Richthofen
Encyclopedia
Richthofen is the surname of a prominent German
aristocratic
family. The most famous member is the air ace
Manfred von Richthofen
(1892–1918), also known as the "Red Baron", but a number of other members of his family are also notable for various reasons.
Some members of the family have a royal ancestry as descendants of the older of two illegitimate sons of Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, by Sophie Eleonore Sölden.
to the United States
in 1877. He founded the Denver
Chamber of Commerce, and was co-founder of Montclair, Denver
at that time a village east of Denver but now incorporated into the city. His Richthofen Castle was one of the most sumptuous mansions in the American West. Begun in 1883 and completed in 1887, it was modeled on the original Richthofen Castle in Germany. Located immediately around the Castle are the Baron's mistress's house and his sanitarium/dairy.
was the most successful fighter pilot of World War I
, with 80 official victories before he was killed in action. His younger brother, Lothar von Richthofen
(1894–1922), was also a flying ace, with 40 victories. He served alongside his brother in Jasta 11
. Lothar died in an air crash in 1922.
Field Marshal
Wolfram von Richthofen
(1895–1945), himself a World War I flying ace. Frieda von Richthofen
(1879–1956), who married the English novel
ist D. H. Lawrence
(1885–1930) in July 1914, was a fifth cousin once removed. Though their last common ancestor was born in 1661, the Red Baron's fame nonetheless attached to Frieda's reputation in war time England. Frieda's sister Else von Richthofen
was the first female social scientist in Germany. Their grand-nephew, Baron Dr. Hermann von Richthofen
, was German Ambassador to the United Kingdom
from 1989–1993, and his name made him a media favorite.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
family. The most famous member is the air ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
(1892–1918), also known as the "Red Baron", but a number of other members of his family are also notable for various reasons.
Some members of the family have a royal ancestry as descendants of the older of two illegitimate sons of Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau. He was also a Generalfeldmarschall in the Prussian army...
, by Sophie Eleonore Sölden.
Walter von Richthofen
Baron Walter von Richthofen, an uncle of Manfred von Richthofen, emigrated from SilesiaSilesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1877. He founded the Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
Chamber of Commerce, and was co-founder of Montclair, Denver
Montclair, Denver
Montclair is a neighborhood in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. The Denver U.S. Post Office serves Montclair postal addresses.- Neighborhood history :...
at that time a village east of Denver but now incorporated into the city. His Richthofen Castle was one of the most sumptuous mansions in the American West. Begun in 1883 and completed in 1887, it was modeled on the original Richthofen Castle in Germany. Located immediately around the Castle are the Baron's mistress's house and his sanitarium/dairy.
The Flying Aces
Manfred von RichthofenManfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
was the most successful fighter pilot of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with 80 official victories before he was killed in action. His younger brother, Lothar von Richthofen
Lothar von Richthofen
Lothar-Siegfried Freiherr von Richthofen was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 40 victories...
(1894–1922), was also a flying ace, with 40 victories. He served alongside his brother in Jasta 11
Jasta 11
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11 was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of 4 armee's Keks 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of the German Air Service's expansion program, forming permanent specialised fighter squadrons, or "Jastas"...
. Lothar died in an air crash in 1922.
World War II
The two aviators were fourth cousins of the German World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Wolfram von Richthofen
Wolfram von Richthofen
Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von RichthofenIn German a Doctorate in engineering is abbreviated as Dr.-Ing. . was a German Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War...
(1895–1945), himself a World War I flying ace. Frieda von Richthofen
Frieda von Richthofen
Frieda Freiin von Richthofen , a distant relative of the "Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen, who is best known for her marriage to the British novelist D. H. Lawrence.-Life:...
(1879–1956), who married the English novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
(1885–1930) in July 1914, was a fifth cousin once removed. Though their last common ancestor was born in 1661, the Red Baron's fame nonetheless attached to Frieda's reputation in war time England. Frieda's sister Else von Richthofen
Else von Richthofen
Else Freiin von Richthofen , a distant relative of the "Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen, is known as one of the first female social scientists in Germany, wife of the German economist Edgar Jaffé as well as lover of the economists and sociologists Max Weber and Alfred Weber. Her sister Frieda von...
was the first female social scientist in Germany. Their grand-nephew, Baron Dr. Hermann von Richthofen
Hermann von Richthofen
Dr. iur. Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen, GCVO is a German diplomat.He was ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1989 to 1993, and his name made him a media favourite...
, was German Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1989–1993, and his name made him a media favorite.
Herbert Freiherr von Richthofen
Herbert von Richthofen was an ambassador to Bulgaria between 1938 and 1941.Other
Other well-known family members include:- Ferdinand von RichthofenFerdinand von RichthofenFerdinand Freiherr von Richthofen was a German traveller, geographer, and scientist.-Biography:He was born in Carlsruhe, Prussian Silesia, and was educated in Breslau and Berlin. He traveled or studied in the Alps of Tyrol and the Carpathians in Transylvania...
(1833–1905), German traveller, geographer and scientist. - Else von RichthofenElse von RichthofenElse Freiin von Richthofen , a distant relative of the "Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen, is known as one of the first female social scientists in Germany, wife of the German economist Edgar Jaffé as well as lover of the economists and sociologists Max Weber and Alfred Weber. Her sister Frieda von...
(1874–1973), German social scientist and feminist - Bolko von RichthofenBolko von RichthofenBolko von Richthofen was a German archaeologist and a distant relative of the family of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron"...
(1899–1983), German archaeologist (not to be confused with Manfred's younger brother) - Hermann von RichthofenHermann von RichthofenDr. iur. Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen, GCVO is a German diplomat.He was ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1989 to 1993, and his name made him a media favourite...
(born 1933), German diplomat