MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN: The High Price of Glory

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary "Red Baron," was killed in combat on the Western Front over a century ago. Yet, his image remains as well-known today as it was during his lifetime. His lethal skills were first realized in 1916, and his image became a valuable asset to his country's propaganda machine. It portrayed him as a chivalrous hero, a shooting star of unimaginable potency that helped pacify a weary nation that was beginning to question the necessity and justification of the war. However, the cost of this image was often overlooked, as von Richthofen's life was exploited without regard for his well-being. "Manfred von Richthofen: The Red Baron and the High Price of Glory" draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with pilots he fought alongside and against, official documents held in collections around the world, and the work of three noted Great War historians who left a rich legacy of research for us to explore. In addition, there are interviews with fifty or so pilots from the Second World War who went through much of what von Richthofen experienced above the Western Front and could speak with authority about the effects of continuous combat flying on aviators. This is the story of how a young cavalry officer eager to serve his country became a pilot and then, when success beckoned, had his life taken over by a skilled group of publicists, writers, photographers, and artists. Every element of his life was picked over, dissected, and revealed to an ever-growing and intrusive audience. If he had simply been a celebrity, this attention might have been accepted, but he was a front line soldier, and the demands of war took a heavy toll on his physical and mental health.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781036100261