Manfred von Richthofen (speed corrected)

Scenes at Markebeke, with Wolf, Göring, Loerzer, his father, but also Antony Fokker, emporer Wilhelm II
I did adapt scenes, speed and brightness in this film
For educational purposes only

[@Nessevan]

Very nice to see his pre-flight routine suiting up. It's usually these aspects that get lost in history.

[@barragin9893]

What is the purpose of the very thick over-pants? Shield from engine heat?

[@rolandsingh]

@@barragin9893 Protection from the very cold air, particularly at some fifteen thousand, feet. That was the 'ceiling' maximum, for most if not all, airplanes of that time period. However, it could also have been because their fuel tanks were positioned in front of the pilot,behind (single engine types) the engine. Some additional protection, in case of engine fire, while in the air ! 🛩 Roland Singh, Canada 🇨🇦

[@barragin9893]

@@rolandsingh Thanks - I didn't realize those early planes operated that high. But I guess the open air cockpit didn't help matters either. Those are some serious duty flight pants he is putting on. Time of year probaly made a difference also I would guess.

[@goldfing5898]

@@rolandsingh In the 1990s, I had the computer game "Red Baron" with a very detailed 200 page historical facts handbook and detailed technical data. The planes could even climb to 20000 feet or 6000 metres at that time, where also oxygen became a problem, so there were first experiments with oxygen bottles, too. For the Fokker Dr I, wiki even says 6500 m maximum height. For the Fokker D VII with the BMW motor, even 7000 m.

[@goldfing5898]

@@barragin9893 Well, the performance of the planes increased considerably throughout the war. At the beginning, 3000 meters or 10000 feet were quite high. but during the last year, 5000 to 8000 meters could be reached by several types.

[@robpelick7460]

One thing stands out is how quick von Richtofen was to smile, not the dour, introspective, brooding personality as some authors have sought to portray him. Also, highly intelligent men....all of them

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Smile is one thing, but he was above all a killer, a merciless and coll-blooded killer. All great WWI aces were, none of them were the so-called "knights of the skies". If you wanted to have a chance to survive, you had no other choice. And don't forget that when he died, he was a very very young man, a guy who would bring trophies taken on his fallen ennemies back home to put in his sleeping room...

[@rodgoddard5113]

You know how good a pilot he was when even his enemy respected him. A true knight of the sky, his legend will last forever in the history books.

[@laurentdevaux5617]

His enemies respected him... may be. But he didn't respect his ennemies, Richthofen, as much of WWI aces, was a merciless killer, and all but a knight. Did you know each time he killed a man, he managed if possible to land near the wreck and cut a piece of the plane to be displayed at his home as a trophy and didn't care at all for his ennemy ? The notion of knight of the sky is a pure legend !

[@bbvollmer]

@@laurentdevaux5617 what pilot didn't do that? Plenty of pilots on both sides too trophies from their victims

[@laurentdevaux5617]

@@bbvollmer You're perfectly right. Anyway, if you weren't a coldblood killer both in your mind and your way of fighting, you didn't last long. All the great aces of WW1 were true killers, and the notion of knights of the skies is total bullshit and propaganda. But it's so romantic, isn'it ? And as these guys were heroes in their respective countries, it was impossible to tell the truth and admit that airfight was no less cruel than war in the trenches. This propaganda was so well made that 100 years later, many people still believe it. Don't you, Rod Goddard ?

[@bbvollmer]

@@laurentdevaux5617 I wouldnt go as far as to say total bullshit.. there were plenty of examples of chivalry between pilots... the battle between Udet and Guyenmer (probably butchered the spelling) come to mind, dead pilots being buried by the enemy with full honors etc. it certainly happened a lot more in that war then in the next one. There were cases of it in ww2 as well but they were fewer and farther between.. especially where the Japanese were concerned

[@swagkachu3784]

@@laurentdevaux5617 than no soldier ever is a hero or a Knight. All merciless killers. I hope you stand for that.

[@Karen-gh8gv]

Thank you! Wonder if he ever thought that people would be looking at video footage of him 100 years after his untimely death. Rest in peace, Herr Rittmeister.

[@_4_0_4_91]

are you from france or USA

[@kck9742]

@@kokokyoushi "Untimely" simply means "before his time." And yes, while he was the enemy, he was a soldier doing his duty like any other, and a man of impeccable character (he also at least once SPARED some Allied pilots, allowing them to land when he could have just shot them down). His Allied enemies respected him so much that they gave him a funeral with full military honors.

[@kck9742]

@@_4_0_4_91 USA.

[@kck9742]

@@kokokyoushi When someone dies young, you can say that his death was "untimely." Yes, of course I agree that it WAS his time. He was an interesting man, a shame he wasn't on our side. I often wonder what he would have thought of the Nazis if he had lived to see their rise.

[@_4_0_4_91]

@@kck9742you're right, thank you for defending my relatives

[@dfaltin]

Wow, I never knew there was film footage of the Red Baron. Fantastic to see how he addresses his comrades, climbs into his famous plane and takes off. I hope this film will some day be colorized as well. Well chosen music ...

[@Gravelgratious]

6:59 Herman Goering as a young pilot of the flying circus.

[@janesaints5249]

What a fantastic video. I noticed that Goering liked those batons even at an early age..

[@janesaints5249]

@JT Schnitz I know.

[@FrankJmClarke]

Interesting to see the British pilot not showing shock of capture, the pilots around him seem relaxed and friendly. Different times.

[@browngreen933]

Noticed that too. Brimming with joy because he survived without injury most likely. They all seemed happy about. These were enemies? Mind boggling to realize that. More like brothers.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

In World War I at least, most pilots (and even regular front line soldiers) usually respected each other. They really had no quarrel with each other. It wasn’t their fault that their heads of state were all cousins that were in pissing matches with each other. They just look at doing their duty when called to do it. The rest of the time, live and let live.

[@goldfing5898]

@@browngreen933 Or colleagues, just working for different competiting companies.

[@regmunday8354]

Just happy he survived!

[@crazyralph6386]

Their job was to shoot down planes, and took no pleasure in killing men. In a age of chivalry, comradery and sportsmanship, it’s what separated them from being butchers. Von Richthofen would spend his down time actually visiting POW pilots in hospitals, and would have conversations with downed Brit, Australian and Canadian pilots, as he was very fluent in English.

[@vanished3306]

Amazing footage of this legendary historic figure! He fought valiantly, and gave his life for his country.

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Yes, but never forget he was also a merciless and cool-blooded killer, just like the great aces of this war. None of them was a "knight of the skies" as many people still think

[@haroldgodwinson832]

Interesting watching the boys joking around before taking off. They would all have been aware that if they made contact with the enemy there was a very good chance they wouldn't all be coming back. Very brave fellows. We will never see their like again. Thanks for making the video available.

[@testboga5991]

That's what's captured on film. What went on in their minds will forever be hidden. Many of them were severely traumatized, that's for sure.

[@FunkyDebob]

Young Goering is seen there should have been him instead of Richthofen really.

[@idoobbberz_tv6676]

@@FunkyDebob Alternate reality where Hermann Goering dies, and Manfred Von Richtofen survives the war; what would be different?

[@MagnumLoadedTractor]

​@@idoobbberz_tv6676 red baron in ww2 would be interesting

[@tylerbradley2957]

​@idoobbberz_tv6676 right I feel like he would have used his power to stop Hitler things would be alot different

[@richardherrington2852]

What a fantastic piece of historic film footage. What a shame the Red Baron did not survive the war. RIP Manfred von Richthofen. U.S. Army, Ret. TX

[@ralfmaennchen7896]

But some of them also suffers by pneumonia. My grand grand cousin E.van Lundsberg also figth under der Red Baron get his death by pneumonia while flying in the Legion in Spain civil war. Have some intersting lettres form him and the red baron in my family libery.

[@DavidSmelik]

Thanks to Anthony Fokker, he is from Holland, Haarlem. He made "home video's" while he had to make his airplaines for the Germans. Friendship between Holland and Germany has been strong for many years

[@jamesfrost7465]

I think it's a good thing he, Werner Voss, (my favorite Ace of Aces,) Immelman and Udet died when they did. Imagine the damage they would have done in WW2. The last bit of footage was Herman Goering and Lorenzo Brunner, (the curious couple,) They were always together. Goering was a idiot and look what he did in WW2.

[@richardherrington2852]

@@jamesfrost7465 I fully understand what you are saying. It's just that today, just look at what young people call heroes and role models. All the greats are long gone and there is no one that can even come close to taking their place. Hollywood as well as the movie industry is dead. Country music has completely changed. Everything has gone downhill from the way it was when I was growing up in the 50's.

[@jamesfrost7465]

@@richardherrington2852 Aye, I'm 62. I have soo much respect for (all but Goering) all of these pilots. Amazing bravery to fight in those flimsy little Aeroplanes. Werner Voss is my top Ace from any war. My heros are George Washington and John Paul Jones. I'm a sailor, nautical museum curator and model ship builder, 26.6 years now, fulltime. I also enjoy building model WW1 Aerocraft, these are flooding my shop now. You are so correct about the young generation having no heros. Comic book characters and an occasional sports player. So sad. Take care Sir, Merry Christmas.

[@markmccummins8049]

This is an outstanding video. I particularly liked 4:00-4:20 as von Richtofen was addressing the other pilots. It is one of several poignant scenes. We never again will see young men of European nobility behaving with such decency. May God have mercy on the souls who died in this horrible war.

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Decency ? Don't you know how he behave with the pilots he fought ? He was a killer, nothing less. More than often, when it was possible, he landed his plane near the fallen ennemy and took a trophy without caring the other pilot. That was war, don't forget it

[@tarihinzirvesi7638]

@@laurentdevaux5617 you are totally wrong sir captain manfred von richthofen was a national hero his main goal was to shoot down planes instead of killing people because that was his mission and he did his duty He honored them by sending wreaths to the graves of the pilots he had shot down. "NOT A KILLER, HE IS A HERO! HE IS THE LEADER OF MANY PILOTS AND THE TACTICAL ARCHITECT OF AVIATION!

[@tarihinzirvesi7638]

@@laurentdevaux5617 sir the point you don't understand is war is always in this world there is killing for purposes there is killing for pleasure there is killing for homeland These pilots all fought for the sake of the motherland and killed people I am a Turk and I kill for the sake of my homeland without blinking and guessing you are a french I don't know what Napoleon means to you but he is a hero he has managed to take his homeland one step further I mean for the sake of the motherland and your people one step Killing people to go further is not murder.

[@NapoIeoneBuonaparte]

@@laurentdevaux5617seems it’s not just you who had this thought, the ground gunners who ran up to him after shooting him out of the sky, watched him slowly die, with a broken jaw after hitting his face on the butt of his guns, unable to say much accept “kaputt” broken, most there said they felt nothing for him beside “that bastard was dying in front of me, and the many that he killed meant nothing, nothing but targets.” When he died, he was dragged out his plane, and just left on the ground as they cut what was left of his plane to ribbons, some say he hadn’t even died and they just started looting before he had chance to die, because they didn’t care what he had to say, he was just done, a few of the men there said as much if you dig into autobiographies and diaries from the Somme at that time

[@davidrudolph2825]

Amazing film when one considers that it is more than 100 years old! Historic and very enjoyable video! Very well done! Congratulations!

[@fokkerd3red618]

Seeing a young Hermann Goering and him not knowing at this point, what a major role he would play in WW2.

[@maxwellwellmax878]

That lone dislike must have been from Snoopy!. XD.

[@juanmalo7871]

The sign of the true warrior, born as a priviliged aristocrat but humble.

[@deckmastercelticguardian8582]

Ha😂

[@roberte94066]

A truly beautiful job you have done-it brings these people and their time to life!

[@tarihinzirvesi7638]

He is my idol. I watch this video every time I get bored. I love him very much. I wish I could meet him in real life. You were always a person full of life and joy, captain. I hope you sleep peacefully

[@kamoblazz2570]

Thank you for this video. It's a priceless piece of visual history. Von Richtofen is still the greatest ace of ages

[@fredpearson5204]

The greatest in WWI, no question, but surely you're aware of the high scoring aces of WWII, many of whom eclipsed von Richtofen's victories. Erich Hartmann--the most successful fighter ace of all time had 352 confirmed kills.

[@fredpearson5204]

@JT Schnitz, not even in the top 20.

[@fredpearson5204]

@JT Schnitz, that’s not what the original poster said. Should have said ‘ “greatest ace of his time.” Period.

[@craigcarlsen4742]

Thank you for taking the time to bring these movies to an incredible level of clarity and proper speed. What you accomplished was to give new life to films of historic significance.

[@garymorris1856]

This film from over a hundred years ago is fascinating to watch. Thank you for posting .

[@_4_0_4_91]

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 - 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen, and most famously as the "Red Baron", was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of fighter squadron Jagdstaffel 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger fighter wing unit Jagdgeschwader 1, better known as "The Flying Circus" or "Richthofen's Circus" because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of allied air activity to another - moving like a travelling circus, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields. By 1918, Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies. Richthofen was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme on 21 April 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death. He remains one of the most widely known fighter pilots of all time

[@swis9365]

the more i know about my brother

[@tonyde6423]

Shot down by Australian ground forces stay safe cheers

[@eknaap8800]

Manfred von Richthofen never had the title 'Baron'. His official name was: Manfred Freiherr von Richthoven.

[@jabjabato7791]

@@eknaap8800 Manfred Albrecht...

[@eknaap8800]

@@jabjabato7791 TU.

[@williamcaton8432]

Extraordinary footage! I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Herman Göering footage! I knew he was there with Von Richthofen for a moment, but it was still a bit of a surprise to see him young and steely eyed.

[@AidanHughes585]

Good to see Manfred treating the RAF airman well , comrades in war

[@guycalabrese4040]

0:26 Moritz, the red baron's dog and his best friend. You can clearly see in this clip that one of Moritz ears is half - this happened when he was running along the planes on the runway and he came to close to a propeller. In the messhall, Moritz had his own drinkingbowl. He used to drink beer together with his master. This big dog also slept in von Richthofens small fieldbed. One theory behind why the red baron performed so poorly on the day of his death is that he couldn't sleep properly because Moritz moved around alot making it hard for him to sleep. It's all in his diaries. Von Richthofen writes about his dog Moritz as "the most beautiful of Gods creations". He really loved that dog... Moritz survived his master and went back to Germany after the war with another member of "the flying circus" and died of old age at his estate in 1923.

[@johnhotz1400]

It's not often I learn something new world war 1 but I've never heard of Richthofen diaries I know that dog was very important to him and was his dog.

[@guycalabrese4040]

@@johnhotz1400 If you're in to von Richthofen, reading his diary is a must! There you can read about when he was in the cavalry in the beginning if the war, or when how he loved to drop bombs on russian railwaystations were thousands of soldiers was amassed in wait for transport, or when he flew three missions in s day to kill as many as he could in honor of his visiting father. It's all there. He was nothing like portrayed in the german movie "The red baron". He enjoyed killing for the kaiser...

[@NickVenture1]

@@guycalabrese4040 This is the kind of comment I appreciate. Adds something to the historical facts to know about. Can you please give a little bit more info about the Diary? Published by ? Ok.. I will check on google, too. The best would be to access a pdf based on the original handwritten pages. Because anything published as a book will definitely be cleared of certain details. Especially if such a diary was published prior to 1946.

[@daszieher]

@@NickVenture1 Manfred von Richthofen wrote an autobiography which was first published in 1917. The book was reprinted in great numbers in 1933. You can scoop up a copy for dirt cheap.

[@NickVenture1]

@@daszieher Hello fellow History Lover, I will get this little booklet online preferably in the 1917 edition just to keep it in my library as an artifact made during the life time of the hero. But if you check the previous comments here, there was mentioned the "Journal" (Diary) Tagebuch of MvR. This is of course most interesting to get hold of. Because the diary has certainly not been published in those times prior to 1946, I speculate. The best would be to see the original handwritten text so that even changes made by MvR himself can be studied. I guess google will help here to find more about "Manfred von Richthofen Tagebuch".

[@censusgary]

The Red Baron would be dead in less than a year from the making of this film. The movie has outlasted everyone alive then, and it will probably outlast me, as well.

[@NickVenture1]

NICE MEMORIES. Thanks for the upload. Also the music is suitable and dignifying. We can see the Emperor Wilhelm II having a chat with MvR during a troop review. But only from the back. Unusual perspective. If the camera man had placed himself just a little bit more to the left both person's faces would have been immortalized together and the facial expressions during this conversation were certainly very interesting to see.(Maybe there were 2 cameras in action at the same occasion and the other film is also in the archive?) Noticeable is the still bandaged head of R. following the latest incident on a mission he survived. And also visible is the left arm of the Emperor with the reduced mobility. Once the conversation between the two iconic figures ends is shortly visible an Ensign carrier with his particular uniform and white leather straps around the chest, who usually followed the Emperor when he was touring his troops in the field.We can see the wooden flag pole carried by this Guard cavalry Unit soldier but not the "Kaiser Standarte" itself. Which was a square shaped flag, yellow background with a large black iron cross on it. Marked 1871 and a beautiful Imperial Eagle crest on top of that cross. Also I may speculate a bit: When we look very carefully at the scene where the Emperor chats with Richthofen we can see that definitely at one moment the Emperor is touching (tipping on it) the left shoulder of R. with his fine Command Stick. (Reminding a bit of the way Kings knighted their heros). Therefore the Emperor had this stick in his right hand to do so for whatever reason he did this. (Wilhelm was known and also even feared by some to be cheerful and a joke maker. Maybe he used his stick to give a little "punishment" to his hero while telling him in a funny way too be more careful? . And it seems that (maybe) Richthofen stretches his right hand towards the Emperor at one point and if I am not mistaken there is a movement of surprise somehow visible on the Emperor.. Because for sure he had to switch the command stick into his left hand in order to have the right hand free to do this very personal hand shake instead of a military salute. In any case we know that Wilhelm always had to be aware of his movements in public to never be confronted to situations where his weak left hand would be too obvious. Definitely such a handshake had to be well coordinated if it involved moving objects from right to left hand. P.S. Goering still slim is visible at the end. Looking similar to the desintoxicated Goering we know from the 1945/46 Nuremberg trial films which also exist on youtube. By the way I had a great-grandfather who piloted observation planes over Verdun and who crashed unfortunately in 1917 in a Bleriot fighter plane and died. Will upload a video some day.

[@stevenpollard5171]

I know the Fokker triplane was a fine aircraft, but it looks almost toy-like and like a kit plane. Amazing to get in one and go fly into life or death aerial battles!

[@NickVenture1]

@@stevenpollard5171 I think we should check twice.. looking at R. climbing into this plane. He spends quite a time to fit into his fur trousers to reduce the freezing of his legs. But the kind of riding boots do not seem to be with fur inside. And of course.. no parachute... Or is there one ?

[@NickVenture1]

@@stevenpollard5171 Yes definitely. The frame looks fragile and the wing span small. I am always rather impressed by the engines which had already reached such a high level of technology.. when we consider that in 1900 aircrafts were basically just "a joke" and motor vehicles still looking like horse carriages. These 2 pretty "Spandau" Maxime Machine guns with the air cooled barrels look so weak in comparison with the machine canons used in WWII. I wonder if they already trained target shooting in flight simulation frames with the guns mounted.. standing at various distances from the target on the ground.

[@browngreen933]

Very interesting. While watching I wondered if there was any Kaiser footage with Ritchthofen and there it was without me even knowing it. I'll have to watch it again. Thanks!

[@picklerick8785]

I noticed a detail with Richthofen and Wilhelm that seems to be noticeable with other film of Wilhelm, is that he seems to enjoy not returning salutes, so whoever he's talking to has to stand there holding a salute like an idiot for far too long. From what I've read about his personality, he seemed to take childish pleasure in petty forms of domination like that.

[@anthonygomez8962]

The best pilot in history

[@julianfernandezsasso9103]

What about erich hartmann?

[@ichor2127]

@@julianfernandezsasso9103 I think that considering the time difference between them, the disparity in gear and training, it's fair to say Manfred was the best although his count was lower

[@nicholas1130]

@@ichor2127 Werner Voss was a better pilot

[@ichor2127]

@@nicholas1130 oh yes that's absolutely true And he was just twenty as well

[@Elicorn11]

Julia Marques He wasn't so much of a good pilot as he was a good marksman. That's what contributed to his high victory count.

[@hansstopfer878]

Breathtaking shots of a flying legend! Thanks for posting.

[@briansadowski7202]

Unbelievable film footage ,I thought never existed..Thank You.

[@kato64]

I’m sure he’d have never imagined people would be watching that footage over 100 years later. It would be interesting to know what the Allied pilot was saying (presumably a POW, and the pilot of the downed plane shown at one point). Those clips of Hermann Goering at the end were interesting. If memory serves he took command of ‘The Flying Circus’, after von Richtofen’s death.

[@LeeFred78]

After von Richtofen was killed, another captain took command of The Flying Circus, but he too was killed. Then Goering took command.

[@kato64]

@@LeeFred78 - I didn’t remember that. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

[@LeeFred78]

If I remember correctly, vonR named his successor in a sealed letter that was to be opened if he were to fall in battle. VonR's batman opened it and presented it to the successor.

[@kolgy1]

Goering also put on about a hundred pounds by the end of WW 2.

[@LeeFred78]

@@kolgy1 Only 100?

[@clyde1406]

Outstanding I got some wonderful screenshots of this video! Thank you all for posting this!

[@Pincer88]

The music suggests we are looking at something romantic, idyllic perhaps. Maybe compared to the misery in the trenches, but even up there it must have been pretty darned grim.

[@galoon]

It was indeed grim. Being a combat pilot in World War I was a good way to burn to death. No self-sealing fuel tanks, no fire extinguishers, no parachutes (except for the Germans near the end of the war), and no armor plating for the cockpit. On top of everything else, the planes' fuel lines tended to leak and drench the pilot. The life expectancy of a pilot was short, to say the least.

[@DutcherDog]

You can see the intelligence burning in Goerings eyes !

[@sorshiaemms5959]

MY FAVORITE PILOT OF ALL TIME A VERY SOUND MAN

[@jamesharrington4752]

thank you for the wonderful footage.

[@browngreen933]

The hero of my youth -- and I'm American! I recognize brother Lothar and Herman Goering in there, but it would be cool if someone knowledgeable would do a subtitle version identifying everyone. Then colorize it too. Many thanks!

[@dannyfubar3099]

Excellent post, music was a perfect match, Thank you for sharing.

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

Richthofen was a so so pilot by his own admission. He was, however, an excellent shot, fearless, had excellent tactical awareness, and had a strong killer instinct. When possible, he did all he could to shoot to kill the pilot. He was ruthless. Funny seeing Goering so thin in the shots towards the end.

[@ursus9104]

No, rather determined and that is what one expects from a fighter pilot in war.

[@daszieher]

@@ursus9104 ruthless is the right word. That is what is expected from a fighting man. As a soldier on the battlefield or a pilot in the air for that matter, your task is to fire upon and preferably kill your adversary in a ruthless manner. Victory is not achieved by being friendly. In training, there was a saying: Wirkung vor Deckung! It translates into "effect before cover". More precisely, you need to bring your weapons to bear on the enemy even at the cost of cover.

[@Magnetron33]

@@ursus9104 Kill or be killed is the only rule to live by.in war.

[@johnroddy8756]

@@daszieher That very true sadly Sadly the poor man's Son will be in the Danger zone.With most to lose and least to gain.This guy was from Rich back ground so did not apply to him.

[@HomeSkillit]

@@johnroddy8756 that's the stupidest shit I've read this morning 😂

[@RevMikeBlack]

Wow! The film comes alive when it's speed-corrected. This is some of the best WWI video I've ever seen.

[@JJackFlash56]

Thanks Johan for posting this.

[@rccmrccrawlermods4517]

Awesome!! I never knew he was filmed... thank you!

[@raduandrei5867]

Tanks Yo! Awesome....never thought to see something such intense.Also nice music.Thanks!

[@eddisonfoncette9103]

Amazing footage, of the " Red Baron". And just like the film with Bolke and Immelman, behind the smiles you can see the imense strain these guys were under. They knew the odds for survival were against them and that they were living on borrowed time.

[@aeromodeller1]

"Für uns gibt es keine nachkriegszeiten." - Richthofen For us there is no after the war.

[@oscargrouch7962]

There are photographs of Oswald Boelcke take a few months apart. Boelcke appeared to age 15 years in only a few months.

[@pdlawson-venusloon359]

Brilliant footage, thank you.

[@stevemartin6144]

INCREDIBLE! Thank you!!!

[@MrPierreLebon]

Important history comes to life...thnx for uploading....

[@barryguyer8174]

Awesome footage

[@anupbharvani458]

Glad you have this footage thks

[@starflash08]

Wow great footage, and what a magical time in history

[@ericsimpson1176]

Towards the end of this video his hat is sitting very high on his head, if you look closely you can see the large wrap around his head under his hat so this part of the film must of been taken shortly after he got wounded

[@tim7052]

The opening scene where MvR is getting dressed for flight is taken from the last footage taken before he was killed. MvR taking off away from the camera is from footage taken by Anthony Fokker. Then Anthony Fokker is examine the crash landed Sopwith Pup flown by Lt Bird, who is seen standing to the left at 5.53 (Note: in this sequence, Anothony Fokker is wearing Birds' commandeered flying jacket, helmet and goggles). MvR saluting the general is "reversed" footage, because his medal ribbons are incorrectly shown on his right breast, whereas if the film was turned over, his medal ribbons would be shown being correctly worn on the left breast.

[@B00G1964]

It looks like this is footage after he was wounded in the head and is still wearing some kind of patch or bandage you can see it when he takes his cap off to put his flying cap on.

[@oscargrouch7962]

The line up his right cheek looks like a string to hold a bandage on.

[@ftumptch86]

So used to seeing this footage slightly quick, seeing it like this is amazing.

[@deadlyoneable]

It’s crazy to think most these people are probably dead now. RIP

[@crazyralph6386]

Dead for many decades.

[@alexc.8822]

Excellent video, thank you for this. At roughly 7:00-7:14 and again around 7:20, is a young Hermann Goering. In the clip between these two, you can briefly glimpse Lothar von Richthofen on the right side of the screen, he looks briefly into the camera.

[@MrHenning3000]

I read his autobiography ( with a comment by his former squad leader, Hermann Goering) and it is obvious that he didn't hated his enemy. But this guy was a hunter. He hunted deers in his youth, he hunted enemies as a Rittmeister by horse and later he hunted enemy 'birds'... his autobiography tells us that it all was a challenging game for him.

[@MrHenning3000]

And yes, he had a lot of fun while doing it.

[@jeniferraidor5370]

Hello, I’m curious where you got this footage? My grandfather Lonnie Raidor was a founding member of the WWI aviation journal Cross & Cockade and was a WWI Aero Historian. he had many films of The Red Baron and I wonder if this was something new? Thanks, Jenifer Raidor

[@JohanRRyheul]

It comes from the German archives (Bundesarchiv)

[@rickbullock4331]

Amazing film archives.👍👍

[@sugarnads]

Ppl forget Goring was an outstanding combat pilot in his own right.

[@kennethwarburton177]

Fantastic video.

[@robertpacific8319]

I would be cool to get a German speaking lip reader to figure out what they are saying. Like they did with British footage. I forget what that project was called.

[@thomasthomas2418]

Remarkable video. Very exciting to see von Richtofen and his squadron preparing for battle. The footage with the British RFC pilot harkens back to an age long gone of chivalry and honor. And Goering, a true hero and fine pilot. However, when he was wounded in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch and subsequently treated with morphine, he began a terrible downward spiral into psychosis. von Richtofen,s place in history is singular. God Bless, Herr Rittmeister.

[@raymunchieftain4170]

The Red Baron, to this day one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time.Interesting to note that in WW1 as you noticed in this presentation Hermann Goering was present as he was also very highly decorated fighter Pilot.

[@johnhotz1400]

Also Hermann Goering took over as leader when Richthofen was killed of the flying circus!

[@ursus9104]

Goering was a true ace with 22 kills and a respected fighter pilot during the WW1.

[@jastafan6937]

So many " pour le mérite" in that footage, so many brave young mens, on both sides, i love the Dreidecker more than any Spad, camels or Se 5, Jagstaffel 11, Jagdgeschwader 1 forever!

[@markbowles2382]

music is wonderful!

[@neilpeel59]

Great restored footage. Thank you. Looked like Herman Goring at the end? also a WW1 ace. Brave young men. No parachutes!

[@brisa2004]

Yes, you're correct that Göring appears in the end. Mark Felton has a video about Göring being an ace in WW1 with some of this same footage.

[@76-UVB]

What a tremendous piece of history that short film is.

[@stephengamble9388]

Has he a wound on top of his head. Looks like a bandage at 2.18. Very good clip.

[@pamackers7645]

He was a true legend 🇨🇦

[@asommer518]

Interesting how much outer wear was needed to stay warm, great shot of rotary engine prep

[@aaaht3810]

Yeah, that was really interesting and a good historical record for early aviation. Reminded me how medieval knights had to be assisted in donning their armor. And the rotary engine shots were great.

[@ralfmaennchen7896]

But some of them gets death by pneumonia in a time without antibiotics. My grand grand cousin who was also a membre of the fighters around the red baron get his death by pneumonia in the1930s in the Legion in the Spain civil war.

[@crazyralph6386]

You had me until the Fokker D-2 doing a loop lol!! Richthofen would’ve never performed a such a move for theatrics. The dude was all business, and cared nothing about carnival tricks and air shows…..only the kill. In fact, after his head injury, he’d simply retreat to his barracks alone and quiet, since he was so war weary, that the press and cameraman would actually get roughed up by his comrades and commanders.

[@rolandsingh]

The Red Baron - an uniquely fascinating aviator, master of the ' Dogfighting ' art in the war torn skies of Europe, in the beginning of the twentieth century. Manfred Von Richtofen captured my imagination when I was but ten years, old. That was several decades, ago. It's still the same, today. Rest In Peace, Baron. ❤ Roland Singh, Canada 🇨🇦

[@marilyntaylor9577]

Was he married? I know the allied airmen in WWII were quite young, how about Germany in WWI?

[@rolandsingh]

@@marilyntaylor9577 - No, Manfred Freiherr Von Richtofen never got, married. He did not have any kids, either.

[@browngreen933]

Suiting up at 1:50 reminds me of myself many years ago when I rode a Harley-Davidson 50FL sidecar rig in the wintertime. Not as dangerous, but just as cold.

[@rishz7857]

As a German American I'm proud of the heritage of 100+ years ago. So much advancement in aviation.

[@browngreen933]

Mir auch.

[@tomcooper6108]

One day someone will clear this film up and get the colors in. It'll be beautiful. Salute to all the brave ones who came before us.

[@Gromit801]

Sure hope not. Colorization destroys the historical value, and always looks like crap.

[@browngreen933]

Colorized brings life to it. The b&w version will remain too.

[@Gromit801]

@@browngreen933 Colorizations makes film look like cartoons.

[@mortimersnerd8044]

Colourized images are defaced historical records made to appeal to those who know and care nothing about history.

[@browngreen933]

@@mortimersnerd8044 True. The actual events all took place in black and white.

[@OutBoardTink62]

Wow he was only a kid if you really think about it what 24-25 years old here .Good to see he liked dogs,LOLL!

[@photovideogadgets7952]

glad to see this iconic person, a cool glimpse of history

[@santagemma6212]

He rejected being Air Force Chief to fly and combat to defend his country when war fortunes turned.

[@Surferjo]

LOVE THE VIDEO TY

[@peterelmer9114]

Amazing footage and restoration. I read in “winged Victory” by V.M. Yeates, a Sopwith Camel pilot who flew hundreds of combat hours over the Western front, that the Fokker triplane was a fragile aircraft and had the tendency to fall apart under fire or extreme flying. Most of Richthofen’s victories were in other types.

[@goldfing5898]

It was also not very fast, only about 170 kilometers per hour, due to its relatively weak 110 hp air-cooled rotary engine. Its main advantage was its maneuverability and rate of climb, important for dogfights. Richthofen had flown the Albatros before, also already in a red colour scheme. I guess that if he had not been shot down in April 1918, he would have switched to the Fokker D VII in May 1918 when it arrived at the front line, and would have had quite a lot of success with this phenomenal plane, too. The other aces did switch, and Richthofen considered the D VII a good plane when testing it in January 1918.

[@peterelmer9114]

@@goldfing5898 ; The DVII was indeed a very good aircraft powered by an in-line 6 cylinder BMW engine, delivering around 190 hp I believe. I have read that this was BMW’s first commercial product ; very interesting as BMW in-line 6 cylinder engines are still a mark of excellence today. I guess that RFC pilots were glad of its late introduction into the war as the Camel’s replacement the Sopwith Snipe didn’t arrive before the armistice.

[@goldfing5898]

@@peterelmer9114 There were actually two versions: one with a weaker Mercedes engine (about 160 hp) and the stronger one powered by the BMW "Höhenmotor" (185 hp), leading to about 200 km/h top speed. The plane was one of the sturdiest of its time, loopings and dives were no problem for its structure, it was quite easy to fly (forgiving many beginner mistakes) and e.g. being able to "stand" nearly vertically in the air for more dogfight options. It was said that the D VII could turn a mediocre pilot into an ace, and it was so feared by the Entente that in the armistice, there was a special term demanding that "all D sevens" must be destroyed or delivered to the Allies. And yes, BMW started out as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. The blue-white quarter circles in the company logo do not only resemble the Bavarian flag but also a whirling propeller. By the way, this BMW engine broke a world record in 1921, allowing an American licensed version of the famous Junkers F 13 to stay aflight for more than 26 hours (not much shorter than Charles Lindbergh's more than 33 hours in 1927 when flying from New York to Paris).

[@peterelmer9114]

@@goldfing5898 ; Thanks so much for your reply with so much useful information. I’ll never look at the BMW badge on my car in the same way again. It’s fitted with the straight six, is now 26 years old and running beautifully. I’m currently reading a Second World War aviation book, “The Most Dangerous Enemy” by Stephen Bungay, for the second time. It’s a very thorough account of the Battle of Britain and I can highly recommend it if you haven’t already read it. Cheers 👍

[@goldfing5898]

@@peterelmer9114 My father drove the 5 series of BMW most of my childhood, so I enjoyed the 520, 525i, 528i and 530i sitting in the backseat (and later even could drive the 530i myself several times in 1990, when I had my own driving licence). Later I drove the BMW 316 occasionally, which was also a nice car, despite having only about 100 hp rather than 200 hp. So I have experience with 4 cylinders and the inline 6 cylinders :-) Regarding WW2, there were so many technically exciting German aricraft, e.g. the Focke Wulf Fw 190 A, which was powered by the BMW 801 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled piston engine. The BMW 003 jet engine then came later than the Jumo 004, so the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet was powered by the Jumo 004. But the Heinkel 162 and the last version of the Arado 234 (C version) were powered by the BMW 003. The Ar 234 was the first operational jet bomber and also the first jet powered by four rather than two engines.

[@TomRussellatAFA]

Very nice vide, however that was actually Hermann Goring at the end.

[@Ftc.6]

He succeeded the Baron in command so I'll allow it.

[@derekpierkowski7641]

I like yer musical director!

[@mauricearber3477]

Excellent history, even included footage of the not so glorious Goring.

[@anupbharvani458]

Nice footage

[@panzerlieb]

0:55 this is Manfred’s father

[@gary0085]

Great video, did you notice a very young Hermann Goering at the end..

[@jiveassturkey8849]

It’s amazing to me that there are still people alive on earth right now that we’re alive when this footage was shot. Not many, but there are a few.

[@maxvonsteiner8894]

Bravo! Herr Rittmeister, Baron von Richthofen!

[@mbmb8523]

Conmovedoras imágenes de los verdaderos Ases del aire.

[@dougkane2335]

Loved it!

[@maximaldinotrap]

6:09 Red Baron and Kaiser Wilhelm II. You can tell it is the Kaiser by the left arm not moving and being propped.

[@fasold2164]

7:22: Hermann Göring (left) together with Bruno Lörzer. Göring was Lörzers buddy and they flew their first missions together in an Aviatik B (P14) biplane, with Lörzer as pilot and Göring as his observer. In 1918 Hauptmann (Captain) Göring attained command of Jagdgeschwader (JG) 1, Lörzer became commander of JG 3. In WW II he served as a General until late in 1944, when he was dismissed.

[@robant7899]

Wow Fantastic!

[@malcdellow]

That is awesome.

[@ThisDangOriginalDude1944]

God bless that man, may he rest in peace

[@dr.med.detlefkohler6488]

He is lucky, so he was not involved in the LUFTWAFFE, like Göring, Loerzer, Udet and his cousin!

[@susanbutler2498]

This Man's Legend and 3 winged Aircraft inspired me at 6yrs old to an Huge, Lifelong Fascination with History and Planes of War.

[@dougkane2335]

I was probably six when I became hooked on WW1 planes and pilots. All because my grandfather would tell me stories of his time with the 13th Aerosquadron in France, 1918.

[@peterreinholdafuhr9180]

Sehr gut dokumentär....

[@harpmanb]

Anthony Fokker 1:37-2:26 talking to von Richthofen while he's suiting up. Fokker again at 5:18-5:44 inspecting bullet damage. Lothar von Richthofen 7:18-7:19 (last man in group).

[@swis9365]

thx m8 🙂

[@rayrogert.8922]

Who are the pilot with Hermann Goering?

[@markalexandervanderveen2799]

@@rayrogert.8922 Guy standing next to Goering at the end is Bruno Loerzer, flying ace with 44 victories and a drinking buddy of Goering right till the end of WW2.

[@awc6007]

@@swis9365 Sad that Lothar died in a plane crash a few years after the war :(

[@angingunung1673]

Anthony Fokker was born in blitar,East java,Indonesia (past ducth indies)

[@arthurbelarittervonmuller9183]

Schöne Aufnahmen aus einer sehr traurigen Zeit

[@tigvi3429]

Great film!! He was a fascinating person.