Albert Kesselring
| Albert Kesselring | |
|---|---|
Kesselring wearing his Knight's Cross in 1940
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Smiling Albert Uncle Albert |
| Born |
30 November 1885 Marktsteft, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire |
| Died | 16 July 1960 (aged 74) Bad Nauheim, Hessen, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) |
| Service/branch |
Bavarian Army (1904–22) Reichsheer (1922–33) Luftwaffe (1933–45) |
| Years of service | 1904–45 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held |
Luftflotte 1 Luftflotte 2 OB South Army Group C OB West |
| Battles/wars |
See battles
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds |
Albert Kesselring (30 November 1885 – 16 July 1960) was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, and one of the most highly decorated, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Nicknamed "Smiling Albert" by the Allies and "Uncle Albert" by his troops, he was one of the most popular generals of World War II with the .
Kesselring joined the Bavarian Army as an officer cadet in 1904, and served in the artillery branch. He completed training as a balloon observer in 1912. During World War I, he served on both the Western and Eastern fronts and was posted to the General Staff, despite not having attended the War Academy. Kesselring remained in the Army after the war but was discharged in 1933 to become head of the Department of Administration at the Reich Commissariat for Aviation, where he was involved in the re-establishment of the aviation industry and the laying of the foundations for the Luftwaffe, serving as its chief of staff from 1936 to 1938.
During World War II he commanded air forces in the invasions of Poland and France, the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa. As Commander-in-Chief South, he was overall German commander in the Mediterranean theatre, which included the operations in North Africa. Kesselring conducted an uncompromising defensive campaign against the Allied forces in Italy until he was injured in an accident in October 1944. In the final campaign of the war, he commanded German forces on the Western Front. He won the respect of his Allied opponents for his military accomplishments, but his record was marred by massacres committed by troops under his command in Italy.
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