franz Joseph Turkey: Eiserner Halbmond Türkey: Imtjaz-Medaille with swords Turkey: Liakat -Medaille (missing) Clasp: Preußen: Eisernes Kreuz II. Preußen: Hohenzollern Haus Orden, Ritterkreuz m.Schwertern Sachsen: Militär St.Heinrich Orden, Ritterkreuz Sächsische Herzogtümer: Ernestinischer Haus Orden, Ritterkreuz I. m.Schwertern Bayern: Militär Verdienst Orden, IV. m.Krone u. Schwertern Württemberg: Friedrichs Orden, Ritterkreuz Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha: Ovale Silberne Carl-Eduard Medaille mit Bandspange 1917 Hessen: Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen für Tapferkeit Schaumburg-Lippe: Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Braunschweig: Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Lübeck: Hanseatenkreuz Hamburg: Hanseatenkreuz Bremen: Hanseatenkreuz Austria-Hungary: Orden der Eisernen Krone IV. Austria-Hungary: Militär Verdienst Orden III. m.d.Kriegsdekoration One Turkish decoration is missing. Sketch by Prof. Arnold Busch, June/July 1917 Courtrai, Summer 1917 Missing: The Liakat Medal with clasp and swords (bottom right-hand corner of original period photo) Photo: DHM, Berlin 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Excellent article Paul , I didn't know about the hotel , that would be worth a visit 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Some pictures of the hotel, 2007, 2009 and 2015 A pre-war photo of the Richthofen Museum in Schweidnitz The tomb of the family in Schweidnitz, opposite the house. Albrecht, the father and brother Lothar are buried here. The monumental tomb no longer exists, it was demolished after 1945. The graves are now somewhere under flower beds in the former park, unmarked. Richthofens Trophies at his former home in Schweidnitz, pre-war photo. Amongst the display were also some engines and machine guns taken from the machines he had shot down One of the famous silver victory cups, sold at an auction in USA for $ 5.594 several years ago, The original rotary engine at the Imperial War Museum in London Handwritten note by Richthofen, 10.III.1918 Sollte ich nicht zurück kommen, so soll Oblt. Reinhard (Jasta 6) die Führung des Geschwaders übernehmen. Frhr. v. Richthofen Rittmeister Bertangles, 22. April 1918, moved 1920 by the French authorities to Fricourt. Reburial in Berlin-Invalidenfriedhof, 25. November 1925 A realistic scene found under wikipedia, source unknown 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 More illustrations and text added. Some original works on Richthofen The autobiography first published in 1917 Biography ca. 1941 by Rolf Italiaander 1933/34, forward by Bolko v. Richthofen and Hermann Göring Biography by Hermann Kohl, ca. 1939 By Floyd Gibbons, 1927 By William E. Burrows, ca. 1968, paperback version, and 1958 by Heinz Nowarra and Brown, very recommendable. Biography by 'Vigilant', 1934, re-published by John Hamilton, ca. 1967 Jagd in Flanderns Himmel by Karl Bodenschatz, Adjutant, a diary of the Richthofen squadron in full detail, published 1940 War Diary by Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen (Mother), ca. 1937 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 Richthofen_crashsite.ogv.240p.vp9.webm https://luftfahrtgeschichte.com/1914-1918-jagdstaffel-und-jagdgeschwader A useful link to historical aviation 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Victory cup 61 was for Lt Algernon Frederick Baird flying Sopwith Pup B1795 of 46 Sqn shot down on 3rd Sept 1917 South of Bousbecque. Other Aircraft numbers on wall in photo relate to. A3340 - Bristol F.2a of 48 Sqn 3rd Apr 1917 his 35th victory flown by 2/Lt Arthur Norman Leckler ( W/POW ) and 2/Lt Herbert Duncan George ( KIA ). Shot down South of Douai. N5193 - Sopwith Pup of 8th RNAS 4th Jan 1917 his 16th victory flown by Flt/Lt Allen Switzer Todd ( CAN ) KIA shot down near Metz En Couture. A/1108 - Sopwith Strutter of 43rd Sqn 4th Mar 1917 23rd victory flown by 2/Lt Herbert John Green and 2/Lt Alexander William Reid MC both ( KIA ) Shot down South west of Arheville. A6382-F.E 2d of 25th Sqn 3rd Apr 1917 his 34th victory flow by 2/Lt Donald Peter McDonald ( POW ) and 2/Lt John O'Beirne ( KIA ) near Lieven. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 There were a just few more than just over 60 cups - every 10th cup was of a larger size, and there the series ended, as silver was no longer available, so Richthofen decided to stop the series rather than use non-precious metal. There is a detailed list of all his victories in the book by Nowarra and Brown (1958). The collection of cups, along with the rest of all items was looted from the family home in Schweidnitz by the Russians in 1945. As we can see, a couple of them have emerged since and landed on the world market, usually for looted items - USA. These are by right, the property of the Richthofen family. Their home is now in Polish hands and was last used as a hotel, see previous posts. The silver victory cups, 1930s photo. A radial motor as a chandelier 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 a silver trophy cup, 2. April 1918 A gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II for his 75th aerial victory to the most successful fighter pilot of the First World War and Knight of the Pour le mérite order. A large impressive cup, gold plated interior, supported by two crowned flying Prussian eagles. There is an engraved dedication on the front, "Dem ruhmvollen Kampfflieger Rittmeister Freiherr von Richthofen - Kommandeur des Jagdgeschwaders Nr. 1 - für seine hervorragenden Leistungen im Luftkampf von seinem dankbaren Kaiser und König - Wilhelm - Großes Hauptquartier, den 2. April 1918" ("To the famous fighter pilot Captain Baron von Richthofen - Commander of the 1st Fighter Squadron - for his outstanding achievements in aerial combat from his grateful Kaiser and King - Wilhelm - General Headquarters, 2 April 1918"). Imperial hallmark "800". Height: 41.5 cm. Weight: 1447 g. Small dents, easily restorable. On 2 April, Richthofen won his 75th air battle, on 6 April the Kaiser awarded him the Order of the Red Eagle, III Class with Crown and Swords, the only such award to a pilot in the First World War. Of the same provenance as lot 6386 ff. Hermann Historica, Auction 48, 21/22 April 2005. Estimate €4,510 - €5,850 Source: liveauctioniers.com 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 Donat Freiherr von Richthofen meets a descendant of Albert Ball at the RAF Museum in 2014Source: Daily Telegraph 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Impressive decorations! Good stuff Fritz. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 The Legacy - what remains Memorial for Manfred von Richthofen in the park in Schweidnitz, Wallstraße An early post war photo The memorial in it's present day state Belin-Tempelhof, Manfred-von-Richthofen-Straße 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 x Air Force Museum, New Zealand In the Australian War Museum in Canberra (control column. and part of gyro compass) Fur overboots worn by Richthofen on his last flight. Australian War Museum, Canberra In private posession Sean Moir, curator of military and political history at Royal Alberta Museum, holds a piece of Manfred von Richthofen’s triplane scavenged after he was shot down at Morlancourt Ridge, near Vaux-sur-Somme, France, April 21, 1918. The piece belonged to Wilfrid Reid “Wop” May as he was the last person the famous Red Baron chased. It’s now part of the Royal Alberta Museum’s vast collection of Great War artefacts.Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal The piece belonged to Wilfrid Reid “Wop” May as he was the last person the famous Red Baron chased. It’s now part of the Royal Alberta Museum’s vast collection of Great War artefacts. Royal Alberta Museum, Canada Imperial War Museum, London Both MGs were displayed for many years together with the motor at the Imperial War Museum 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 A few of the controversial links in this thread too Fritz 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 One I have managed to replace. Still trying to re-find the others. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 No rush, if I come across any more will mark them, just fix at leisure 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 13, 2022 Author Share Posted April 13, 2022 Mother Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen, geb. v. Schickfuß u. Neudorff A rare, earlier photo of Manfred v. Richthofen Richthofen with his nurse, Käte Otersdorff 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 Some more interesting photos Nr. Name, Dienstgrad bei welcher Einheit Abschüsse bis Kriegsende (x) 1 ? 2 Alfred Gerstenberg, Leutnant Jasta 11 - 3 Otto von Breiten-Landenberg, Leutnant Führer Jasta 11 5 4 Hans Joachim Wolff, Leutnant Jasta 11 10 5 Friedrich Friedrichs, Leutnant Jasta 10 21 6 Erich Just, Leutnant Jasta 11 6 7 Max Kühn, Leutnant Jasta 10 1 8 Siegfried Gussmann, Leutnant Jasta 11 5 9 Scholz Edgar, Leutnant Jasta 11 6 10 Karl Bodenschatz, Oberleutnant Adjutant JG 1 - 11 von Conta, Leutnant Jasta 11 - 12 Erich Löwenhardt, Oberleutnant Führer Jasta 10 54 13 Hans Weiss, Leutnant Jasta 10 16 14 Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, Rittmeister Führer des Jagdgeschwaders 80 15 Wilhelm Reinhard, Hauptmann Führer Jasta 6 20 16 Paul Wenzel, Leutnant Jasta 6 10 17 Johann Janzen, Leutnant Jasta 6 13 18 Franz Hemer, Leutnant Jasta 6 18 19 Hans Kirschstein, Leutnant Jasta 6 27 20 Robert Tüxen, Leutnant Jasta 6 2 21 Georg Wolff, Leutnant Jasta 6 - 22 Heinz Graf von Gluszewski, Leutnant Jasta 4 2 23 Hermann Bahlmann, Leutnant Jasta 4 1 24 Hans-Georg von der Osten, Leutnant Jasta 4 5 25 Viktor von Pressentin gen von Rautter, Leutnant Jasta 4 15 26 ? 27 ? 28 Heinrich Dreckmann, Leutnant Jasta 4 11 328 Abschüsse ingesamt 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heinpoblome Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Hi, I compiled most of the books written on the Baron into a website: www.meettheredbaron.com The site puts events during his lifetime on a timescale, and on a map. Enjoy 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted May 5 Author Share Posted May 5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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