A famous military name always in demand at auction is Richthofen. However, the two lots sold at Dickins Auctioneers (19.5% buyer’s premium plus VAT) on March 31 related not to the Red Baron of Great War fame, but to his cousin, Generalfeldmarschall Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen (1895-1945).
This Richthofen was famed for aerial action including the Spanish Civil War, with the Condor Legion supporting Franco which was responsible for the shocking destruction of Guernica depicted in Picasso’s painting.
Wolfram began his flying career in the Red Baron’s fighting unit, Jagdgeschwader 1 (Fighter Wing 1), during the First World War. The Red Baron (Baron Manfred Von Richthofen) was actually shot down and killed defending Wolfram, unaware that he too was being tailed.