Albert Kesselring

Albert Kesselring. A senior military commander in the Wehrmacht during World War II, he was one of only 27 soldiers to be promoted to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall. Initially a Luftwaffe commander, he later became a skilled defensive strategist, most notably during the prolonged Italian Campaign. After the war, he was convicted of war crimes but later released, and became a prominent figure in West Germany's veteran community.

Early life and career

Born in Marktsteft in the Kingdom of Bavaria, he joined the Imperial German Army in 1904, serving as an artillery officer. During World War I, he served on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, earning the prestigious Pour le Mérite in 1917. He remained in the scaled-down Reichswehr after the war, transferring to the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1933, where his administrative skills saw him rise rapidly under Hermann Göring.

World War II

At the outbreak of war, he commanded Luftflotte 1 during the Invasion of Poland and later Luftflotte 2 during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. His air fleet provided crucial support for Operation Barbarossa and the advance on Moscow. In late 1941, he was appointed Oberbefehlshaber Süd (Commander-in-Chief South), with overall responsibility for the Mediterranean theatre. He directed the Axis air war over Malta and the supply efforts to the Afrika Korps under Erwin Rommel. Following the Allied invasion of Sicily and subsequent landings in Italy, Kesselring commanded all German forces in the region. He orchestrated a tenacious series of defensive lines, including the Gustav Line and the Gothic Line, which slowed the Allied advance from Monte Cassino to the Po Valley for nearly two years. In March 1945, Adolf Hitler appointed him as the final Oberbefehlshaber West, succeeding Gerd von Rundstedt, to confront the final Allied invasion of Germany.

Post-war life and legacy

Captured by American troops in May 1945, he was tried by a British military court in Venice in 1947 for his role in the Ardeatine massacre and other atrocities. He was convicted and sentenced to death, a penalty later commuted to life imprisonment due to political pressure and advocacy from figures like Winston Churchill and Harold Alexander. Released from Landsberg Prison in 1952 on grounds of ill health, he became president of the veterans' association Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten. He published his memoirs and was a controversial apologist for the Wehrmacht's conduct, dying in Bad Nauheim in 1960. His legacy is that of a militarily proficient but morally compromised officer who served the Nazi regime with devastating effectiveness.

Awards and decorations

His highest award was the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, one of the highest military decorations of Nazi Germany. He received the Diamonds addition in 1944 for his command in Italy. Other significant honors included the Pour le Mérite from the First World War, the Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds, and the Wound Badge in Silver. He was also a recipient of the Order of the Crown of Italy and the Order of Michael the Brave.

In popular culture

Kesselring has been depicted in several films and television series focusing on the war. He appears in the 1970 film *Waterloo* and is a character in the 2011 Italian film *The Last Battle*. His command in Italy is frequently featured in documentary series such as those produced by the BBC and the History Channel. He is also a notable figure in numerous historical works by authors like Stephen E. Ambrose and is discussed in the context of the Wehrmacht's clean myth in post-war historiography.

Category:German military personnel of World War II Category:German field marshals Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds