Lothar von Richthofen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oberleutnant
Lothar von Richthofen
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Lothar von Richthofen wearing the Pour le Mérite in 1917
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| Birth name | Lothar Siegfried Freiherr von Richthofen |
| Born | 27 September 1894 Kleinburg, Germany (present-day Wrocław, Poland) |
| Died | 4 July 1922 (aged 27) Hamburg, Germany |
| Place of burial |
South Cemetery, Wiesbaden
(50°03′37″N 8°15′57″E / 50.060260°N 8.265810°E) |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Service/ |
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| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit |
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| Awards | Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross First and Second Class |
| Relations | Manfred von Richthofen (brother), Wolfram von Richthofen (cousin) |
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Lothar Siegfried Freiherr von Richthofen (born September 27, 1894 – died July 4, 1922) was a brave German pilot during World War I. He was known as a "fighter ace" because he shot down 40 enemy planes. Lothar was the younger brother of Manfred von Richthofen, who was also a famous pilot known as the Red Baron.
After the war, Lothar worked on a farm for a short time. He then got a job in a factory. In June 1919, he got married and had two children. But he missed flying! So, he became a pilot again, flying passengers and mail between Berlin and Hamburg. Sadly, he died at age 27 in a flying accident in Hamburg on July 4, 1922.
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Early Life and Military Start
Lothar von Richthofen was born on September 27, 1894. He grew up with his brothers, Manfred and Bolko. They loved to hunt wild animals like boar, elk, and deer.
When World War I began, Lothar was training to be a soldier in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland). Like his older brother Manfred, Lothar joined the cavalry as an officer. He served with the 4th Dragoon Regiment. Lothar was almost hit by a sniper's bullet while on patrol. In October 1914, he earned the Iron Cross 2nd Class for his bravery. This was the only medal he received during his time in the cavalry. The next month, his regiment moved to the Eastern Front.
Joining the Air Force
In February 1915, Lothar's brother Manfred convinced him to join the air force. Manfred wanted to save Lothar from the boring job of training new soldiers.
Lothar joined the German Army Air Service (called Luftstreitkräfte) in late 1915. From January 1916, he worked as an observer with a unit called Jasta 23. He helped spot enemy movements during the Battle of Verdun. In December, he earned the Iron Cross 1st Class. After that, he started training to become a pilot himself.
Lothar's first job as a pilot was with his brother's squadron, Jasta 11, on March 6, 1917. Lothar was a very daring and aggressive pilot, quite different from his calm brother Manfred. His first victory came on March 28, when he shot down an FE 2b plane. The German leaders liked having both Richthofen brothers fighting together. It was great for their country's image!
Lothar took part in a period the British called Bloody April. During this time, Germany had a strong advantage in the air. Lothar quickly shot down 15 more planes by early May. When his brother Manfred went on leave, Lothar took charge of the squadron.
The Fight with Albert Ball
In the first week of May 1917, Lothar von Richthofen achieved three more victories. On the evening of May 7, he led five Albatros D.III planes from Jasta 11. They met 11 S.E.5 planes from a famous British squadron, No. 56. This group included Captain Albert Ball, who was England's top pilot at the time.
The planes fought in a thunderstorm, and everyone got separated. Richthofen fought a British Triplane. Around the same time, Captain Ball was seen chasing a red Albatros into a thundercloud. Ball then lost control of his plane and crashed, which was fatal. Richthofen had to land his damaged plane but was not hurt. The British Sopwith Triplane he fought returned safely.
Richthofen claimed he shot down the Sopwith Triplane. However, the German High Command wanted to make Ball's death seem like a big victory for Germany. So, they officially gave the credit for shooting down Albert Ball to Lothar. Later research suggests that Ball might have become confused in the air, causing his plane to crash on its own.
Earning the Pour le Mérite
Lothar's total victories reached 24 by May 13. On that day, after shooting down a BE.2 plane, he was hit in the hip by anti-aircraft fire. He crash-landed and was out of combat for five months due to his injuries. On May 14, he received the Pour le Mérite, which was Germany's highest military honor. He returned to lead Jasta 11 in September 1917. In early 1918, he had a bad ear infection and had to go to the hospital in Berlin.
Lothar returned to his unit in February. He shot down three Bristol Fighter planes on March 11 and 12. But on March 13, he was forced down again by a Sopwith Camel plane. Lothar managed to land his damaged Fokker Dr1 Triplane, but he hit a power line and crashed hard. He suffered serious head injuries. He was still recovering when he heard that his brother, Manfred, had died.
Lothar came back to Jasta 11 in July 1918. He got his last victory (a DH-9a) on August 12, 1918, flying a Fokker D.VII. The very next day, he was wounded again while fighting Sopwith Camels. He was likely hit by Captain Field Eugene Kindley from the US Air Service. Lothar was promoted to Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). He did not fight again before the war ended in November.
Lothar von Richthofen spent a lot of time fighting and in hospitals. But he was one of the most effective and successful flying aces of the war. He scored 33 of his 40 victories in just three months: 15 in April 1917, 8 in May 1917, and 10 in August 1918.
After the War
After the war ended, Lothar von Richthofen worked on a farm for a short time. Then he took a job in a factory. In June 1919, he married Countess Doris von Keyserlingk. They had a daughter, Carmen Viola (born 1920), and a son, Wolf-Manfred (born 1922). Later, their marriage ended. Lothar then became a commercial pilot, flying people and mail between Berlin and Hamburg.
His Death
On July 4, 1922, Lothar von Richthofen died in a plane crash in Hamburg. His LVG C VI plane had an engine problem. The actress Fern Andra and her director Georg Bluen were also on board. They both survived, but Fern Andra spent a year recovering from her injuries.
Lothar von Richthofen was buried next to his father in the Garrison Cemetery in Schweidnitz. However, this cemetery was removed when the city became part of Poland after World War II. Today, that area is a football field. A plaque in Lothar's memory is next to his brother Manfred's grave in Wiesbaden.
Awards and Medals
- Pour le Mérite, May 14, 1917 (for his 24th aerial victory)
- Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords, May 10, 1917
- Iron Cross of 1914, 1st and 2nd Class
- Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords (Bavaria)
- Hanseatic Cross, Hamburg
- Liakat Medal in Silver with Sabers (Ottoman Empire)
- Turkish War Medal of 1915 (also called "Gallipoli Star"), Ottoman Empire
- Prussian Military Pilot Badge
- Wound Badge in Silver
See also
In Spanish: Lothar von Richthofen para niños
