MovieChat Forums > Der Rote Baron (2008) Discussion > For those that do not know.

For those that do not know.


I see a lot of posters, probably young posters, have questioned some of the authenticity of the story of the Red Baron. Firstly, read " The Red Fighter Pilot. " Secondly, Manfred Von Richthofen, believe it or not, was thought by many scholars to be Jewish ; others simply thought he was Lutheran. Many that fought in the air for Germany were of jewish decent in those days, over 135, and perhaps many more. They were called the " Jewish Knights of the Air. " Yes, they also put the Star of David on their planes. I know it's hard for those of you that are young to conceive that there were jewish men fighting for Germany, but the fact is, until that artistically challenged bastard from Austria, Adolf Hitler, corrupted Germany, there was a camaraderie amongst all who were German during war previously. Anne Frank's own Father fought for Germany in World War I. Van Richthofen was a young man when he started in World War I, and an emotional man as well, as all the young tend to be. He described his job as a " chivalrous battle that weighed the heart, " The Red Baron's memoirs presented him as a poetic, honorable man as well, only wanting to do his job. He saw pilots as " Knights of the Air, " and did not want to have to kill if he could help it, yet he also knew that was his very job. He was a conflicted man, but war often does that. What Adolf Hitler turned his memory into sickens my stomach, but everything this abomination did makes me this way. Although this movie, like almost every movie ever made, was made for entertainment purposes, it's still somewhat close to what Van Richthofen tended to be. He wasn't the cold, calculated, enemy ace everyone after World War II thought him to be, and although this film isn't perfect, I'm glad to see someone tried to correct this. Before you make judgement, always learn everything you can about the subject you're posting about, to not be seen as foolish. Good day.

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I've read extensively about Manfred von (not "van") Richthofen during the past fifty years, and I have never read any speculation that he was Jewish. The most famous Jew who flew for Germany during WWI was Werner Voss. I've never seen a photo of a German plane with a Star of David on it. Although it may have happened, it certainly was not common. Hitler, while being one of the most evil men who ever lived, was actually not a bad artist. If most people didn't know who painted them, they would think his pictures were pretty good. I doubt if any of von Richthofen's contemporaries characterized him as "emotional" or "conflicted". He was an efficient killer, and shot down many observation planes that were no match for him in his pursuit machine. This movie is not "somewhat close to what Van [von] Richthofen tended to be". It is nothing like him or history. Please learn more about the subject you're posting about, to not be seen as foolish.

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