Wolfram von Richthofen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wolfram von Richthofen
Richthofen in 1940
Birth name	Wolfram Karl Ludwig Moritz Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen
Born	(1895-10-10)10 October 1895 Barzdorf, Silesia, Prussia, German Empire
Died	12 July 1945(1945-07-12) (aged 49) Bad Ischl, Gmunden, Allied-occupied Austria
Allegiance	German Empire Nazi Germany
Service years	1913–1944
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Unit	Jasta 11
Commands held	Condor Legion, 8th Air Corps, Luftflotte 2, Luftflotte 4
Wars	World War I Spanish Civil War World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Signature

Wolfram von Richthofen (born October 10, 1895 – died July 12, 1945) was a German military leader. He was a skilled pilot in World War I. Later, he became a top commander, a Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal), in the German Air Force (the Luftwaffe) during World War II.

Richthofen fought as a cavalry officer in World War I. In 1917, he joined the German Air Service. His famous cousins, Lothar and Manfred (the "Red Baron"), were already flying aces. Wolfram became a flying ace himself, with eight victories.

After the war, he joined the new German military. He became a key figure in the Luftwaffe after 1933. He served in the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Here, he saw how important it was for planes to support ground troops. He strongly supported the use of dive bombers and improved how air and ground forces communicated.

In World War II, Richthofen led the 8th Air Corps. This unit specialized in ground attacks. They fought in the Polish Campaign and the French Campaign. His unit played a big role in German victories. He also commanded air units in the Battle of Britain and the Balkans. His greatest successes came on the Eastern Front, especially in the Crimean Campaign of 1942. He later led Luftwaffe forces in the Italian Campaign. Richthofen retired in late 1944 due to illness. He died in July 1945 while held by American forces.

Richthofen was known as a very effective but tough leader. He was aware of the harsh treatment of Soviet prisoners of war. He died before the end of the war, so he was not put on trial for his actions.

Early Life and Family Background

Wolfram von Richthofen was born on October 10, 1895. His family lived on an estate called Barzdorf in Silesia, which is now in Poland. His family was part of the nobility, a group of important families. They had been noble for over 350 years.

Wolfram was the second child and oldest son. His older sister, Sophie-Therese, was born in 1891. His brothers, Manfred and Gerhard, were born later. He was also a distant cousin of the famous "Red Baron," Manfred von Richthofen, and his brother Lothar von Richthofen.

Growing up, Wolfram had a privileged life. His family owned many estates in Silesia. He went to a local high school in Striegau. He was good at math and German, but not as good at foreign languages. He found languages boring, but he did learn Italian later in life.

He was close to his cousins, Lothar and Manfred. They often went hunting and riding horses together. Wolfram loved being outdoors. When he was 18, he decided to join the German Army instead of going to college.

In 1913, he joined the 4th Hussars, a cavalry unit. This was a very respected part of the army. Soon after, in August 1914, World War I began.

World War I Experience

Richthofen's cavalry unit was part of the German Third Army. They attacked France and Belgium in August 1914. His unit fought in Belgium and then advanced into France. For his bravery, he received the Iron Cross Second Class in September 1914.

However, the war quickly changed. Soldiers started fighting from trenches, which made cavalry less useful. So, Richthofen's unit was moved to the Eastern Front in Poland in November 1915.

On the Eastern Front, his unit saw little fighting. Richthofen was put in charge of a horse depot. His cousins, Lothar and Manfred, were becoming famous pilots in the German Air Service. They encouraged him to join the air force too. In June 1917, he finally decided to transfer.

Joining the Air Service

Before becoming a pilot, Richthofen went through three months of flight training. In March 1918, he received advanced training.

On April 4, 1918, Richthofen joined Jagdgeschwader 1 (Fighter Wing 1). This unit was led by his cousin, Manfred von Richthofen. On April 21, Wolfram flew his first mission. Manfred told him to stay out of the main fight. But when his squadron got into a dogfight, Wolfram was attacked by a British pilot. Manfred flew to his rescue, saving Wolfram's life. However, Manfred was killed during this same fight.

Wolfram continued to fly and achieved eight aerial victories. He flew the Fokker D.VII, which was considered the best fighter plane of World War I. He continued flying until the war ended on November 11, 1918.

Life After World War I

After the war, Richthofen studied aeronautical engineering at the Technical University of Hanover from 1919 to 1922. He later earned a Ph.D. in the subject.

In 1920, he married Jutta von Selchow. They had three children: Wolfram (born 1922), Götz (born 1925), and Ellen (born 1928). Sadly, his son Wolfram was reported missing in action during World War II and was never found.

Joining the Luftwaffe

In 1933, Richthofen joined the new German Air Force, the Luftwaffe. It was led by Hermann Göring, who had been Richthofen's commander in World War I. By 1934, Richthofen was in charge of developing and testing new aircraft. He helped with planes like the Heinkel He 111, which became important in the war.

Richthofen and Göring did not get along well. Richthofen was a hard-working officer who liked engineers. Göring preferred people who were more like him.

Spanish Civil War Experience

In November 1936, Richthofen joined the Condor Legion. This was a Luftwaffe group sent to support General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Here, he saw the first use of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber. Richthofen became Chief of Staff for the Condor Legion's commander, Hugo Sperrle.

New Air Tactics and Communication

Richthofen learned many important lessons in Spain. He realized that anti-aircraft guns could be used on the front lines to help ground troops. He also developed a "shuttle air tactic." This meant planes would fly from bases near the front, constantly bombing enemy positions. This kept pressure on the enemy and lowered their morale. To make this work, planes needed to fly many missions a day. This required fast supply lines for fuel and parts.

Communication between air and ground forces was also key. Richthofen helped set up a system where officers on the front lines could call the air base with updates. The base would then radio the aircraft. This became a standard practice for the Luftwaffe.

The experience in Spain helped the Luftwaffe become very skilled in supporting ground forces. They practiced large-scale exercises with the army. This made them better prepared for mobile warfare than most other air forces.

Richthofen and Sperrle worked well together. They often advised Franco on how to best use air power. Richthofen even learned some Spanish and Italian, which helped him work with the Spanish officers.

After Sperrle left, Richthofen took command of the Condor Legion. He was promoted to Generalmajor in November 1938. He saw the final stages of the civil war in 1939. By then, he was convinced the Stuka dive bomber was a very effective weapon.

World War II Campaigns

When World War II began in September 1939, Richthofen commanded a special air unit. This unit was designed to support the German 10th Army in the invasion of Poland. The 10th Army had most of the motorized and armored units, making it the main force of the attack.

Poland Invasion

On the first day, Richthofen's dive bombers attacked Polish airfields. His units also supported German ground troops. For example, his Stuka units destroyed a Polish cavalry brigade during the Battle of Łódź.

The German army moved very quickly. This made it hard for army headquarters to keep up with their forward units. Richthofen often had to make his own decisions about where to send air support. Sometimes, this led to accidental attacks on German troops.

Richthofen's units flew many missions each day. They bombed Polish forces, helping the Germans win battles like the Battle of Radom and Battle of the Bzura. His men flew 750 missions, dropping 388 tons of bombs.

Later, Richthofen's forces attacked Warsaw. On September 22, his command flew 620 missions. German planes dropped 560 tons of high explosives and 72 tons of incendiary bombs. The bombing caused great damage and many casualties. Richthofen's forces also helped capture Modlin Fortress. Warsaw surrendered soon after.

Battle of France and Low Countries

After Poland, Richthofen's unit was renamed the 8th Flying Corps (VIII. Fliegerkorps). It became a special ground-attack unit. He supported the German 6th Army in Belgium and other units in France.

On May 10, 1940, the Germans attacked the Netherlands and Belgium. Richthofen's planes helped drive back French forces. After the Dutch surrendered, he supported the German 6th Army in the Battle of Belgium. His forces were very effective against French tanks.

A major moment for his Corps was during the Battle of Sedan. German planes launched heavy attacks on French positions. Richthofen's fighters also helped defend the German bridgehead from Allied air attacks. Allied bomber strength was greatly reduced.

After the German breakthrough at Sedan, Richthofen wanted his air Corps to support the Panzer tanks as they drove to the sea. His Stukas helped stop Allied counterattacks, especially against Charles de Gaulle's Fourth Armoured Division. Communication between ground and air forces was excellent. Officers on the ground could quickly call for Stuka attacks on enemy positions.

Richthofen's headquarters moved often to keep up with the fast-moving front. He sometimes flew in his small Storch plane to organize air support. His forces helped capture Calais. For his service, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on May 23.

During the Battle of Dunkirk, Richthofen's forces supported the German advance. However, they faced strong resistance from Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters. Richthofen noted that the RAF was responsible for a quarter of German losses. German air power failed to stop the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk.

Battle of Britain

After France surrendered, Richthofen's 8th Flying Corps continued to fight in the Battle of Britain. This was the first time the Luftwaffe fought an air war without direct support from the German Army.

Richthofen's Stuka units were meant to attack British shipping in the English Channel. They had an advantage because British fighters had limited radar warning. In July 1940, his units attacked British convoys. The Stukas were effective but also vulnerable to RAF fighters. On July 17, 1940, Richthofen was promoted to General der Flieger.

The German air attacks forced the Royal Navy to temporarily stop convoys through the Channel. However, the Stukas suffered heavy losses against the RAF. On August 18, 1940, during a day known as "The Hardest Day," one of his units lost half its planes. This showed that the Stuka was too vulnerable for large-scale attacks over Britain. The Stukas were then mostly removed from the battle.

Balkans Campaign

In April 1941, Richthofen's Corps was sent to support the German invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece. He moved his units to Bulgaria. He worked to improve the airfields and communications there.

His Corps had many Stuka units. The German air force in the Balkans had 946 combat aircraft, far outnumbering the Greek, Yugoslav, and RAF forces. Richthofen's units supported the German 12th Army, cutting off the Yugoslav Army from Greece. The bombing of Belgrade helped the Germans win quickly in Yugoslavia.

Operations then moved to Greece. Richthofen's units supported the attack against the Metaxas Line. The RAF withdrew by April 15. After this, Richthofen's main targets were Allied ships trying to evacuate from Greek ports. His Stukas sank many ships, including much of the small Greek Navy.

The final objective was the island of Crete. During the Battle of Crete, Richthofen's Stukas played a big role. German paratroopers landed on the island but faced strong resistance. Richthofen's intense air attacks helped save the German units from being destroyed. His planes also attacked British naval forces, sinking several destroyers and damaging battleships and cruisers.

Eastern Front Operations

Operation Barbarossa

On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. Richthofen continued to command the 8th Flying Corps. His units supported Army Group Centre.

The air liaison officers that Richthofen had developed in 1939 were now used throughout the Luftwaffe. This helped reduce friendly-fire incidents. Richthofen's units performed well, often providing air support within two hours.

In the early days, Richthofen's Corps attacked Soviet airfields. The Luftwaffe destroyed many Soviet planes on the ground. Within days, Richthofen's units could focus on close support and stopping Soviet counterattacks. For example, his Corps greatly damaged the Soviet 6th Cavalry Corps near Grodno.

Richthofen's Corps also supported the army in the Battle of Smolensk. Their actions helped defeat Soviet counterattacks. For his impressive performance, Richthofen received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.

However, the Germans soon faced supply problems. Richthofen noted that Germany was "good at fighting but weak at logistics." Aircraft losses were high, and it was hard to get new planes to the front.

Leningrad and Moscow Offensives

After a stalemate near Moscow, Hitler shifted focus to Leningrad. Richthofen and his Corps were moved north to support Army Group North. His forces flew many missions, attacking Soviet positions and supply lines. They helped the German army advance on Narva and Novgorod. Richthofen's Stukas destroyed the fortress of Novgorod.

His Corps dropped thousands of tons of bombs. The commander of Army Group North was shocked by Richthofen's "merciless" bombing. Richthofen's forces helped cut off Leningrad, leading to the Siege of Leningrad. German bombers made great efforts to destroy Leningrad from the air.

Later, Richthofen was moved back to support the attack on Moscow, Operation Typhoon. His Corps was the main air force supporting Army Group Centre. They flew many missions, but Soviet resistance grew stronger. By December, Soviet air forces had gained air superiority.

When the Soviet counteroffensive began, Richthofen's forces did all they could to slow the attack. Their efforts helped improve the morale of the German army. Richthofen's refusal to give ground made him one of Hitler's favorites.

Crimea and Sevastopol

In early 1942, Richthofen's Corps was sent to the Crimea. They were to support Erich von Manstein's 11th Army, which was fighting to capture the Kerch Peninsula and the fortress port of Sevastopol. Hitler personally asked Richthofen to lead this effort, calling him "his specialist."

Richthofen quickly prepared his forces. He had many bombers, dive bombers, and fighters. His forces quickly gained air superiority in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. They flew thousands of missions, destroying many enemy aircraft and ground forces. Manstein praised Richthofen's support, saying it was key to the victory at Kerch.

After Kerch, Richthofen focused on Sevastopol. He worked closely with Manstein to plan the attack. Richthofen gathered about 600 aircraft for the assault. He was confident in his fighter strength, as Soviet air defense was weak. He even lent his anti-aircraft units to the army.

The attack on Sevastopol began on June 2, 1942. Richthofen's forces flew hundreds of missions daily, dropping thousands of tons of bombs. They used very heavy bombs to destroy the strong fortifications. The mechanics worked tirelessly to keep the planes flying in extreme heat.

On June 23, Richthofen was ordered to leave Sevastopol and take command of Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4) at Kursk. He was upset to leave before the fortress fell. Without him, the 8th Flying Corps continued to fight. The Axis finally captured Sevastopol on July 4, 1942. Richthofen's Corps had flown over 23,000 missions and dropped 20,000 tons of bombs.

Case Blue and Stalingrad

On June 28, 1942, the Axis launched Case Blue, a major summer offensive. Their goal was to reach Stalingrad and the oil fields in the Caucasus. As commander of Luftflotte 4, Richthofen had one of the largest air commands supporting this effort. He had about 1,400 German aircraft, plus hundreds from Romania, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia.

The offensive began well. However, Hitler decided to split the German armies to attack Stalingrad and the Caucasus at the same time. This made Richthofen's job much harder, as he had to support two different fronts. He complained about the stretched logistics.

In September, the Luftwaffe began heavy bombing raids on Stalingrad. The Battle of Stalingrad became a brutal fight. Richthofen was critical of the army's slow progress. He also had to divert forces to the Caucasus.

In November, the Soviet Union launched a counteroffensive, Operation Uranus, encircling 300,000 Axis soldiers in Stalingrad. Hitler decided to supply the trapped forces by air. Richthofen was against this plan. He argued that his air fleet did not have enough resources for such a large airlift. He believed a breakout attempt was the best option.

Despite Richthofen's warnings, the airlift went ahead. Luftflotte 4 failed to supply the trapped army. Many German transport planes were destroyed. The Luftwaffe suffered heavy losses, similar to the Battle of Britain. The German 6th Army surrendered on February 2, 1943.

Richthofen met with Hitler on February 11. He criticized Hitler's micromanagement and his advisors. Hitler admitted responsibility for the airlift failure. Richthofen argued that commanders needed more freedom. Four days later, Richthofen was promoted to Field Marshal, becoming the youngest officer besides Göring to reach this rank.

Later Commands

After Stalingrad, Richthofen's Luftflotte 4 helped prevent the collapse of the German front. They attacked Soviet forces, stopping them from isolating the German army in the Caucasus.

Richthofen then prepared his air fleet for Operation Citadel and the Battle of Kursk, a major summer campaign. However, he did not take part in this battle.

His last battle on the Eastern Front was the Third Battle of Kharkov. He was then transferred to the Mediterranean, to command Luftwaffe forces in the Italian Campaign. In Italy, Richthofen faced a weak Italian air force. He suggested that the Luftwaffe use high-quality Italian-designed aircraft, but his ideas were mostly ignored.

By early 1944, the Luftwaffe in Italy had few aircraft. Allied airfields were frequently attacked, and German units suffered constant losses. The Allied landings at Anzio caught Richthofen by surprise. The German air and ground offensive against Anzio failed. This meant Richthofen could not launch any major counteroffensives in Italy.

Final Years and Death

Throughout 1944, Richthofen suffered from headaches and exhaustion. In October, doctors discovered he had a brain tumour. He was sent to a Luftwaffe hospital in Austria. He had surgery, but the tumor continued to grow.

In November 1944, Richthofen was officially relieved of his command. His health declined in early 1945. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. The hospital was taken over by the American army, and Richthofen became a prisoner of war. He died in captivity on July 12, 1945.

Military Contributions

Richthofen is known for his important contributions to modern air-ground operations. He helped develop how air and ground forces work together in battle. His ideas and methods were years ahead of the Allied powers in the early years of World War II.

He was one of the few air commanders who focused on practical solutions for air and ground cooperation. He assigned airmen to army units with special vehicles. This allowed the army and air force to direct air strikes from the front lines.

Richthofen also supported new technologies like rocketry and jet propulsion. While working at the Technical Research Office, he issued contracts that led to the development of the V-1, the first cruise missile, and the V-2, the first long-range ballistic missile.

Dates of Rank

Awards and Honors

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (September 21, 1914)
  • 1st Class (June 1918)
• Order of the Crown (Prussia) 3rd Class
• Pilot's Badge German Empire
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Military Medal (Spain) With Diamonds
• Medalla de la Campaña (1936-1939)
• Spanish Cross In Gold with Diamonds
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (September 12, 1939)
  • 1st Class (September 25, 1939)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Eastern Front Medal
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 1st to 4th Class
• Order of Michael the Brave 2nd and 3rd class
• Pilot/Observer Badge In Gold with Diamonds
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on May 17, 1940 as Generalmajor and commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps
  • 26th Oak Leaves on July 17, 1941 as General der Flieger and commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps

Images for kids

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  Richthofen in hussar uniform at age 18, 1914

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  Richthofen in front of his Fokker D.VII fighter, summer 1918

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  Hugo Sperrle, with Richthofen, in Spain (1936)

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  Richthofen (far left) with Walther von Brauchitsch (center) and Franz Halder (over Brauchitsch's left shoulder), June 7, 1939.

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  Adolf Hitler during a Condor Legion parade in Berlin. Next to him are Göring and Richthofen, June 1939

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  Richthofen with field marshal Erhard Milch in 1940

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  Fedor von Bock (left), Hermann Hoth (center), Walther von Hünersdorff (back side), and Richthofen (right, back turned), July 8, 1941. This photo was taken during the battles of Smolensk.

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  Richthofen seated in a Fi-156 liaison aircraft, October 1941

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  Alexander Löhr, c-in-c Luftflotte 4 (left) and Richthofen, in the spring or summer, 1942.

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  Erich von Manstein greeting Hitler. On the right are Hans Baur and Richthofen.

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  German Aviation field marshal Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen while studying maps on the Italian Front with officers, May 1944. The officer on the right has the Afrikakorps armband.

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  Richthofen at the Lüneburg Nazi Party Day Rally, 1939

See also

In Spanish: Wolfram von Richthofen para niños