Richthofen is the surname of a prominent

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

aristocratic Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'. At the time of the word's ...

family. The most famous member is the

air ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

Manfred von Richthofen Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of ...

(1892–1918), also known as the "Red Baron", but a number of other members of his family are also notable for various reasons.

Walter von Richthofen

Baron Walter von Richthofen, an uncle of Manfred von Richthofen, immigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

in 1877 from

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

. He founded the

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

Chamber of Commerce and was co-founder of

Montclair, Denver Montclair is a neighborhood in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. The Denver U.S. Post Office ( ZIP Code 80220) serves Montclair postal addresses. Neighborhood history Montclair was originally developed as a small suburban ...

, at that time a village east of Denver but now incorporated into the city. His

Richthofen Castle Richthofen Castle is a historic 35-room mansion in the neighborhood of Montclair in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. Completed in 1887, it was originally designed by Alexander Cazin for Baron Walter von Richthofen, a Germa ...

was one of the most sumptuous mansions in the American West. Begun in 1883 and completed in 1887, it was modeled on the original Richthofen Castle in Germany. Located immediately around the castle are the baron's mistress's house and his sanitarium/dairy.

WWI flying aces

was the most successful fighter pilot of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, with 80 official victories before he was killed in action. His younger brother,

Lothar von Richthofen Lothar Siegfried Freiherr von Richthofen (27 September 1894 – 4 July 1922) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 40 victories. He was a younger brother of top-scoring ace Manfred von Richthofen (the ''Red Baron'') and a di ...

(1894–1922), was also a flying ace, with 40 victories. He served alongside his brother in

Jasta 11 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11 ("No 11 Fighter Squadron"; commonly abbreviated to Jasta 11) was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of 4 Armee's “Kampfeinsitzer” or KEKs) 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of the Germ ...

. Lothar died in an air crash in 1922. The two aviators were fourth cousins of the German

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

Wolfram von Richthofen Wolfram Karl Ludwig Moritz Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen (10 October 1895 – 12 July 1945) was a German World War I flying ace who rose to the rank of ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Luftwaffe during World War II. Born in 1895 into a fa ...

(1895–1945). Wolfram was a cavalry man and later a World War I flying ace who flew with Manfred and Lothar in Jagdgeschwader 1 during the last year of the war.

Frieda and Else von Richthofen

Frieda von Richthofen Frieda Lawrence (August 11, 1879 – August 11, 1956) was a German author and wife of the British novelist D.H. Lawrence. Life Emma Maria Frieda Johanna Freiin (Baroness) von Richthofen (also known under her married names as Frieda Weekley, Fri ...

(1879–1956), who married the English

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

D. H. Lawrence David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...

(1885–1930) in July 1914, was a distant cousin. Though their last common ancestor was born in 1661, the Red Baron's fame nonetheless attached to Frieda's reputation in war time England. Frieda's sister

Else von Richthofen Else Freiin von Richthofen (October 8, 1874 - December 22, 1973) was among the early female social scientists in Germany. Life and career Elisabeth Helene Amalie Sophie Freiin (Baroness) von Richthofen (also known as Else Jaffé) was born into t ...

was one of the earliest female social scientists in Germany.

Suzane Louise von Richthofen

Suzane Louise von Richthofen (born 3 November 1983) is a

German-Brazilian German Brazilians (German language, German: ''Deutschbrasilianer'', Hunsrik: ''Deitschbrasiliooner'', pt, teuto-brasileiros) refers to Brazilians of full or partial Germans, German ancestry. German Brazilians live mostly in the country's South ...

woman who was convicted of murdering her parents on 31 October 2002 with the help of her boyfriend and his brother. She was put on trial in

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaWC a ...

in July 2006 and was sentenced to 39 years and 6 months in prison. In 2023 she was released from prison on parole.

Ambassadors

* Herbert von Richthofen was an ambassador to Bulgaria between 1938 and 1941. * Dr.

Hermann von Richthofen Hermann Manfred Georg Freiherr von Richthofen, GCVO (20 November 1933 in Breslau – 17 July 2021 in Berlin) was a German diplomat. He was a great nephew of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron".Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

from 1989–1993, where his name made him a media favorite.

Other

Other well-known family members include: *

Bolko von Richthofen Bolko von Richthofen (September 13, 1899 – March 18, 1983) was a German archaeologist and a distant relative of the family of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron". He is sometimes confused with his distant cousin and namesake, Karl Bolko von ...

(1899–1983), German archaeologist (not to be confused with Manfred's younger brother) *

Emil von Richthofen Emil Karl Heinrich von Richthofen (11 July 1810 – 20 June 1895, at Baden-Baden), was a Prussian baron (freiherr) and diplomat. He was the son of Ludwig Philipp Heinrich, Freiherr von Richthofen (1770–1850). In 1833, he married Marie Augustin ...

(1810-1895), Prussian diplomat and father of Oswald von Richthofen *

Ferdinand von Richthofen Baron Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen (5 May 18336 October 1905), better known in English as was a German traveller, geographer, and scientist. He is noted for coining the terms "Seidenstraße" and "Seidenstraßen" = "Silk Road(s)" or "Silk ...

(1833–1905), German traveller, geographer and scientist, for whom Colorado's

Mount Richthofen Mount Richthofen is the highest summit of the Never Summer Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent peak is located northwest by west ( bearing 308°) of Milner Pass, Colorado, United States, on the Continental ...

was named * Manfred von Richthofen (general) (1855–1939), German General of the Cavalry during World War I * Manfred von Richthofen (sports official) (1934–2014), German hockey player and coach *

Oswald von Richthofen Oswald Samuel Konstantin Freiherr von Richthofen (13 October 1847, in Iași – 17 January 1906, in Berlin, Germany), a German diplomat and politician, served as Foreign Secretary and head of the Foreign Office from 23 October 1900 to 17 January ...

(1847-1906), German diplomat and politician

References

{{Authority control German noble families Surnames !