Richthofen's Pour le Merite in Canada?

Germanophile-1 · 5 February 2009, 08:34 AM

According to a story in the February 2 issue of The Labradorian newspaper, local people in Northwest River, Labrador believe they have the Pour le Merite awarded to Manfred von Richthofen. The link

The Labradorian: Feature | Possible rare medal found at Labrador Heritage Museum

contains a photo of the award and the text (which contains some historical errors) is below. The local history group's plans to "take apart" the metal and enamel badge are troubling, as they could destroy the badge in the process.

Is anyone on the Forum near enough to Northwest River, Labrador to check it out?

Peter
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Possible rare medal found at Labrador Heritage Museum
'Red Baron' a gift from former German commander

JENNY MCCARTHY
The Labradorian

Until last summer a medal sat in a case in the attic of the Hudson Bay Company in Northwest River. No one knew the potential significance of what looks like a war medal and some arm bands on a plaque.

Then one day last summer, a German tourist happened to ask to see the items in the attic, which were not yet displayed on the main floor of the museum. He immediately recognized the medal and pointed it out to museum staff.

The medal was the 'Pour la Merité' and in Germany during WWI it was the highest military honour a pilot could be given.

At one point a fighter pilot needed to have 16 victories in order to win the distinguished medallion and only one pilot ever won the Blue Max, as it was nicknamed, under these conditions.

That was a famous German pilot named Manfred von Richthofen, or the Red Barron, as he is more commonly known.

This is the medal the German visitor pointed out to the staff. On the plaque where it is mounted, reads the inscription "Manfred von Richthofen -- famous Red Baron's Blue Max and 2nd and 3rd generations sleeves insignia of the traditional German fighter wing." In the photo of the Red Baron, also mounted with the medal, the famous fighter pilot is wearing the medal around his neck.

Ernie MacLean is the president of the Labrador Heritage Society who operates the museum in Northwest River. He said they were informed of the existence of the medal and learned that there were tests to determine if it was authentic. Already the medal has been through one test for the material, which it passed with flying colours.

Mr. MacLean said he hopes to eventually have it go through the other tests as well. The next test to be done involves taking it apart.

The armbands that accompanied the medal and photo of the Red Baron read "Jagdgeschwader Richthofen" and "Geschwader Richthofen" which mean Red Fighter Wing/flying unit and Red Wing/Fighter unit, both units being named after the famous Red Baron. During WWII, fighter pilots who had flown with or were trained by the Red Baron wore the armbands. Later the armbands changed to include regiments and pilot names.

How the medal went from WWI Germany to a museum in Northwest River was initially a mystery for workers but Mr. MacLean said he soon learned that the medal had been a gift from a German Air force Commander who was stationed in HV-GB for a few months in the early 80s. He said they learned the commander has since passed away.

Mr. MacLean said from what he's heard there have only ever been 100 such medals issued and certainly to none as internationally famous as the Red Baron. A popular song, Snoopy vs. the Red Baron attests to the pilot's infamy. "Eighty men died trying to end the spree of the bloody Red Baron of Germany."

After proving his skill at marksmanship and flight, the Red Baron eventually commanded his own Unit of aircraft painted red like that of his own. In one month alone the Unit shot down 22 British aircraft.

The pilot was credited with shooting down 80 aircraft before the Red Baron himself was shot and died in 1918.

For now the memento of the famous Prussian fighter pilot continues to sit in its case at the Hudson Bay Company Museum in Northwest River while its authenticity is determined.

Biber · 5 February 2009, 09:17 AM

Sincerely doubt its MvR's. How could you prove such a thing? Provenance seems quite sketchy.

B

frontflieger · 5 February 2009, 10:48 AM

Thorsten

Laserlloyd · 5 February 2009, 10:54 AM

Hi Peter:

Didn't MvR give his Pour la Merité to one of his pilots in his unit? If so did he get it back or did he get a new one?

Is there any record on the number inscribed on the medal?

Thanks

Lloyd...

tcrean7828 · 5 February 2009, 11:00 AM

Mates,
Never the less it is an interesting find. Thanks for sharing.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

frontflieger · 5 February 2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laserlloyd

Didn't MvR give his Pour la Merité to one of his pilots in his unit? If so did he get it back or did he get a new one?

You mean Eduard Ritter von Dostler?! He was later MIA - and it was just during the award-party that Richthofen handed out his Pour le Mérite. -- The other storry concearned Friedrich-Wilhelm Lübbert, who was given Richthofen's Iron Cross during Lübbert's stay in hospital.

Thorsten

StephenLawson · 5 February 2009, 11:38 AM

We have an image of MvR removing his own Blue Max and putting it on a recent award winner at the unit party. I note the unit commander is not mentioned. Though it is doubtful this one ever was around MvR's neck. He probably had more than one copy at his disposal.

Germanophile-1 · 5 February 2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laserlloyd

Hi Peter:

Didn't MvR give his Pour la Merité to one of his pilots in his unit? If so did he get it back or did he get a new one?

Is there any record on the number inscribed on the medal?

Thanks

Lloyd...

Hi Lloyd,

I believe you are referring to when MvR loaned his Pour le Mérite to Dostler for the announcement. That was only for the photo op -- not a permanent presentation.

The late Neal O'Connor kindly showed me several original Pour le Mérites from his collection (including Berthold's) and pointed out what to look for to tell real ones from fakes. None of the awards was numbered -- nor were any names inscribed on the backs (as happened with many Iron Cross 1st Class awards); in the case of the Pour le Mérite, the back of the medal also has blue enamel on it and any attempt to etch something on it might have resulted in shattering the enamel on the "badge" of the award.

Peter Kilduff

(Paperback edition of Red Baron - Life and Death of an Ace now available)

FliegerJG1 · 5 February 2009, 02:03 PM

What do the museum people expect to accomplish if testing could destroy the medal? It would be better to leave it as is since there's no way to know who has owned it. The newspaper story has a comment box at the bottom....in case anyone has any feedback for them.

FliegerJG1

Laserlloyd · 5 February 2009, 02:45 PM

Hi Peter:

I got the number thing from this web site.
The Godet made Pour le Mérite

This is where I got the information that it they were numbered.

Lloyd...