I don’t know how much of the legend of the Red Baron is true and how much is... uh... enhanced, but that’s probably true of most great historical figures. It’s basically true even if certain parts are a bit more polished than the reality.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with telling the story, and from a German viewpoint. Hitler may have been a sadistic murdering madman, but he had some real honest heroes working for him. Along with the ones that were just as cruel as he was.
Just as there’s nothing wrong with admiring Rommel for his role and place in history. Certainly a great general and tactical mind. He was merely playing for the wrong team.
Inasmuch as Manfred Von Richtofen fought, and died, in WWI, when the late, and largely unlamented Herr Hitler was a mere corporal, it's difficult to say That Rittmeister Von Richtofen worked for the aforementioned Hitler goon. One of Von Richtofen's compatriots, however, did end up working for Hitler, and that was Hermann Goering...
the infowarrior
Rommel ignored and would not enforce Hitler’s “Commando Order” which decreed that Allied commandos and paratroops captured behind the lines were to summarily executed, even if they were in full uniform. Most other of the German generals fighting in the West ignored it as well but Rommel was pretty open in his defiance, and the order was eventually rescinded.
Most of Rommel's numerous writings and letters have survived, and really tell a story about the man.
Some flaws of his might have been naivety towards Hitler and politics, but he changed in time and learned.
He would have negotiated with the allies if possible, while trying to stop the Soviets.
He wouldn't let his son join the SS, he signed an agreement with Hitler to always be faithful to him.
He did not want to follow strategic orders, similar to Patton.
***Just as there’s nothing wrong with admiring Rommel for his role and place in history. Certainly a great general and tactical mind. He was merely playing for the wrong team.***
The thing about the Baron is that he was by all accounts a fine young man, but mostly what makes him a legend is simply the kill count: 80 kills is a huge number, and only a few men have ever bested it, although some that did (such as Eric Hartmann) did so by a very large amount. But even some of the best fighter pilots who ever put on a helmet, guys like Saburo Sakai, Gabby Gabreski, Robin Olds...never got 80 kills.