Manfred von Brauchitsch: Difference between revisions

Manfred von Brauchitsch
Manfred von Brauchitsch
	Von Brauchitsch in 1937
Born	15 August 1905; Hamburg, Germany
Died	5 February 2003 (aged 97); Gräfenwarth, Schleiz, Germany
Occupation	Racing driver

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Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch (15 August 1905 – 5 February 2003) was a German auto racing driver who drove for Mercedes-Benz in the famous "Silver Arrows" of Grand Prix motor racing in the 1930s.

Racing career

Brauchitsch won three Grands Prix - the 1934 ADAC Eifelrennen which saw the first appearance of Silver Arrows Mercedes Race cars, the 1937 Monaco Grand Prix (considered his greatest victory), and the 1938 French Grand Prix. His fastest lap in the 1937 Monaco race (1 minute 46.5 seconds, 11.9 seconds faster than the old record lap) set a record that stood for 18 years.

He was twice runner-up in the European Championship, in 1937 and 1938, and finished third in 1935.

He was noted for his red helmet and his bad luck, losing a number of other Grands Prix when he was on the very verge of winning (no less than five, by some counts). His most famous loss was the 1935 German Grand Prix, when a tire blew while he was leading the last lap, handing victory to Tazio Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo in one of the latter's most famous victories - one of the only times during the reign of the Silver Arrows when a Grand Prix was won by a car other than a Mercedes or Auto Union.

Personal life

Brauchitsch was born in Hamburg, of an old military family (his uncle was the World War II general Walther von Brauchitsch). He had a brother, Harald.^[1] He entered the German Reichswehr after World War I, but after a serious accident he was invalided out in 1928. Due to his many racing injuries, he was rejected for military service in World War II. While working during the war, he met his first wife, Gisela. He became a member of the National Socialist Motor Corps, in which he held the rank of Sturmführer.

Following World War II, being the son and nephew of military officers was not of much practical use in West Germany. After several failed businesses, Brauchitsch contacted Caracciola, who gave him contacts in South America. Unable to settle there, he returned to West Germany embittered and became a target for the communists of East Germany. Again unable to settle, he returned to West Germany, where he was arrested and charged with espionage. In 1951, he was jailed and then released on bail.^{[citation needed]}

During a bail period in 1955, Brauchitsch defected to East Germany; after his wife Gisela committed suicide a year earlier. He was put in charge of the East German national motor sport organisation, as well as becoming president of its movement to promote the Olympic ideal. The latter led to his being awarded the Olympic Order in 1988 by the International Olympic Committee.^[2]

Brauchitsch later remarried, to Lieselotte, and they were permitted to visit West Germany occasionally. Following the death of Hermann Lang in 1987, Brauchitsch was regarded as the last surviving member of the pre-war "Silver Arrow" drivers. He died in Gräfenwarth in 2003.

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, * denotes a shared drive)

Year	Entrant	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	EDC	Points
1935	Daimler-Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz	MON Ret	FRA 2	BEL 2 *	GER 5	SUI Ret	ITA Ret	ESP 3	3	34
1936	Daimler-Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz	MON Ret	GER 7	SUI Ret	ITA				10=	24
1937	Daimler-Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz	BEL Ret	GER 2	MON 1	SUI 3	ITA Ret			2	15
1938	Daimler-Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz	FRA 1	GER Ret	SUI 3	ITA 3 *				2	15
1939	Daimler-Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz	BEL 3	FRA Ret	GER Ret	SUI 3				4=	19

References

^ Oliver Rathkolb and John Heath (trans.) "Baldur von Schirach: Nazi Leader and Head of the Hitler Youth", 2022. ISBN 9781399020961
^ "Manfred von Brauchitsch - Obituaries, News - the Independent". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

External links

Obituary in The Guardian
Die Silberpfeile - Manfred von Brauchitsch Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
Gentleman aces
Manfred von Brauchitsch

[Rathkolb-1] Oliver Rathkolb and John Heath (trans.) "Baldur von Schirach: Nazi Leader and Head of the Hitler Youth", 2022. ISBN 9781399020961

[2] "Manfred von Brauchitsch - Obituaries, News - the Independent". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Unreferenced|date=June 2019}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
+{{short description|German racing driver (1905–2003)}}
 {{Infobox person
-| name   = Manfred von Brauchitsch
+| name        = Manfred von Brauchitsch
-| image     = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-11500-1700, Manfred von Brauchitsch.jpg
+| image       = Manfred von Brauchitsch victorieux à Monaco en 1937.jpg
-| image_size     = 180px
+| image_upright = 0.9
-| caption  = Manfred von Brauchitsch in 1951.
+| caption     = Von Brauchitsch in 1937
 | birth_date  = {{birth date|1905|8|15|df=y}}
-| birth_place = [[Hamburg]], [[German Empire|Germany]]
+| birth_place = [[Hamburg]], Germany
 | death_date  = {{Death date and age|2003|2|5|1905|8|15|df=y}}
-| death_place = [[Gräfenwarth]], [[Schleiz]], [[Germany]]
+| death_place = Gräfenwarth, [[Schleiz]], Germany
-| occupation     = Racing driver
+| occupation  = Racing driver
 }}
-[[Image:Brauchitsch, Manfred von - 1986 im Mercedes-Benz K.jpg|thumb|240px|Manfred von Brauchitsch in 1986 with Mercedes-Benz K.]]
+[[Image:Brauchitsch, Manfred von - 1986 im Mercedes-Benz S.jpg|thumb|Manfred von Brauchitsch in 1986 with Mercedes-Benz K]]
-'''Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch''' (15 August 1905 &ndash; 5 February 2003) was a [[Germany|German]] [[auto racing]] driver who drove for [[Mercedes-Benz]] in the famous "[[Silver Arrows]]" of [[Grand Prix motor racing]] in the 1930s.
+'''Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch''' (15 August 1905 &ndash; 5 February 2003) was a German [[auto racing]] driver who drove for [[Mercedes-Benz]] in the famous "[[Silver Arrows]]" of [[Grand Prix motor racing]] in the 1930s.
-Although an excellent driver who had reasonable success, he struggled with bad luck, and was overshadowed by his more successful Mercedes-Benz teammates [[Rudolf Caracciola]] and [[Hermann Lang]].
 == Racing career ==
 Brauchitsch won three Grands Prix - the 1934 [[ADAC]] [[Eifelrennen]] which saw the first appearance of [[Silver Arrows]] Mercedes Race cars, the 1937 [[Monaco Grand Prix]] (considered his greatest victory), and the 1938 [[French Grand Prix]]. His fastest lap in the 1937 Monaco race (1 minute 46.5 seconds, 11.9 seconds faster than the old record lap) set a record that stood for 18 years.
-[[File:Daimle-Benz AG, 1937.JPG|thumb|right|[[1937 Donington Grand Prix]]]]
+[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-11500-1700, Manfred von Brauchitsch.jpg|thumb|right|Von Brauchitsch in 1951]]
-He was twice runner-up in the [[European Championship (auto racing)|European Championship]], in 1937 and 1938, and finished third in 1939.
+He was twice runner-up in the [[European Championship (auto racing)|European Championship]], in 1937 and 1938, and finished third in 1935.
-He was noted for his red helmet and his bad luck, losing a number of other Grands Prix when he was on the very verge of winning (no less than five, by some counts). His most famous loss was the 1935 [[German Grand Prix]], when a tire blew while he was leading the last lap, handing victory to [[Tazio Nuvolari]] in an [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]] in one of the latter's most famous victories - the only time during the reign of the Silver Arrows when a Grand Prix was won by a car other than a Mercedes or [[Auto Union]].
+He was noted for his red helmet and his bad luck, losing a number of other Grands Prix when he was on the very verge of winning (no less than five, by some counts). His most famous loss was the 1935 [[German Grand Prix]], when a tire blew while he was leading the last lap, handing victory to [[Tazio Nuvolari]] in an [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]] in one of the latter's most famous victories - one of the only times during the reign of the Silver Arrows when a Grand Prix was won by a car other than a Mercedes or [[Auto Union]].
 == Personal life ==
-Brauchitsch was born in [[Hamburg]], of an old military family (his uncle was the famous [[World War II]] general [[Walther von Brauchitsch]]). He entered the German [[Reichswehr]] after [[World War I]], but after a serious accident he was invalided out in 1928. Due to his many racing injuries, he was rejected for military service in World War II. While working during the war, he met his first wife, Gisela. He became a member of the [[National Socialist Motor Corps]], in which he held the rank of ''[[Sturmführer]]''.
+Brauchitsch was born in [[Hamburg]], of an old military family (his uncle was the [[World War II]] general [[Walther von Brauchitsch]]). He had a brother, Harald.<ref name="Rathkolb">[[Oliver Rathkolb]] and John Heath (trans.) "Baldur von Schirach: Nazi Leader and Head of the Hitler Youth", 2022. {{ISBN|9781399020961}}</ref> He entered the German [[Reichswehr]] after [[World War I]], but after a serious accident he was invalided out in 1928. Due to his many racing injuries, he was rejected for military service in World War II. While working during the war, he met his first wife, Gisela. He became a member of the [[National Socialist Motor Corps]], in which he held the rank of ''[[Sturmführer]]''.
-Following World War II, being the son and nephew of military officers was not of much practical use in [[West Germany]]. After several failed businesses, Brauchitsch contacted Caracciola, who gave him contacts in South America. Unable to settle there, he returned to West Germany embittered and became a target for the communists of [[East Germany]]. Again unable to settle, he returned to West Germany, where he was arrested and charged with [[espionage]]. In 1951, he was jailed and then released on bail.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}
+Following World War II, being the son and nephew of military officers was not of much practical use in [[West Germany]]. After several failed businesses, Brauchitsch contacted [[Rudolf Caracciola|Caracciola]], who gave him contacts in South America. Unable to settle there, he returned to West Germany embittered and became a target for the communists of [[East Germany]]. Again unable to settle, he returned to West Germany, where he was arrested and charged with [[espionage]]. In 1951, he was jailed and then released on bail.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}
-During a bail period in 1955, Brauchitsch defected to [[East Germany]]; his wife Gisela committed suicide a year later. He was put in charge of the East German national motor sport organisation, as well as becoming president of its movement to promote the Olympic ideal. The latter led to his being awarded the [[Olympic Order]] in 1988 by the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/manfred-von-brauchitsch-730055.html] {{dead link|date=June 2019}}</ref>
+During a bail period in 1955, Brauchitsch defected to [[East Germany]]; after his wife Gisela committed suicide a year earlier. He was put in charge of the East German national motor sport organisation, as well as becoming president of its movement to promote the Olympic ideal. The latter led to his being awarded the [[Olympic Order]] in 1988 by the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/manfred-von-brauchitsch-730055.html |title=Manfred von Brauchitsch - Obituaries, News - the Independent |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |access-date=4 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424053237/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/manfred-von-brauchitsch-730055.html |archive-date=24 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 Brauchitsch later remarried, to Lieselotte, and they were permitted to visit West Germany occasionally. Following the death of [[Hermann Lang]] in 1987, Brauchitsch was regarded as the last surviving member of the pre-war "Silver Arrow" drivers. He died in [[Schleiz|Gräfenwarth]] in 2003.
@@ Line 36: / Line 35: @@
 == Complete European Championship results ==
 ([[:Template:EC driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position, * denotes a shared drive)
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
 ! Year
 ! Entrant
@@ Line 45: / Line 44: @@
 ! 4
 ! 5
+! 6
+! 7
 ! EDC
 ! Points
 |-
 | [[1935 Grand Prix season|1935]]
-! [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
+!nowrap| [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
-! [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+!nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+| style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[1935 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
+| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1935 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>2</small>
 | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1935 Belgian Grand Prix|''BEL'']]<br /><small>2 * </small>
 | style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1935 German Grand Prix|''GER'']]<br /><small>5</small>
@@ Line 56: / Line 59: @@
 | style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1935 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1935 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>3</small>
+| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3
-! 5=
+| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 34
-! 25
 |-
 | [[1936 Grand Prix season|1936]]
-! [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
+!nowrap| [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
-! [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+!nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
 | style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[1936 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1936 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>7</small>
 | style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1936 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | [[1936 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small></small>
+|
+|
 |
 ! 10=
@@ Line 71: / Line 76: @@
 |-
 | [[1937 Grand Prix season|1937]]
-! [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
+!nowrap| [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
-! [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+!nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
 | style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1937 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1937 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
@@ Line 78: / Line 83: @@
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1937 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br /><small>3</small>
 | style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1937 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
+|
+|
 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2'''
 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''15'''
 |-
 | [[1938 Grand Prix season|1938]]
-! [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
+!nowrap| [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
-! [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+!nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
 | style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1938 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>1</small>
 | style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''[[1938 German Grand Prix|GER]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1938 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br /><small>3</small>
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1938 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>3 *</small>
+|
+|
 |
 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2'''
@@ Line 93: / Line 102: @@
 |-
 | [[1939 Grand Prix season|1939]]
-! [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
+!nowrap| [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler-Benz AG]]
-! [[Mercedes-Benz]]
+!nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1939 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>3</small>
 | style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1939 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[1939 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
 | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1939 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br /><small>3</small>
+|
+|
 |
 ! 4=
@@ Line 109: / Line 120: @@
 == Further reading ==
+<!-- last updated November 2021 -->
+{{refbegin}}
-* Chris Nixon, ''Racing the Silver Arrows: Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939'' (Osprey, London, 1986) pp.&nbsp;82–91
+* {{cite book |last1=Landenberger |first1=Dieter |title=Manfred von Brauchitsch: Kampf und Sieg im Silberpfeil |trans-title=Manfred von Brauchitsch: Fight and Victory in the Silver Arrow |date=2005 |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |location=Stuttgart |isbn=3613025744 |ref=Manfred von Brauchitsch: Fight and victory in the Silver Arrow}}
+* Nixon, Chris. ''Racing the Silver Arrows: Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939'' (Osprey, London, 1986) pp.&nbsp;82–91
+* {{Nixon-RSA-rev |author-mask=6}}
+{{refend}}
 == External links ==
+{{cc}}
 * [https://www.theguardian.com/germany/article/0,2763,891449,00.html Obituary] in ''[[The Guardian]]''
-* [http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/brauch.htm Die Silberpfeile - Manfred von Brauchitsch]
+* [http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/brauch.htm Die Silberpfeile - Manfred von Brauchitsch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091910/http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/brauch.htm |date=29 September 2007 }}
 * [http://8w.forix.com/brauchitsch-hasse.html Gentleman aces]
 * [http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns07734.html Manfred von Brauchitsch]
@@ Line 125: / Line 141: @@
 [[Category:1905 births]]
 [[Category:2003 deaths]]
-[[Category:Sportspeople from Hamburg]]
 [[Category:German racing drivers]]
 [[Category:Grand Prix drivers]]
@@ Line 132: / Line 147: @@
 [[Category:West German spies for East Germany]]
 [[Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit]]
-[[Category:Recipients of the Star of People's Friendship]]
 [[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
+[[Category:European Championship drivers]]
+[[Category:Racing drivers from Hamburg]]

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