Manfred von Richthofen – His Life and Times in Pictures

Propaganda when used effectively can create a myth of great potency, but to have a lasting effect it has to be based on truth. Fakes always disappoint when found out. In the Great War the myth of the supreme, heroic fighter ace ‘The Red Baron’ was one case that proved not only to have lasting value in his homeland, but also, more surprisingly, it moved into the ‘enemy’ camp as well. But why should this be, he was, after all, a very effective killer and disabler of far too many Allied airmen for comfort? And yet his memory has transcended old enmities to rise above the condemnation and blame that follows any conflict to leave him a much honoured figure. Raw courage and leadership in the face of fearful odds is, I believe, the ennobling feature that makes him stand out.

But von Richthofen paid a very heavy price for his sacrifice and bravery. Nearly four years of very active frontline service and a serious head wound took their toll of his health and well-being. And yet he refused to give up and died in combat as a result. During this time some very skilled propagandists built his reputation up so successfully into a war hero of unparalleled magnificence that any leave he took became a scramble to avoid the intrusion of the press and public alike. And this intrusion even spread into his frontline world where he needed all his strength simply to survive.

In his well-received book ‘The High Price of Fame’ the author describes the course of von Richthofen’s young life with particular emphasis on the cult of celebrity, the demands of war flying and the effects of battle fatigue. This second volume, which is based on a large, unique collection of photographs, many previously unpublished, takes the story further and presents a vivid and moving view of his short, young life and the world in which he lived.

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