Der Rote Kampfflieger: The Red Fighter Pilot

In 1917, Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, was one of the most famous people in Germany. He was a flying ace with 50 victories, and publishers were eager to get their hands on his story. Richthofen initially declined, saying he was too busy fighting to write a book. But in the spring of that year, he changed his mind and agreed to write a war diary for Ullstein Verlag, a German publishing house.

The book, Der Rote Kampfflieger (The Red Fighter Pilot), was written quickly. While on leave in Schweidnitz, Richthofen dictated his memoirs to a young female stenographer who was staying at the Hotel Crown. He would visit her in the mornings, and she would type up his notes in the afternoon. In the evenings, Richthofen would review the day’s work with his mother and sister at his home.

By July 1917, a first edition proof of the book was ready. It was published in August and was an instant success. By 1920, over half a million copies of Der Rote Kampfflieger had been sold. Richthofen was paid a fee of 10,000 marks for the book, as well as a royalty of 8% of each copy sold.

Der Rote Kampfflieger is still considered a valuable source for historians of World War I. It is one of the few accounts of the air war written by a pilot who fought in it.

The book’s success is even more remarkable considering the short amount of time it took to write. Richthofen’s dictation sessions at the Hotel Crown and the editing help from his family were key to getting the book finished quickly. Der Rote Kampfflieger was translated into several languages and was published in many countries around the world.