INBLOOM - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$10.36 with 42 percent savings
Digital List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Freiherr von Manfred Richthofen
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Red Baron Kindle Edition

by Manfred von Richthofen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 388 ratings
See all formats and editions
The highest-scoring fighter pilot of World War I tells of his life and combat career in an autobiography that “brings the man behind the myth to life” (The Great War Magazine).

Manfred von Richthofen—the Red Baron—was the most celebrated fighter pilot of the First World War, and was holder of the Blue Max, Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military decoration. He was credited with 80 victories in the air, before being shot down in disputed circumstances at age 26. In this autobiography, Richthofen tells not only his own story but also that of his contemporaries, their duels in the sky, ever present danger, fame, honor and spiraling death.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    217 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  4. Publication date
    January 15, 2009
  5. File size
    10.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next slide of product details
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…this is one of those rare times when we get to read exactly what someone who “was there” really thought and did as he was doing it. Often candid, it brings the man behind the myth to life”
The Great War Magazine

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KYVDVYM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military; Illustrated edition (January 15, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 217 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 388 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Freiherr von Manfred Richthofen

Freiherr von Manfred Richthofen

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
388 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book an interesting read with a well-rounded review of pre-war views and expectations. They enjoy reading the story of a great historical figure, the Red Baron, through his own words. Readers describe him as a great fighter pilot who downed 80 enemy aircraft. The photos are great and everything seems pretty. The used copy is in great condition and comes across as genuine.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

ReadabilityStorylineAviatorPhoto qualitySturdiness
26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and interesting. They describe it as a personal account of a famous person that provides an informative review of pre-war views and expectations. The stories are written like a personal journal that come across as genuine.

"...a WWI air force enthusiast, thought it was a great biography, readable, concise, enjoyable." Read more

"...I liked the book because it's an easy read, it has some funny parts and exciting moments and in a way you get a feel for the man himself...." Read more

"The Red Baron's autobiography is interesting reading, but the translation to English has some issues...." Read more

"I love this book...." Read more

18 customers mention "Storyline"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of a great historical figure. They find it interesting to read Richthofen's first-hand account of his career. The book is a thorough biography of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron" of World War I fame.

"...a gift, my brother, a WWI air force enthusiast, thought it was a great biography, readable, concise, enjoyable." Read more

"...the book because it's an easy read, it has some funny parts and exciting moments and in a way you get a feel for the man himself...." Read more

"...though heavily censored by the Kaiser's government, contains many interesting details about the life of the Great War's greatest flying ace...." Read more

"Very interesting to read first hand account of his career...." Read more

7 customers mention "Aviator"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the aviator as the greatest fighter pilot of World War I. They describe him as an iconic and ground-breaking aviator, downing 80 enemy aircraft. The book is considered one of the best books on WWI aerial struggles.

"...and the rest of the book talks about his many victories as the best fighter piolet...." Read more

"...While Manfred von Richthofen was surely an exceptional pilot, his tragedy was the universal story of callow youth caught up, buffeted about and..." Read more

"...And of course it’s the words of THE most successful fighter pilot in WWI. We are so fortunate to have his thoughts on WWI aerial combat...." Read more

"...One of the better books of WWI aerial struggles" Read more

3 customers mention "Photo quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's photos. They say it has great photos and everything seems pretty.

"...Everything seemed pretty...." Read more

"...And there is a nice photo section...." Read more

"Great book! Great photos and an amazing life told by The Red Baron himself (translated into English, of course!)." Read more

3 customers mention "Sturdiness"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They find it in good condition with a few minor bends. The author writes like a personal journal, which is genuine and engaging.

"The used copy is in great condition, a few tiny bends but other than that it is perfect. It just like I had it when I was a boy...." Read more

"...The stories were written like a personal journal that came across as genuine. A good read." Read more

"...Its hard for me to put the book down. It came in excellent condition. Im happy i made this purchase." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • James B. Whisker PhD
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful biography of great pilot
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Given as a gift, my brother, a WWI air force enthusiast, thought it was a great biography, readable, concise, enjoyable.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Der Hammer des Kuchens
    4.0 out of 5 stars i ain't your babies daddy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    I saw a biography about the Red Baron on tv and thought that he had an exciting life so I wanted to read his book that way I could read about it straight from the person that lived these events. The book is fairly short and you could easily read through it very fast without any trouble. He writes about his childhood,entering the cavalry and the war, then how he became a piolet and the rest of the book talks about his many victories as the best fighter piolet. There are a bunch of black and white pictures of the Baron, other German aces and a few planes. There is also a list of all his victims including the plane type, date, times and piolets and there is also a list of the planes he flew and which victims he shot down in which plane.

    I liked the book because it's an easy read, it has some funny parts and exciting moments and in a way you get a feel for the man himself. However there are some things I didn't like such as he doesn't go into much detail through the book it's like he just breezes through some of his fights in a few sentences or so which kind of makes it anti climatic. One example is how his brother just shows up out of nowhere and is fighting along side him and not much is said about him. I'm also sure that there was some propaganda thrown in since this book was released during the war. I bet he would have wrote a far better book after the war had he lived but as we all know he was shot down.

    This isn't the book to read if you want to know everything about the Red Baron but if you want to read what he experienced first hand then get this autobiography because it's a good read and it's coming straight from the horses mouth that.
    12 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Christopher Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Fighter Pilot
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Manfred Von Richthofen became "The Red Baron". He published a book The Red Air Fighter (Der Rote Kampfflieger) in Germany in 1917 while the First World War was still raging. Richthofen was the head of the Flying circus Jagdegeschwader Nr. 1. He was the greatest flying ace of the war, downing 80 enemy aircraft before he was killed on April 21st 1918 over the Somme valley. He had managed to land his red Fokker Dr1 Triplane, but he had been shot and killed by a single bullet, likely fired by allied ground forces; He was twenty five years old.

    The Red Air Fighter, though heavily censored by the Kaiser's government, contains many interesting details about the life of the Great War's greatest flying ace.

    World War I was a family affair for the Richthofens. His younger brother Lothar, who survived the war, also flew in the Flying circus and won the Ordre Pour Le Merite as well. His cousin, Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, served in the German infantry in the Great War, but later rose to become a General Field Marshall in Hitler's Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Manfred's sister Ilse nursed the wounded during the war.

    Richthofen was born into an aristocratic land owning German family in Breslau (now Poland). His father served as a cavalryman in the 12th regiment of Uhlans. Manfred was an indifferent student - "I did just enough work to pass". He loved hunting, football and gymnastics. He joined the cavalry and became an officer in 1912.

    Reading Richthofen's book reminds one of his essential boyishness. He writes about the first time he was ever in an airplane, "The houses seemed to come out of a child's toy box. Everything seemed pretty. Cologne was in the background, The cathedral looked like a little toy." Later Manfred even takes his dog 'Moritz' up on a flight with him, "Once I even took him up with me. He was my first observer. He behaved very sensibly. He seemed much interested in everything, and looked at the world from above, Only my mechanics were dissatisfied when they had to clean the machine. Afterwards Moritz was very merry."

    The night before the outbreak of the First World war in August 1914 Manfred writes that he and his fellow officers "were eating oysters, drinking champagne and gambling a little. We were very merry. No one thought of war."

    Soon after the start of the war though, Von Richthofen develops a startling callousness. He writes, "I heard that the inhabitants (of Arlon, France) had behaved very treacherously several days previously towards our cavalry, and later on towards our ambulances. It had been found necessary to place quite a number of these gentlemen against the wall."

    Von Richthofen apprenticed with the German ace Oswald Boelcke. "Everything that Boelcke told us was to us gospel truth. During the last few days he had, as he said, shot for breakfast every day one or two Englishmen," Von Richthofen writes. He once asked his mentor Boelcke how he was such a successful fighter pilot. Boelcke replied, "Well it is quite simple. I fly close to my man, aim well and then of course he falls down." On October 28, 1916 Boelcke's plane collided with another German plane and he himself "fell down." Richthofen reflected, "Nothing happens without God's will. That is the only consolation we can put to our soul during this war."

    On September 17, 1916 Von Richthofen shot down his first enemy plane. He writes, "My Englishman twisted and turned, flying in zig-zags. I did not think for a moment that the hostile squadron contained other Englishmen who conceivably might come to the aid of their comrades. I was animated by a single thought: 'The man in front of me must come down, whatever happens.' At last a favorable moment arrived. My opponent had apparently lost sight of me. Instead of twisting and turning he flew straight along. In a fraction of a second I was at his back with my excellent machine. I gave a short burst of shots with my machine-gun. I had gone so close that I was afraid I might dash into the Englishman. Suddenly I nearly yelled with joy, for the propeller of the enemy machine had stopped turning. Hurrah! I had shot his engine to pieces; the enemy was compelled to land, for it was swinging curiously to and fro. Probably something had happened to the pilot. The observer was no longer visible. His machine-gun was apparently deserted. Obviously I had hit the observer, and he had fallen from his seat."

    Von Richthofen admired his English opponents and disdained those of France. He wrote, "Everything depends on whether we have for opponents those French tricksters or those daring fellows the English. I prefer the English...The French have a different character. They like to set traps and to attack their opponents unawares. That cannot be done easily in the air. Only a beginner can be caught, and one cannot set traps, because an aeroplane cannot hide itself. The invisible aeroplane has not yet been discovered. sometimes, however, the Gallic blood asserts itself. Then Frenchmen will then attack. But the French attacking spirit is like bottled lemonade. It lacks tenacity. In Englishmen, on the other hand, one notices that they are of Germanic blood. Sportsmen easily take to flying, but Englishmen see in flying nothing but a sport...Therefore, the blood of English pilots will have to flow in streams."

    About his fellow Germans Von Richthofen wrote, "In my opinion the aggressive spirit is everything, and that spirit is very strong in us Germans. Hence we shall always retain the domination of the air." Two World Wars in the 20th century would tend to confirm Richthofen's notion of a "strong aggressive spirit" in the hearts of many German people.

    Von Richthofen took pride in being a sportsman and not a butcher, unlike his brother Lothar who, he tells us, "was differently constituted". On a leave from the front, he boasts of having shot a rare European bison on the estate of the Prince von Pless.

    In the very last chapter of The Red Air Fighter Manfred playfully speculates about the future of aviation. He writes, "I think things will come to this, that we shall be able to buy a flying suit for half a crown. On the one end there is a little engine and a little air screw. One sticks one's arms into the planes and one's legs into the tail. Then one does a few leaps in order to start, and one goes up into the air like a bird...Besides Giant aeroplanes and little chaser machines, there are innumerable other types of flying machine, and they are of all sizes. Inventiveness has not yet come to an end. Who can tell what machine we shall employ a year hence to perforate the atmosphere?"

    In the appendix of my edition of Manfred's book there is a poignant list compiled by editor Norman Franks of the 80 allied aircraft he shot down. There was, for example, an engagement which took place "on February 1, 1917 between the Red Baron and a BE2d on a photo-reconnaissance operation to Thelus, piloted by Lt. P.W. Murray from Durham, England (died of wounds) and observer Lt. T.D. McRae, Canadian (died of wounds). Forced down inside German lines and destroyed by shell fire twenty minutes later". This information helps us to understand why so many allied pilots and air crew were moved, perhaps, to utter the phrase, "Curse you, Red Baron!"

    While Manfred von Richthofen was surely an exceptional pilot, his tragedy was the universal story of callow youth caught up, buffeted about and ultimately drowned in the maelstrom of total war.

    If you liked the Red Baron you will also enjoy America Invades: How We've Invaded or been Militarily Involved with almost Every Country on Earth by Kelly / Laycock and Italy Invades
    33 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Randall Pilotte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Ready
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting to read first hand account of his career. If you’re a history buff you need to read this, it removes the “Hollywood “ version of events
    Helpful
     Report
  • Leon M
    3.0 out of 5 stars Iconic Ground breaking aviator
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The attitude of the German fighter in the war was the same as an allied member. You could read this book as though he were an English gentleman fighting the Germans. What a waste of good men on both sides.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Paul Moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book written by Baron Manfred von Richthofen
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    So just let sink that in. Did you know the Baron had written a book? These are the words of Richthofen written right up until the day before he died. His combat report of 20 April describes shooting down his 80th victim. The next day Richthofen was killed. In the book we also get detailed reports from other British pilots who although they were shot down by the Baron, they were fortunate to live to tell about being one of his 80 victims. As a enthusiast of military aviation (I was a US Navy A-6 pilot and builder of a replica Sopwith Camel, I found his book filled with fascinating anecdotes of some of the pioneers of air combat. And of course it’s the words of THE most successful fighter pilot in WWI. We are so fortunate to have his thoughts on WWI aerial combat. He was both a gentleman and a steely eyed killer. He would often send his captured victims cigars. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!
    Helpful
     Report
  • EEE
    4.0 out of 5 stars How about That, the Snoopy Song is Right
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The Red Baron's autobiography is interesting reading, but the translation to English has some issues. History, we know, is written by the victor, and the translator does not always phrase things in the most complimentary ways. There is a clear anti-German attitude, and the translator manages some digs at the French as well in one of the many snarky footnotes. Even so you get a fairly clear picture of the dashing cavalry man turned air ace. And there is a nice photo section.

    Biggest surprise for me was finding out that the Snoopy song was correct ... Eighty men died trying to end that spree of the bloody Red Baron of Germany.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Misty15
    5.0 out of 5 stars Speedy delivery and excellent product as advertised. Thank you
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. It's the autobiography written by The Red Baron himself, with some letters and memories included from his brother Lothar who flew beside him in the yellow plane. Interesting read.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • H.M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buena adquisición
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Fue regalo y la persona quedó encantada lo leyó en un solo dia
    Report
  • KW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Birthday Present
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this for my friend’s 50th Birthday. I haven’t personally read it but he was very pleased with it. K.
    Report
  • Randall Moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in Canada on March 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well written, illuminating and an insightful look at the military life of one of the greatest aces of the First World War, in his own words. He comes across as an ordinary person doing what he learned to be good at. Pity he didn't survive.
    Report
  • Luke Holliday
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good look into the career of the Red Baron
    Reviewed in Australia on February 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I good read, I will read it again. I found this to a great look into one of the biggest names in World War I flying.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Really liked the way the author kept me intrigued about this man. Well written and educational.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report