Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring | |
|---|---|
 Albert Kesselring | |
| Nickname(s) | Smiling Albert |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1904-1945 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held | 1st Air Fleet, 2nd Air Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds |
What is a soldier without an order? A soldier who does not follow an order can no longer be called a soldier.[1]' -Albert Kesselring in A Soldier's Record '
Biography
Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed "Smiling Albert" or "Smiling Kesselring".
At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8 1881 [2]. However, many printed sources claim that Kesselring was born 30 November 1885.[3]. [4], as stated in his memoirs, in Marktsteft in Bavaria, Germany as the son of a schoolmaster.
Pre-World War II service
He joined the German Army in 1904, becoming an officer cadet in the 2nd Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiment at Metz. In 1907 he received his commission as Leutnant (Second Lieutenant). He served on various divisional and corps staffs in World War I, most notably as a balloon observer for the German Army Air Service, where he became good friends with his future boss Hermann Göring. After various staff and troop assignments, in which he was eventually promoted to the rank of Brigadegeneral (Major General) in 1932, he was assigned as administrative chief to the Reich Air Ministry the next year. Kesselring remained in this position until June of 1936, when he was assigned as Chief of Staff of the Luftwaffe (German Air Forces) by then Reichsluftfahrtminister (overall Chief of the Luftwaffe) Göring.[5]
World War II service
1939-1940: Western Europe
In the Polish campaign, Kesselring commanded the 1st Air Fleet. It was during this first action of the war that the short range bombing techniques were begun. In 1940, he commanded the 2nd Air Fleet in France. During the Battle of Britain, he almost succeeded in defeating the RAF.
1941-1943: The Mediterranean and North Africa
In December 1941, Kesselring was appointed Commander-in-Chief South with command of all Luftwaffe units in the Mediterranean and North African theaters. In the final days of 1942, he advised Hitler to ensure that Tunisia was made a bridging point for the army, but this proved disastrous as a major Army Group was captured there in May of 1943. [6]
1943-1945: The Italian Campaign and Final Days
In late 1943 he was redesignated as Commander-in-Chief Southwest with nominal command of all German armed forces in Italy, where he led a twenty-month-long campaign of defense up the peninsula against the rebelling population and Allied army, committing horrible massacres among civilians and Partisans (Marzabotto, Ardeatine). Despite the suffering inflicted on the Italian people, Kesselring strove to avoid the physical destruction of many artistically important Italian cities, including Rome, Florence, Siena and Orvieto. He also tried to preserve the monastery of Monte Cassino, but was unsuccessful; it was completely destroyed before Monte Cassino fell on May 19th, 1944. Kesselring was transferred to Germany as Commander-in-Chief West in March 1945. On 29 April 1945, General Heinrich von Vietinghoff-Scheel, Commander of Army Group Southwest, signed the unconditional surrender of all German troops in Italy at the Royal Palace in Caserta. The surrender was to take effect on 2 May.
On 30 April, Hitler had committed suicide in Berlin. On 1 May, Karl Dönitz was designated German President (Reichspräsident) and the Flensburg government was created. One of new President's first acts was the appointment of Kesselring as Commander-in-Chief of Southern Germany. He was taken prisoner at Saalfelden on 6 May 1945.
Post-War trial and life after
In 1947, the Allies tried him for the shootings of civilians by troops under his command, as reprisal for attacks by Italian partisans, during the Italian campaign. He was charged in particular with the shooting of 335 Italian citizens, partly partisans, mostly civilians, in reprisal of the attack of Via Rasella in Rome, in which 33 German soldiers were killed (the Ardeatine massacre). He was found guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad. In his memoirs, Kesselring claims that many of these shootings were carried out by communist partisans in German uniforms, while others were carried out by the SS, over which he claims he had no authority.
The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Kesselring was released from prison in 1952 in consideration of his ill health.
His memoirs, printed in 1953, were entitled Soldat bis zum letzten Tag (A Soldier To The Last Day), and were reprinted in English as A Soldier's Record a year later. In an introduction to the English version, S.L.A. Marshall, Chief Historian of the European theater of World War II, portrays Kesselring as a man who "could not turn like the men of July 20, twist like Rommel, retire to his tent like Rundstedt or blow hot and cold like Guderian. His task was the fighting of the battle. His view of duty was to stay the course." [7]
He died at Bad Nauheim, West Germany, in 1960 at the age of 79.
See also
Notes
- ^ Kesselring, Albert (1970). A Soldier's Record. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0837129753.
- ^ http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERkesselring.htm
- ^ Dear, I.C.B., Editor. (2002). The Oxford Companion to World War II. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198604467.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Albert Kesselring". Britannica Online. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ John Simkin. "Albert Kesselring". Spartacus Online. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ Magill, Frank N. (2001). Magill's Guide to Military History. Salem Press.
- ^ Kesselring, Albert (1970). A Soldier's Record. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0837129753.
Sentence of the trial: http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/WCC/kesselring.htm
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