Letter from Albert Ball's father to Richthofen's mother

[Gman]

In R.v. Italiaander's book "Richthofen" (1938) the author decribes a visit to the Richthofen Museum in Schweidnitz.
In Lothar's trophy room is a letter displayed written by Albert Ball's father to Freifrau von Richthofen.
Unfortunately he does not mention anything about its contents.

Does anybody have any information on this?

What could the father of a killed son possible write to the mother of his son's
killer? Since she displayed it next to his decorations I can't imagine any blame...

[bristol scout]

"What could the father of a killed son possible write to the mother of his son's
killer? Since she displayed it next to his decorations I can't imagine any blame..."

Hi Gman,

The letter COULD have said that there was not one shred of evidence proving that LvR killed Ball

Sorry, but there it is.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Gman]

Originally Posted by bristol scout

"What could the father of a killed son possible write to the mother of his son's
killer? Since she displayed it next to his decorations I can't imagine any blame..."

Hi Gman,

The letter COULD have said that there was not one shred of evidence proving that LvR killed Ball

Sorry, but there it is.

Cheers,
Dave.

Possible, but unlikely.
Why would a letter with such contens be displayed by LvR's mother?
I don't think he would write to argue that point - after all what could Freifrau Richthofen do about it?
Most likely it was something compassionate, maybe the shared sorrow of parents having lost sons...
As long as we don't know we are free to imagine.

[redintheskies]

Originally Posted by Gman

Possible, but unlikely.
Why would a letter with such contens be displayed by LvR's mother?
I don't think he would write to argue that point - after all what could Freifrau Richthofen do about it?
Most likely it was something compassionate, maybe the shared sorrow of parents having lost sons...
As long as we don't know we are free to imagine.

agreed. however, as has been said, it is proven that ball was NOT killed by lothar von richthofen, although the latter was credited with the victory.

[Manfred von Richthofen HU]

thats interesting... but i read another letter which was written by Manfred and sent to one of Kurt Wolffs victim wife!(To England)

[Epee]

One of the interesting traits of that age which contributes greatly to the perception of WW1 fliers as "Knights of the Air" was the lack of, or the overcoming of, animosity toward the "enemy" once the fight was over.

Born in an age when civilized (I know that's not a PC term so sue me) nations persued their interests with the use of military force it was only natural that a mechanism to develop that allowed for quickly mending fences once the issue was settled; demonizing the opponent only made this harder.

Perhaps the most depressing thing about WW1 was that it was not fought so much for idealistic reasons but was "business as usual" as far as European states were concerned, not so much that someone started it but that no one tried very hard to stop it. This is the ugly side of the same coin that spawned "honorable" treatment of a defeated foe.

[bristol scout]

"honorable" treatment of a defeated foe."

Yes Epee---amongst German individuals, of course. But as a German military (impossible to talk of 'political' of course----it was entirely subservient) policy the very opposite wa true--and typical.

I have posted the 'surrender' terms imposed on Russia, at Brest Litovsk on March 3rd. 1918, here before, and draconian hardly fits the bill.

The 'treaty' of Bucharest in May 1918 rubber stamped how Germany dealt with a "defeated foe" and was equally ------ well, Harsh is a real understatement.

Cheers,
Dave.

[redintheskies]

Originally Posted by Epee

One of the interesting traits of that age which contributes greatly to the perception of WW1 fliers as "Knights of the Air" was the lack of, or the overcoming of, animosity toward the "enemy" once the fight was over.

Born in an age when civilized (I know that's not a PC term so sue me) nations persued their interests with the use of military force it was only natural that a mechanism to develop that allowed for quickly mending fences once the issue was settled; demonizing the opponent only made this harder.

Perhaps the most depressing thing about WW1 was that it was not fought so much for idealistic reasons but was "business as usual" as far as European states were concerned, not so much that someone started it but that no one tried very hard to stop it. This is the ugly side of the same coin that spawned "honorable" treatment of a defeated foe.

how true. and most had been used as pawns in what had been described as a "family fight". most sovereigns were related to 1 another, i.e. the kaiser to the tsar and his wife, the king of england to king of denmark and to germany, etc. it's all intertwined.

i like how they started aviation during the war: a wave to the enemy and off you go. it was honorable for most pilots, like knights, as you've said. there seemed to be a code behind it.

[frontflieger]

Originally Posted by Gman

Unfortunately he does not mention anything about its contents.

Does anybody have any information on this?

You will have to read the following book (the first of the rare Lothar-Biographies):

"Der Kampfflieger Lothar von Richthofen" written by O. Schweckendiek in 1938

As far as I remember the book contains the letter.

Thorsten

[redintheskies]

Originally Posted by frontflieger

You will have to read the following book (the first of the rare Lothar-Biographies):

"Der Kampfflieger Lothar von Richthofen" written by O. Schweckendiek in 1938

As far as I remember the book contains the letter.

Thorsten

did not know the book existed. thank you!