Manfred von Richthofen

As a little boy of eleven I entered the Cadet Corps. I was not particularly eager to become a Cadet, but my…

— Manfred von Richthofen

What's the hurry? Are you afraid I won't come back?

— Manfred von Richthofen

English had hit upon a splendid joke. The intended to catch me or to bring me down.

— Manfred von Richthofen

Of course no one thought of anything except of attacking the enemy. It lies in the instinct of every German to rush…

— Manfred von Richthofen

We convinced him quickly that the possibility of war was absolutely nil and continued our festivity. On the next day we were…

— Manfred von Richthofen

Of course, with the increasing number of aeroplanes one gains increased opportunities for shooting down one's enemies, but at the same time,…

— Manfred von Richthofen

One can become enthusiastic over anything. For a time I was delighted with bomb throwing. It gave me a tremendous pleasure to…

— Manfred von Richthofen

I have had an experience which might perhaps be described as being shot down. At the same time, I call shot down…

— Manfred von Richthofen

I started shooting when I was much too far away. That was merely a trick of mine. I did not mean so…

— Manfred von Richthofen

Now I am within thirty yards of him. He must fall. The gun pours out its stream of lead. Then it jams.…

— Manfred von Richthofen

It is a pity that my collection of trophies contains not a single Russian.

— Manfred von Richthofen

Everything depends on whether we have for opponents those French tricksters or those daring rascals, the English. I prefer the English. Frequently…

— Manfred von Richthofen

I honored the fallen enemy by placing a stone on his beautiful grave.

— Manfred von Richthofen

There were sometimes from forty to sixty English machines, but unfortunately the Germans were often in the minority. With them quality was…

— Manfred von Richthofen

All the papers contained nothing but fantastic stories about the war. However, for several months we had been accustomed to war talk.…

— Manfred von Richthofen

The murder of a man is still murder, even in wartime.

— Manfred von Richthofen

The aggressive spirit, the offensive, is the chief thing everywhere in war, and the air is no exception.

— Manfred von Richthofen

Find the enemy and shoot him down. Anything else is nonsense.

— Manfred von Richthofen

It is better that one's customers come to one's shop than to have to look for them abroad.

— Manfred von Richthofen

The quality of the box matters little. Success depends upon the man who sits in it.

— Manfred von Richthofen

If I should come out of this war alive, I will have more luck than brains.

— Manfred von Richthofen

Sometimes, however, the Gaelic blood asserts itself. The Frenchmen will then attack. But the French attacking spirit is like bottled lemonade. It…

— Manfred von Richthofen

The important thing in aeroplanes is that they shall be speedy.

— Manfred von Richthofen

In the heat of the Russian summer a sleeping car is the most horrible instrument of martyrdom imaginable.

— Manfred von Richthofen

Whatever Boelcke told us was taken as Gospel!

— Manfred von Richthofen