The Red Baron's trophies

I'm a writer doing some research into the Red Baron's Trophies i.e the Silver cups he had made for himself and the
various aircraft relics that he sent home to his Mothers house, i.e serial numbers, machine guns etc. What ever became of all these things? I believe the house was overrun by the Soviets in 1944? Have they been seen since?

Also, does anyone know the name of the Silversmith who produced the silver cups?

Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to give me on this matter.

Len (northpool)

[Amy]

Hi Len:

From what I've learned, MvR's mother did sell a small few of his items before WWII (i.e. cigarette case). *But, aside from that, all of MvR's memorabilia was snatched up by the Russians when they rolled into town and those items are presumably still boxed away in a Moscow warehouse. ???

Here's a thread that you might be able to glean some *information out of: Manfred's Victory Cups

Hope this helps.
Amy

Wagner and Sohne produced the Silver Luft. Honor cups during the 1930s and 1940s. They may have produced them earlier.

[leo]

Is there any specific information concerning the fare of MvR's trophies? Did the Russian authorities carry them off or were they lost to general looting?

This is according to P.J. Carisella's WHO KILLED THE RED BARON? (1969):

*"When the advancing Russian troops entered Richthofen's hometown of Schweidnitz in 1944, they went first to the town hall to seize the records. Next, according to report [sic], they rushed to the Richthofen estate and removed all the World War I relics from the Baron's museum. These relics of his victories were carefully boxed and forwarded to a warehouse museum near Moscow. Here, the relics, which include the famous 60 victory cups, have remained in their boxes to this day [1969]. Attempts by the West German government to have them retuned have been rebuffed."

[leo]

Is there any other source besides Carisella to confirm this story?

Well, Leo, perhaps THIS will satisfy your morbid curiousity:

"Following the Red Army's drive through Silesia in 1945, the bronze plaque [from the MvR memorial in Schweidnitz] disappeared, the cemetery containing the grave of Albrecht and Lothar von Richthofen was ploughed over [Bastards!-C.L.], and the entire contents of the Richthofen Museum were seized and shipped to the former Soviet Union with other war booty."

--Peter Kilduff, THE ILLUSTRATED RED BARON, page 128; Arms and Armour, 1999.

[leo]

Thankee, Captain.

[StephenLawson]

Greetings forumites:

The subject is Manfred von Richthofens silver award cups. *First let me say that I have been searching for information on these items.*I know the location of at least 9 of the sixty cups and bonus 1 of LvR's. *The story about escaping the Russians that were overunnning the Siliesa home of the von Richthofen's was created to ward off would-be relic hunters. *

The family were packed away by the German Wermacht,Luftwaffe of local reserve units weeks before the Russians even came near the town. Remember that Bolko (who later used the nickname Karl) was still alive and an Oberst at the time. *He certainly would have had some influence with this. *Remember Göring would have had some interest in keeping this national family alive and away from the Russians as well.

Fraü von Richthofen simply didn't feel it was anyone elses business what she did or didn't have. *This was the family fortune for the future and as such has been safe guarded. *Recently one of the cups (#46) sold in excess of 27,000.00 USD. *My research into this is continuing. *As for Carisella or Kilduff they had publication deadlines. *Much like a newspaper reporter. *You could read volumes with what they don't print.

[Soderbaum]

Hi Stephen

How could they recently sell MvR 61st Victory Cup if only 47 actually were made...?

:-/
Gunnar