Question Regarding Manfred von Richthofen "The Red Baron"

Hi all

I just watched the film the Red Baron for a second time, and apparently, he was offered to command the entire German Air Force, now Wikipedia just says he was offered a "ground job" after his 1917 injury but what type of job was that? Does anyone have any detailed information about this?

Thanks
 
Hi all

I just watched the film the Red Baron for a second time, and apparently, he was offered to command the entire German Air Force, now Wikipedia just says he was offered a "ground job" after his 1917 injury but what type of job was that? Does anyone have any detailed information about this?

Thanks

Operational planning IIRC. Working out the details for large operations. Training would be the alternative.
 
I'm not completely clear on the staff organization, but he would have been on the generals staff, planning operations, or possibly in the training establishment.
 
ACW had a few off the top of my head

Age 20 (disputed)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galusha_Pennypacker
Age 23
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer

There were also several people that were really young with rank of Colonel

Might have beaten Napoleon to becoming a general earlier but did not even attain 1% of his achievement, but being a general at 20 would bring one good life.

It would have been interesting to see Manfred relationship with Hindenburg towards the end of the war because at that point all flying machines were not considered independent but apart of the army. It would also be interesting to see his transition from being a tactician to strategist. It is very difficult, they are two completely different mindsets, thought processes and that's why sometimes great tacticians become failing strategists.
 
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It would also be interesting to see his transition from being a tactician to strategist. It is very difficult, they are two completely different mindsets, thought processes and that's why sometimes great tacticians become failing strategists.

This why everyone else copied the Prussia staff system to varying degrees. Promising officers were tested for higher command levels during duty in a staff job, usually the operations section.
 
This why everyone else copied the Prussia staff system to varying degrees. Promising officers were tested for higher command levels during duty in a staff job, usually the operations section.

I do not think if he had been appointed a general of flying he would any significant outcome to the war. The main aim of air warfare was to achieve air superiority and strategic bombing had only just been invented. Although there is plenty of substance and opportunity there for Manfred to change things but its unlikely. For example, in the second battle of Ypres Germany tried to use Chlorine gas, they made some gains because the mud was not sluggish and the enemy was running the other way. However, gains ended when the wind direction changed. Therefore why not bomb enemy positions with chlorine gas using bombers.
 
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