Baron Wolfram Von Richthofen

[Thomas]

Does anyone have any information on Wolfram Von Richtofen the cousin of Manfred Von Richtofen? Wolfram joined Manfreds squadron in 1917 and does anyone know of his record in the squadron.

Thanks in advance,

From,

Thomas McCall.

[Jonathan Saunders]

He is mentioned in several instances in HUNTING WITH RICHTHOFEN (the Sqn diary from about 1917). I saw this yesterday on the Naval and Marine Press website for something stupid like £3.

[Johnny S]

Wolfram scored 8 "victories", all in 1918 (4th June, 9th June, 21st July, 12th Aug.,6th Sept.,8th September (2),and 5th November). He was awarded the Iron cross 1st and 2nd class.

He had a distinguished carreer in WW2, reaching the rank of Generalfeldmarschall and was a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak-leaves. He died of a brain haemmorage whilst a POW of the Americans on 12th June 1945 at Bad Ischl in Austria.

John.

[Frank_East]

Adding a little to Johnny's post

Wolfram von Richthofen gained valuable air warfare experience in Spain during the Spanish civil war from Germany's involvement in November 1936.

He comanded the German expeditionary force to Spain initially.In January 1937,he became the Condor Legion's Chief of Staff and became its commander from November 1938.

On the outbreak of war,while in charge of FliegerkorpsVIII,he employed what became known as the blitzkrieg tactic of close air support operations to armour spearheads when the Wehrmacht overran Poland,Flanders,the Balkans and Western Russia.

From July 1942 he became comander of Luftflotte 4 and in June 1943 assumed command of Luftflotte 2 in the Mediterranean area.

In November 1944 he became ill and was retired to the Reserve.He never returned to military service and was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Had he survived he might have been called to account for the activities of the Luftwaffe during the Spanish civil war.

Regards

Frank East

[Dolphin]

Here's a photograph of Leutnant Wolfram von Richthofen during his service with Jasta 11. He was the acting commander of the unit between 26 and 31 August 1918.

[George Armstrong Custer]

This pic is of Wolfram von Richthofen (right) on the Eastern Front in 1942 in conversation with General Carl Rodenburg:

I was given the photograph by Rodenburg in 1980. He inscribed the reverse as follows:

'76. Inf. Div. Gefechtsstand Ende August 1942 nach Don - Ubergang. Generaloberst Frhr. v. Richthofen soeben mit Fieseler-Storch gelandet im Gesprach mit Gen. Rodenburg vor dem Kampf um Stalingrad.'

Maybe someone's now in a position to add a little more on Wolfram von Richthofen's Great War service since this thread was begun a few years back?

ciao,

GAC

[SiegeGunner]

Interesting pic, George, and an even better provenance. Slightly odd juxtaposition of postures, though. Have you considered posting it as a caption competition in Skindles ...?

[George Armstrong Custer]

Mmm, hadn't looked at it like that before - but I can see the possibilities for a caption competition!

Regards,

George

[James A Pratt III]

There is some info on WVR in WW II in the books "Men of the Luftwaffe" and "Stopped at Stalingrad".