born:
died: Apr. 21, 1918
Central Powers
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born: died: Apr. 21, 1918 Central Powers
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Involvement in the War:
When the war broke out Manfred was a cavalry officer and saw duty on both the Eastern and Western fronts scouting for the German Army. By May of 1915 he was bored with scouting and asked to be transferred to the Flying service.
On September 17, 1916, Richthofen recorded his first aerial combat victory. Before his career was over he shot down eighty allied aircraft and was the leading ace of the war. As his success increased, so did his popularity with the German people. He was showered with military decorations and treated like a hero by the Germans; his flaming red Fokker airplane became infamous to the troops in the trenches. By 1918, he had become such a legend that it was feared that his death would be a blow to the morale of the German people. His superiors asked him to retire, but he refused as long as there were still troops in the trenches. He began to get more depressed, and the emotional weight of being responsible for so many deaths began to press on him. Von Richtofen's career ended when he was shot down over enemy lines by Roy Brown of Canada. His opponents had so much respect for the Baron that he was given a hero’s funeral.
Quotes:
"I think of this war as it really is, not as the people at home imagine, with a hoorah! and a roar. It is very serious, very grim."