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Manfred von Richthofen, Decorations


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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.


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Sketch by Prof. Arnold Busch, June/July 1917

Oct 27 2018, Mid-Atlantic Chapter League of WWI Aviation Historians Meeting

von Richthofen and nurse Käte – German nurses of the Great War

Kätie Otersdorf (1891-1988) | Vin Dova

The Red Baron & His Flying Circus The Wayfarer's Bookshop

Courtrai, Summer 1917

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Richthofen.jpg

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Liakat-Medaille, große Ausführung in Silber, Osmanisches Reich

Missing: The Liakat Medal with clasp and swords
(bottom right-hand corner of original period photo)
Photo: DHM, Berlin

Who is this individual????

A SPLENDID MAN' - PressReader

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Frontflieger - Richthofen-Kollektion 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918

Rare photographs of WWI German fighter pilot the Red Baron in action found  in shoebox at British car boot sale | Manfred von richthofen, Wwi, Fighter  pilot

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Manfred von Richthofen and Fritz von Falkenhayn | Richthofen Family | Flickr

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LeMO Erster Weltkrieg - Kriegsverlauf - Roter Baron

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Excellent article Paul , I didn't know about the hotel , that would be worth a visit :)

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Some pictures of the hotel, 2007, 2009 and 2015

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A pre-war photo of the Richthofen Museum in Schweidnitz

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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.

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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

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One of the famous silver victory cups, sold at an auction in USA for $ 5.594 several years ago,

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The original rotary engine at the Imperial War Museum in London

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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

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Bertangles, 22. April 1918, moved 1920 by the French authorities to Fricourt.

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Reburial in Berlin-Invalidenfriedhof, 25. November 1925

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A realistic scene found under wikipedia, source unknown

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  • 1 year later...

More illustrations and text added.
Some original works on Richthofen

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The autobiography first published in 1917

 

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Biography ca. 1941 by Rolf Italiaander

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1933/34, forward by Bolko v. Richthofen and Hermann Göring

image.thumb.png.dc4245e405251e7d8240dcd410c7d2ac.pngimage.png.175e551403dea1e9a54c3b41d9e2e07e.pngBiography by Hermann Kohl, ca. 1939

By Floyd Gibbons, 1927

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By William E. Burrows, ca. 1968, paperback version, and 1958 by Heinz Nowarra and Brown, very recommendable.

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Biography by 'Vigilant', 1934, re-published by John Hamilton, ca. 1967

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Jagd in Flanderns Himmel  by Karl Bodenschatz, Adjutant, a diary of the Richthofen squadron in full detail, published 1940

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War Diary by Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen (Mother), ca. 1937

 

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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.

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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.

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The silver victory cups, 1930s photo.

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A radial motor as a chandelier

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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
 
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Source: liveauctioniers.com

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Donat Freiherr von Richthofen meets a descendant of Albert Ball at the RAF Museum in 2014
Source: Daily Telegraph

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  • 6 months later...

Impressive decorations! Good stuff Fritz.

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  • 7 months later...

The Legacy - what remains

Gedenkstätte Manfred von Richthofen - Świdnica

Memorial for Manfred von Richthofen in the park in Schweidnitz, Wallstraße

Das denkmal für den berühmten jagdflieger Manfred von Richthofen in  Swidnica wurde von den Kommunisten mit roter Farbe und die Worte "Rote  Front" verschmiert Stockfotografie - Alamy

An early post war photo

Gedenkstätte Manfred von Richthofen - Świdnica

Gedenkstätte Manfred von Richthofen - Świdnica

Gedenkstätte Manfred von Richthofen - Świdnica

The memorial in it's present day state

Die Schöne Straße - Manfred-von-Richthofen-Straße in Tempelhof | radioeins

Belin-Tempelhof, Manfred-von-Richthofen-Straße

 

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x

www.dreidecker.co.uk - Manfred von Richthofen

 

Within the Glass Case: The Red Baron - Air Force Museum

Air Force Museum, New Zealand

warwriting: VON RICHTHOFEN DISPLAY IN LIBRARY OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN  MILITARY INSTITUTE.

 

Captain Roy Brown. Victor over Red Baron

100 years after the battlefield looting, the Shellal mosaic remains  controversial | Paul Daley | Australia news | The Guardian

Painted German cross on Fokker Dr1 fabric : Baron Manfred von Richthofen,  Geschwader 1, German Air Service | The Australian War Memorial

Pin on Red Baron

Control column : Baron M von Richthofen, Geschwader 1, German Air Service |  The Australian War Memorial

Manfred von Richthofen artifacts at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra  From von Richthofen's Triplane, the c… | Manfred von richthofen, Red baron,  German army

In the Australian War Museum in Canberra (control column. and part of gyro compass)

 

Manfred von Richthofen artifacts at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra  von Richthofen's flying boots, on… | World war one, Manfred von richthofen,  World war iLeft flying overboot : Baron M von Richthofen, Geschwader 1 German Air  Service | The Australian War Memorial

Fur overboots worn by Richthofen on his last flight. Australian War Museum, Canberra

Red Baron aircraft section valued at $120,000 | Paul Fraser Collectibles

In private posession

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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

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Datei:Iwm Oberursel UR.II engine.jpg – Wikipedia

The imperial War Museum's WW1 exhibition will leave British soil and land in Australia in April 2015 to mark the WW1 centenary

Aircraft Component, Fabric, Fokker Dr1, German | Imperial War Museums

Imperial War Museum, London

Family heirloom 'most likely' a piece of the Red Baron's plane - ABC News

Both MGs were displayed for many years together with the motor at the Imperial War Museum

 

 

 

 

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  • 5 months later...

Ist möglicherweise ein Bild von Text „Seeresberich vom 24. Spril 1918 Rittmeister Freiherr von Richt- hofen ist von der Verfolgung eines Gegners über dem Schlachtfelde an der Somme nicht zurückgekehrt. Nach englischem Bericht ist er gefallen.“

Ist möglicherweise ein Bild von 1 Person und steht

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A few of the controversial links in this thread too Fritz 

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One I have managed to replace. Still trying to re-find the others.

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No rush, if I come across any more will mark them, just fix at leisure :thumbsup: 

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  • 11 months later...

Kunigunde von Richthofen Kunigunde von Richthofen, the mother of Manfred  and Lothar von Richthofen, pictured left… | Manfred von richthofen, Red  baron, First world

Mother Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen, geb. v. Schickfuß u. Neudorff

 

Red Baron – The Classic Machines

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A rare, earlier photo of Manfred v. Richthofen

Il Barone Rosso | Red baron, Flying ace, Manfred von richthofen

12 Richthofen-Ideen | erster weltkrieg, luftstreitkräfte, kriegerin

Sammlung Online Münchner Stadtmuseum - Philipp Kester, Der Rote Baron –  Manfred von Richthofen in einem Feldlazarett an der Westfront im 1.  Weltkrieg, letzte Aufnahme vor seinem Tod, 1917

Richthofen with his nurse, Käte Otersdorff

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Manfred-von-Richthofen-Straße - Straßenschild | radioeins

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  • 2 months later...

Some more interesting photos

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ratisbon's | Bedeutendes Fotoalbum Jagdgeschwader Nr.1 „Freiherr von  Richthofen“ | DISCOVER GENUINE MILITARIA, ANTIQUES & COINS

Fokker Dr.i 144/17 of Leutnant Eberhardt Stapenhorst , Jasta 11. On January  13th 1918 he was forced to land by anti-aircraf… | Ww1 aircraft, Aircraft,  Wwii aircraft

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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

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  • 8 months later...

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

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