Editorial

Welcome to issue number eight of Iron Cross magazine, an issue which marks two years of what is absolutely the definitive German military history magazine.

To mark this significant milestone, the editorial team have done something a little different with this edition of the magazine and bring you a special publication which focusses on the life and exploits of arguably the most famous aviator of the First World War, if not perhaps one of the most famous aviators in history: Manfred von Richthofen. In addition, we look at myriad topics which are related directly to the story of the ‘Red Baron’.

In bringing you this special issue, we do so in the confident knowledge that we are presenting ‘new’ and previously unpublished or unknown and hidden aspects of the Richthofen narrative. Whilst a bold claim in terms of a man who is the most written about aviator of the First World War, if not in history, we make that unequivocal assertion in the certain knowledge that our content will fascinate and interest readers with what will surely be new discoveries for the majority on the subject of ‘Der Rote Flieger’.

Certainly, the story of Manfred von Richtofen is very often surrounded by myth, mystique, legend and misunderstanding. Then, throw into that volatile mix a fair degree of romantic fantasy - and not a little ‘fake’ history - and the task of objectively telling the story becomes somewhat more challenging! However, we believe that we have achieved just that by presenting a varied selection of feature articles by some of the world’s leading experts and specialists in their specific areas of knowledge.

Thus, we are proud to present to you a unique publication dedicated to the life, flying career and death of the ‘Red Baron’ - a magazine which also draws on the work of the three colourisation artists who help to make this splendid magazine what it is.

We hope you enjoy our special edition of Iron Cross and take this opportunity to thank our readership for their engaging enthusiasm and amazing support of the magazine across two exciting years, and especially across a full year which has been exceptionally challenging for everyone.

With the next issue, we return to our usual mix of high-quality German military history content, which spans both World Wars on land, at sea and in the air with material that, as ever, will be refreshingly ‘new’.

Be sure not to miss it!