A Picture Postcard with Wartime Signature of Colonel General Freiherr von Richthofen

A picture postcard of Colonel General Freiherr von Richthofen, measuring 102x147mm, near mint condition. It comes with a piece of paper, a cutout from an official document, showing von Richthofen’s signature in black ink, measuring 72x45mm.

The card is part of the series “Der Reichsmarschall und seine Generale der Luftwaffe” (The Reich Marshal and his Generals of the Luftwaffe). It carries von Richthofen’s facsimile.

Footnote: Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen (1895–1945) was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves. He eventually held the rank of Generalfeldmarschall. He joined the army in 1913, initially as part of the cavalry. Since 1918 he fought as a pilot, claiming eight aerial victories. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) von Richthofen was the Staff Leader, later the Commander of the infamous Condor Legion. During the Western Campaign he commanded the 8th Air Corps. In this position he received the Knight’s Cross in early 1940. He also commanded the aerial groups during the Battle of Crete. In July 1941 he received the Oak Leaves. He went on to command the Air Fleet 4 during the Russian Campaign, and later the Air Fleet 2 as well. In 1944 he had to relinquish command due to a brain tumour. He died shortly after the end of the war as an Allied POW. Von Richthofen was a distant cousin of First War flying ace Manfred von Richthofen, “the Red Baron”.