Langage

1917 — Lot of 6 issues of Germany's first published aviation magazine, Der Flieger, published by the founder Kurt Tucholsky during the Great War, these issues featuring flying aces such as the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen and leading tactical pioneer of aerial formations Oswald Boelcke, and notable events taking place in the air and on the frontlines of the Great War. Octavo. Illustrated field newspapers, issues number 19, 22, 23, 34 from 1917, issue number 29 dated May 1918, and issue number 1 dated October 1918 Text is in German. Magazines vary slightly in size, the smallest measuring approximately 26 x 35 cm and the largest measuring approximately 27 x 38 cm. Some chips and small tear at extremities, otherwise in very good condition, nicely preserved. Der Flieger was published by Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935), who became one of the most important journalists of the Weimar Republic. Der Flieger was a field newspaper, now remembered as the oldest German aviation monthly periodical. From 1915 to 1917 Tucholsky served in the artillery flying school East I in Alt-Autz. From 26 November 1916 to November 1918 he published the field newspaper Der Flieger. Tucholsky was one of the most important journalists of the Weimar Republic Early issues of Der Flieger are exceedingly scarce. The present lot features Richthofen's 75th victory described by one of the very first men with whom Richthofen shared the details only two hours after the bold action, not long before he lost his own life in combat, an account of how in 1916 Oswald Boelcke earned the award "Pour le Mérite" along with Max Immelmann, an aviator's aerial view of Verdun shortly after the great battle of 1917, and more. Richthofen's 75th victory, a most notable attack which earned him a prestigious chivalry award, is recounted by one of the very first men who heard the details firsthand from the gallant aviator himself - only a couple of hours after the incident. Flying Ace Manfred von Richthofen, the famed Red Baron, is featured in the issue of 12 May 2018 with an article titled "Wie Richthofen seinen 75. abschoß [How Richthofen Shot Down his 75th." Richthofen had died in air combat only six weeks earlier on 21 April 1918, being the highest-scoring ace of the war, eventually being credited with 80 official victories. The account is written by a Lieutenant Lampel, who had only just met the famous ace for the first time on 2 April 1918. Only a couple of hours earlier Richthofen had claimed his 75th victory, by taking the lives of 19-year-old Second Lieutenant E.D. Jones and Second Lieutenant R.F. Newton. Flying ace Oswald Boelcke is featured with a portrait sketch on the front of the October 1918 issue, which is followed by an article describing the event that earned him the prestigious award "Pour le Mérite" being the second Great War aviator to receive the honor, immediately after and on the same day as Max Immelmann. Published for German aviators and frontline fighters alike, the issues center on matters timely and relevant to those who were directly involved in the monarch's scheme for economic and political domination of central Europe and the creation of a German colonial empire.