WI the Red Baron survived?

Simple. What effect, no matter how minor, would it have on things? What would he have done after the war? What would he have made of the Nazi regime?
 
He probably would get even richer of books and interviews etc. Afterwards he'll probably join the Nazis but I doubt they'd give him Head of the Luftwaffe.
 

The Vulture

Banned
Depends on the scenario. Is he shot down and taken prisoner in the incident that killed him IRL or does he avoid the ground fire that brought him down and survive the war altogether without being a prisoner?

And as an old-school Prussian aristocrat, he probably would have disdained the Nazis, though they might have used him for propaganda purposes.
 
I've read that the Red Baron might have suffered brain damage in July 1917, which might be the reason he was shot down in the first place. if he has brain damage at the end of the war then he'll probably just settle down to a quiet life and not be a major impact on history, since he'll be in no condition to do so. At most the Nazis will trot him out once they take power, but it probably won't be that memorable in a historical sense.

If he doesn't have brain damage he'll probably either go the military/political route, though I don't really know enough about his character to predict how that would go, or he might join some of the other WW1 German aces in founding Lufthansa or be otherwise involved in the emerging airline industry.
 
He probably would get even richer of books and interviews etc. Afterwards he'll probably join the Nazis but I doubt they'd give him Head of the Luftwaffe.

I could see where they do make him a Field Marshal and give him command of the Luftwaffe, strictly for the symbolism of giving the Red Baron command of the German Air Force, but Herman Goering will really be the one in charge.
 
Simple. What effect, no matter how minor, would it have on things? What would he have done after the war? What would he have made of the Nazi regime?

The Nazis turn him into a symbol, and the modern world make a genuine pilot ace into a monster for that reason alone.
 
And as an old-school Prussian aristocrat, he probably would have disdained the Nazis, though they might have used him for propaganda purposes.

Definitely, it's highly unlikely that he would be supportive of the NSDAP.




I could see where they do make him a Field Marshal and give him command of the Luftwaffe, strictly for the symbolism of giving the Red Baron command of the German Air Force, but Herman Goering will really be the one in charge.

Well first as above, I would think his political leanings would stray much closer to 'royalist' camp and the NSDAP is going to be extremely weary of his camp like there were of most of the upper class. Also, you would have to have him join the party early than Goering if this would happen ... you really think Goering is going to allow someone that prestigious of a flyer to be around to steal his thunder and be second guessed by the public in every decision?
 
A Man and a Dog . . . er, Plane

I wrote a long what-if on soc.history.what-if on this theme.

Later, I expanded it into a novel, but no one will buy it because it doesn't have the Nazis winning.:(
 
It occurs to me that if the Red Baron is still around (assuming he remains in active combat duty through the end of World War I) then Goering would probably never have become a prominent military/political figure in the first place; he only became well-known because he took over command of Richtoffen's squadron, Jagdgeschwader 1.
 
Cedric Popkin

Well, the AIF & the below Australian machine-gunner from Qld wouldn't have had another controversy added to their WWI exploits:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedric_Popkin

(btw, I've seen the wreckage from the Red Baron's triplane at the War Memorial in Canberra- which of course wouldn't have been so prominently displayed had he not been shot down)
 
Simple. What effect, no matter how minor, would it have on things? What would he have done after the war? What would he have made of the Nazi regime?

Richthofen showed clear signs of PTSD/burnout - he isolated himself, was depressed and started to take risks that went against his own, very successful, rules (attack surprisingly, no dogfights, keep away from ground fire), which finally got him killed. So a "Richthofen continues fighting until 11/11 1918" TL is unlikely.

But Richthofen could get a lighter wound, be replaced to a non-combat position or simply sent for treatment, and still be "the hero that now fights on but in a different role" - thereby depriving Göring (among others) a lot of glory.

To be frank Germany had a lot of heroes from WW1 1918-1939, but their effect on Germany was fairly small. Richthofen would probably be one of them. Maybe some effect on the air industry (but would a pilot stay in a country without an airforce?) but fairly small butterflies.
 

Paul MacQ

Donor
Instead of Lettow-Vorbeck he would be today one of the secret stars of AH.

Yes intersting Idea Party with Lettow-Vorbeck and the Baron in it
Lettow-Vorbeck being leader and a Red Baron heading the none Nazi Luftwaffe
becoming a Big Fat AirMarshal in a Moderate Right wing party that Rips into Nazi Popularity,
 
It occurs to me that if the Red Baron is still around (assuming he remains in active combat duty through the end of World War I) then Goering would probably never have become a prominent military/political figure in the first place; he only became well-known because he took over command of Richtoffen's squadron, Jagdgeschwader 1.

Agreed. It's almost a funny thought of Goering flying some He 111 in combat during the BoB. I realize he had a distinguished WW1 but just the thought of him actually putting his fat neck out there is hard to think about.
 
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