Funeral of the Red Baron

[Dolphindream15]

I think the red baron was exhumed 3 different times I think that when the berlin wall was built they had to move him because his grave was in the way of the wall,,and I think his coffin was opened up some where they were looking for some kind of plaque he was sosposed to have been burried with but when they opened up his coffin they found no plaque,,but his remains were well preserved,,except for his skull,,,the last time he was exhumed I do believe it was in 1976..

[DavBlc7]

He was also a humane person as according to a recent film and a story about him. If he was still alive at end of WWI, he would have seen the horrors of Hitler and the second World War.

He would much like Field Marshal Rommel, also a humane person and well respected by the Allies.

Both men were very much in common too.

[McLarenMercedes]

@DavBlc7

According to several respected historians the recent movie about him is mostly fictionalized.They did the mistake of trying to make him out to be some modern day pacifist who didn't want nothing to do with the war. In reality he was loyal to the Kaiser and the German Empire,and as a nobleman how could he possibly been have against it? These people took their oath very seriously indeed and doubting the war or Germany was a serious no-no

He collected silver cups for his confirmed kills

[frenchycanada]

billy bishop top cdn ace with 74 kills was straffing the baron down to the ground when the aussie was shooting up.

[itsmister2u]

giving honor to a fallen soldier of the enemy would never happen in todays mindset. the gentlemens war ended with WW1

[Highice007]

@itsmister2u I don't know. It might depend on whom you're fighting.

[Boelcke1916]

Around 1925, the body was with the consent of the French government, exhumed and taken to Germany. When it crossed into Germany aboard a special train, working men on both sides of the tracks stopped to salute him as a hero.

[Boelcke1916]

He will forever be young and be a hero.

[Boelcke1916]

To me, von Richthofen and the other fliers are all heroes. It took real courage to ride in those death traps without even a parachute. Yes, for all of them ... but I still value Boelcke and von Richthofen the most because they caught the popular imagination whereas most of the brave lads of all nations died unknown to us. But the truth is ... looking back almost 100 years and with the shifting political allegiences, they are all heroes.

[RedBaronBR2008]

Simply the Best!

[IchFickDeineFamilie]

Gott sei ihm gnädig.

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

Fascinating footage of the Baron's funneral. The Aussies clearly paid the Baron all due respects with full military honours. Whilst the Baron was the 'enemy' his bravery & sheer seat of the pants skill & ability as a pilot deserve full respect from all sides. He will always be remembered & respected. Greetings & respects to Germany from Great Britain!

[ColaWhiski]

. great pictures - first-class pilots and men could start with concepts, how fame and honour still what and which had the necessary respect one in front of the other - also before your enemies...

warbirds-power.de

[msy300177]

"To Our Gallant and Worthy Foe."

[Schredder222]

They're not French they're Australian!!!

[AustWarMemorial]

@flika1996, yes thumbs up for the French, however the majority of soldiers in the film conducting the ceremony, are Australian soldiers, easily identifible by the slouch hat.

[filka1996]

thumbs up for the French having much respect

[llandudnoboy]

Different times and a totally different war when gentlemen remained gentlemen and honoured a great hero with full military honours.

When few pilots during the Great War survived longer than two weeks and here was an enemy aristocrat with an incredible 83 confirmed kills with at least another ten unconfirmed kills to his name.

Such a great fighter ace that his name will become an enigma and always be remembered.

POUR LE MERIT "THE BLUE MAX" a worthy recipient.

[TheSabbath8]

he died in last year of war thats sad ,R.I.P

[Johnzoil]

He was shot and mortally wounded by an Australian army machine gun team, not an American. That's why his funeral guard of honour are Australian.

[Gaurdsman221]

This man was an amazing pilot. May he R.I.P along with all the other boys who gave their lives to the sky.

[starguard]

And all this time, I thought Snoopy killed him!

[Michael367697]

I didn´t know the Australians treated our Roter Baron in such an honourable way. I´m astonished and ashamed. Danke.

[llandudnoboy]

@Michael367697

Men were gentlemen back in the great war and a fellow pilot even though he was considered the enemy with an incredible 83 confirmed kills to his name was a HERO in anyones nationality.

True HEROS should be honoured with full military honours.

Von Richthofens career was stuff of legend and legends must always be honoured.

[drahon45]

@llandudnoboy Von Richthofen only had 80 confirmed kills. Not 83. 

[phillip549]

its amazing he flew a biplane and yet hes still the most famous pilot nearly 100 years later

[byrne984]

as a matter of fact it was an australian soldier! the bullet that hit the baron was from a 303 single loading rifle! in the australian sector

[TheCrowneJewel]

Everybody should know that a Canadian shot The Red Baron down!

its actually true

[Llancalot]

@TheCrowneJewel

Sorry, but all the books that I've read seems to show that Brown wasn't the victor... he shoot from above at right side while the bullet that killed the Baron travelled from the left armpit through the heart. You should read the book "Who killed the Red Baron" by Norman Franks - Gruub Street Editor. It's very enlightning about many thing about that day...

[Manongjojo]

@Llancalot You are correct. A single shot from an infantry man's riffle from the US army shot him down as recorded by other German pilots he broke one of his own rules and flew low to the ground away from his squadron and a solder shot him in the side.

[kolbpilot]

@Manongjojo Broke one of his own rules. Same as WW2 Ace Tom Mcguire who let his krate get to low & slow.

[kilomeister]

@Manongjojo an american was never mentioned in his killing. the canadians have a museum that proudly boasts the red baron's seat riddled with bullet holes. they're rivet holes. he was shot by an australian machine gunner. yanks are always jealous if they aren't involved( wikileaks 2010).

[frenchycanada]

@kilomeister Canadian ace billy bishop was straffing the baron down to the ground when the aussie foot soldier started shooting up......prob a combination of both.

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@Manongjojo Wrong. The Yanks had bog all to with killing the Baron, it was an Australian soldier with a .303 Vickers machine gun. One round hit the Baron & killed him.

[mmmail1969]

@Manongjojo - downed by a US Army rifle - what the.....but then Jesus was also an American wasn't he!

[cmbatwnded]

When we were MEN.

[TheGuitarProphet]

So do we know now who killed him for real? I always thought it was the canadian Arthur Brown, but someone told me that the shot acutally must have came from the ground because of the way the bullet hit him.

[Arcantos95]

i would be proud to be the man to take him down

[Ulver27]

the most standing version is that red baron was shot from ground fire..i believe the rest are propaganda....

[alexanderl222]

his name isnt baron, its manfred

[smacker57]

I've run my hand along those machine guns as a young air cadet when visiting Point Cook air base museum.

[Idapija91]

I'll just say one word.. Respect!

[coin409]

"To our Gallant and Worthy Foe" the tomb stone said.

[okiblz]

congratulatiosn australian tropps to make funeral do your emeny red baron

[Yamieguy64]

Brown is still credit with the downing of Von Richtofen. Alternate theories are just that...and he hasn't been around for the last 65 years or so to tell his story.

[franklinforever83]

Yes Brown was not the one who killed Richthofen. They just predicted that Richthofen was killed by Brown but there's no evidence to prove that he actually killed Richthofen

[MatKoReN]

3 version but I think it be like he was dogfighting Brown and he flew down in dogfight and australian gunner shooted him.

[flesch317]

Funny how we idolise sme things. I know Red Baron was doing his duty, but shame for fame for killing many enemy. We just lost souls.

[Narteph]

It's a war, my friend...

[GOTHICAMESSAIH]

correct Roy brown did Not kill him. there actualy was a failure in his aeroplane not sure if it was engine, or the actual aeroplane itself but it made his aeroplane Vulnerable and it was ground fire that shot him "but he was alive barely" and he died from the impact through crashing into the ground. not by someone shooting him.

[codypanek]

Roy Brown didn't kill him. Some tv show proved the shot came from the ground, and figured out it was some Australian guy

[djdilligaf76]

yeah the bullet came from the ground it enterd his right side and came out under his left armpit in a upwards direction, he still managed to land his plane and was alive when allied men got to him, his last word was "Kaput"

[LukaZ0001]

Erich Hartmann had 352 Kills in WW2

[MadQuebecois]

What would be the best book about his life that i could get. To read about him ? Thank's

[GIANTreed1]

he died after landing the plane,and the plane was taken apart for souveniers

[KilluminatiMujahad]

R.I.P soldier for life!!!

[saloontamoon]

he's the greatest ace of all time

[Pulgoso000]

¡Que bueno!..

Mis honores al Barón "Rojo" Von Richthofen..

[TheStubbleking]

PS: Roy Brown has 12 kills under his belt by the end of WWI.

[ldavis5734]

The only autopsy done was with a probe. There was no opening of the body.

The 303 cal. bullet that struck Capt. Richthofen entered in an upward direction around the 9th rib area on the right side. It cavitated thru coming out about 2in.under the left nipple.

What fascinates me is the shear will of this man. To first off find a clearing and safely land his plane after such a fatal trauma. I think a lot of it was motor skills and pure instinct.

[ldavis5734]

The only autopsy done was with a probe. There was no opening of the body.

What fascinates me is the shear will of this man. To first off find a clearing and safely land his plane after such a fatal trauma.

Crashing would be foremost on any pilots mind, I think a lot of it was motor skills and pure instinct.

[LittleGannon9]

the red Baron was shot down by Roy Brown. and the red Baron was the most skilled pilot, if you ask me Brown got lucky, one of his bullets went through the Baron's seat and killed him. but yeah... the red baron was the most feared pilot and anyone who says otherwise needs to freshen up on there history.

[TheStubbleking]

I`m not an air ace, however in order to place a bullet through the seat of the pilot in the plane ahead of you, I would guess that A: You have to get behind the enemy. B: You have to aim and shoot rather straight. Hats off to our Canadian hero-Roy Brown. Brown was born on Dec. 23, 1893 in Carleton, Ontario. He was flying for the RAF--at that time Canada and the UK shared the same airforce.

[LukaZ0001]

The red Baron was killed in action by an anti-aircraft-gunner

propably an mounted MG

[vendix100]

is incredible from valencia (spain)

[pepperwright0]

Why are people arguing? How about everyone goes to the archives and studies primary sources! : D

[EminemIsKindaGood]

I second that dude, bunch o' retards.

[qlancer]

Freiherr is a level of the German aristocracy, most commonly associated with the English equivalent, Baron. The title Ritter is most equivalent to the English Sir, or a knighthood. Ritter is literally rider.

So, Englishmen referring to him as Baron is mostly correct. Just as Calling a Graf a Count is correct as well

[Dolphindream15]

correct me if Im wrong but I think the red baron remains were exhumed 3 different times,,the last time his remains were moved was in 1976,,,but some where his remains had to be moved because his grave was in the way of the building of the berlin wall,,but he was moved 3 times

[Tiberiotertio]

"funeral of Captain Baron von Ritchofen" I love this, that english speaking people always make Manfred von Richthofen a baron, which he never was, his titel was Freiherr von Richthofen.

[jackel193]

thats just bacause of the title red baron that most people call him by

[Sonicfury234]

I find great respect in that the austtralians honoured the enemy with such a funreal.

Best pilot to have lived. (The Red Baron)

I am australian.

[jonnyx9999]

it was a great gesture!

thanks from germany.

the leaders that started this first world war were criminals, but the soldiers of both sides (germany and the allies) were honorable men !

its a shame that men like this had to fight against each other !

[jonnyx9999]

@Sonicfury234 :

it was a great gesture !

thanks from germany.

the leaders that started this war were criminals, but the soldiers of both sides were honorable men ! its a shame that men like this had to fight against each other.

[AUSSIEDAVEROCKS]

British and Commonwealth troops only used .303 cal. bullets and the bullet that killed the Baron was .303 cal.

Canadian Arthur "Roy" Brown can't be given any credit at all, because he had broken off his attack and was already heading home at the time when the baron was shot down.

He (Brown) never claimed at any time that he was the one who shot Richthofen down.

Historians agree that Australian soldiers on the ground killed Richthofen and only disagree on which Australian soldier fired it.

[Pantera411]

arthur brown lives in my town.. and your right.. he never claimed to have shot him down .

[phattbilly]

He is dead you dumbass and if you read anything about history (wikipedia dosent count) then you will know that he did shoot down the red baron

[baronww1]

hey do you know anything you are talking about even to this day mondern forenics show Brown never could shoot him down since the shot came from the lower rightside from the ground and Brown could not have fired the shot since it was too close to the ground. take a look at the history book kid before you say shit. Yes i know what i am talking about because i study the Red Baron with a great passon to know his life.

[71259mark]

Brown did not break off his attack. He was there to the end. ALSO the Brits used 30 cal. in their planes as well. That's why there's such a mystery. Historians agree that there's no way to know for sure.

[erb209]

91 years ago today, a great aviator was shot down. Manfred von Richthofen

[jesus792]

he was the best aviator in the world!!

[dragonsarefake]

no he was the best fighter pilot jesus792

not aviator

[Baroness1015]

Thinking of you on this day and all days, rest in peace.

[amilcardario1976]

terrific footage ,the best pilot ever ,,,rest in peace

[CaspitaJiotto]

How he was killed? From air or earth?

[ewee17]

My Grandad Arthur Curwen British ww1 pilot was one of the pallbearers,he said they give him a great send off ,

[mag1clog]

the aussies did not kill him, it's the canadiens; Roy brown and Raymond Collishaw May, that shot him down

[wattlebough]

Most international historians and forensic scientists believe that it was most likely Sergeant Cedrick Popkins of the 5 Division Australian Corps that brought Richtoffen down with ground fire from a Vickers Machine Gun. The fatal shot entered the Baron's body through the side, which was not possible from the angles that Brown & May were firing from, but was consistent with the Baron being shot while in a turning or rolling maneuver .

[rayman961]

theres a debate the austrailians were shooting from the ground and roy brown was shooting from above

[baronww1]

if you read the report of his adtopsy report that he was shot from under the plane and a single .303 bullet entered under his rib cage and was found under his jacket collor on his right side and May never shot him down because it was dismissed because of where he was shooting was from directly behind and not underneith him and there would have been more holes in the plane if it was a machine gun that shot him down.

[constellation80]

Why don't they exhume him, and do some modern day forensic tests to see what caliber of bullet killed him?

That would solve this epic mystery.

[bhagopian94]

they did. the type of bullet that hit him was a 50 calibur bullet all the australian gunners had that type and so did the canadians. some historians are useing lasers to try and find out who did the fatal shot they narrowed it down to 5 people. only one was Roy Brown.

[wattlebough]

Hey there bhagopian! Just a minor update on your info- the Aussies were using the .303 caliber bullet. General consensus among historians is that an Aussie named Sergeant Cedrick Popkins was the person most likely to have fired the fatal shot that killed Von Richtoffen. Popkins was using a Vickers .303 machine gun. Another suggested person was an Aussie nicknamed "Snowy" Evans, who was using a Lewis gun, but most people have dismissed the likelihood of it being him because of where he was...

[bhagopian94]

they did. the bullet that killed the red baron was a 50 calibur bullet. all of the australians had that calibur and so did the two canadians. historians are using lasers to try and find out who delivered the fatal shot. they have narrowed it down to five people. that includes roy brown but now the other one.

[AUSSIEDAVEROCKS]

Actually the bullet was .303 cal, NOT .50 cal.

All british and commonwealth forces used the .303 cal bullets as their standard round.

The autopsy performed on the Baron's body revealed the trajectory of the bullet, proving he was mortally wounded from Australian groundfire.

Canadian Roy Brown was given the credit for propaganda purposes but Brown had actually left the scene and was heading home before Richthofen had even been shot down.

[AUSSIEDAVEROCKS]

Sorry mate but .50 cal. is an american round.

British and Commonwealth troops only used .303 cal. bullets and the bullet that killed the Baron was .303 cal.

Canadian Arthur "Roy" Brown can't be given any credit at all, because he had broken off his attack and was already heading home at the time when the baron was shot down.

He (Brown) never claimed at any time that he was the one who shot Richthofen down.

[Mo0nBugGy1]

Be quiet kid.

[wngcdr1]

The bullet cavitated inside his body, (basically it looped once around the lateral axis), thus destroying a bit more than when it would have done flying straight through. But it is doubtful, if he would have survived the shot anyway,bullet cavitating or not.

[flyonawndshield]

Incredible footage. There will be another gentleman ace of the air like Manfred von Richthofen.

[gbyrne]

he was a bigger star in england then he was in the fatherland

[IKurtC]

it sux how his plane got stripped, and people took his boots belt googles and some stuff, =/, that was no respect

[fotomch1]

they had much more respect in WW1 than they did in WW2

[Battosai37th]

Err just wanna say some stuff, well first off awsome video thanks for posting it.

Also some people were talking about how he died, its still alittle up in the air about who fired the fatal shot seeing as i think like 8 people claimed they did it but the major 2 are a gunner that was on the ground or a guy named i think Brown that was chassing behind him while he was after somebody else.

Im writing an essay about him right now so thanks alot this kinda helps me get in the mood =)

RIP

[ryanspeed]

Although he was an enemy, it's good to see the Australians bury him with full military honors.

[acadusle]

Australians ? dude do you really know what you are talking about>?

[wattlebough]

I know this is not exactly striking while the iron's hot acadusle, but did you know that 330,000 Aussies fought in WW1 in Northern France, Belgium, Gallipoli (Turkey) and Palestine. Between 1915-1918 60,000 were killed; 152,000 wounded & 4,000 captured (they took 29,000 German POWs & 40,000+ Turks). And yes, the 3rd Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps buried the Red Baron. If you look closely at the vid many of the man are wearing the Australian Army "Slouch Hat" a modest cowboy style hat.

[mow1717]

great respect for a warrior even though he is a enemy.

[KmTz2010]

That's how war should be fought.

[ElephantRage]

war should not be fought at all.

[ChetCampbell72]

This is amazing.

[LJBCRT]

Only seen stills of the Funeral. Thanks lots for the footage. Very interesting.

The Aussies certainly gave Him a great sendoff.

LJB

[Redheadedtroll68]

I second that.

[Notteriva]

Grazie per questo straordinario filmato!

[Manuman59]

Merci, pour ce document exceptionnel;

Realy, thank U.

[EndCat47]

his name wasnt baron by the way...

[Marsmaxl]

I have never seen.Thanks to Englishmen

[briquetaverne]

He was buried in Bertangle but he was shot down in poulainville, in a field just on the otherside of the road. Both of these small villages are 5 miles/ 8 km north of Amiens France. I know because I live there part of the year. This area of the Somme is loaded with WWI history;

[Jeedian]

I find it fascinating that even though he had gunned down their fellow friends and allies, they still gave him the utmost repect. It is ironic that we can be so civilized in the funeral and still be savage enough to war upon each other.

[lloveComedy]

Guys he got shoot and the bullet aimed to his heart is that right cause that what it say on earth empire XD

\just asking no worry.

[Undertakerowns]

He got shot from a ground gunner. It hit him in his right rib cage. The bullet tumbled in his body and went through the liver the lungs and the heart. Also empire earth is a good game :D

[Jeedian]

According to the latest documentaries, he was shot by a single .303 bullet from the ground and the bullet ripped through him from his lower armpit on the right side and came out by his left nipple ripping apart multiple organs including the heart.

[Jeedian]

If you check out the wikipedia article for him, it tells you exactly how he died. It is a good read.

[estefvonrichthofen]

he was the best pilot of the history!!!!! i think.

thanks fo apload this video!!

[morganson32]

Just been to Bertangles where this film was made. Same gates on the cemetery but no indication where he was originally buried except for an information board outside.

[Kinsmen]

What a rare glimpse of actually history, thanks for uploading and sharing.

[MvonRichthofen1918]

I wonder where the pieces of his plane are now...

[calibre9mm]

its great to see we're still honoring these men!

[Aguila1Azteka]

viva Rittmeister Manfred VonRichthofen thanks for this vid.

[pedrohawk3293]

The best pilot for ever

[weeweelegs]

They were heros all, who fell, on both sides

[PzTiger]

Rare footage. Thx for upload.