Albrecht Kesselring Biography and Timeline

Birth of Albrecht Kesselring

Birth of Albrecht Kesselring, into a family of teachers, councillors & academics

Captain

Appointed Captain

Battery Commander

Appointed Commander in the Reichswehr

Major

Appointed Major, serves in the office of the Chief of the Army

Commander of 4th Artillery Reg

Appointed Commander of the 4th Artillery Regiment

Major

Transferred into the air force, at that time a defensive force

Luftwaffe

Helps create the administrative and training infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

Helps create the infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Major

Appointed Major General for to create the infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief-of General Staff of the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

Creates the Paratroop Arm of the Luftwaffe

Paratroopers

Creates the Paratroop Arm of the Luftwaffe

Paratroopers

Creates the paratroop arm of the Luftwaffe

Commander of Luftflotte 3

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 3

General

Appointed General of the Airforce

Commander of Luftflotte 1

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 1, based in Berlin

Invasion of Poland

Commands Lufftflotte 1 which provides most of the air support

Role range: 1939-1945

Medal

Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross for the invasion of Poland

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Yellow

The 6 Fliegerkorps of Luftflotte 2 & 3 begin the war in the west

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of River Meuse

Suports the German 6th Army in Flanders

Role range: 1939-1945

Sixth Army

Suports the German 6th Army in Flanders

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Yellow

Goering holds back the Army outside Dunkirk, Kesselring objects to this strategy

Role range: 1939-1945

Luftflotte Two Supports German Drive in Flanders

Kesselring's air fleet supports German armies attacking Allied positions across Belgium and Flanders.

Role range: 1939-1945

Evacuation

The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Dynamo

The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk

Role range: 1939-1945

Armistice

Meets the demands of Army Group B by providing support over the Somme & the Seine. Helps secure an armistice with France

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Directs Luftflotte 2 operations against southern Britain.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1941

Battle of Britain

Supports attacks on Channel shipping during the opening phase.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1941

General

Appointed General Field Marshal

Role range: 1939-1945

Eagle Day

The fighters are called back because of the bad weather & 8 bombers are lost. 1st of 4 days to destroy British air superiority over Britain

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Commands major Luftwaffe formations during Eagle Day.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1941

Battle of Britain

Luftflotte 2 attacks targets across south-east England.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1941

Operation Sea Lion

Kesselring is ordered to concentrate his forces in the Pas de Calais

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

The Kanalkampf comprises a series of running fights over convoys in the English Channel launched partly because Kesselring and Sperrle were not sure about what else to do, and partly because it gives German aircrews some training and a chance to probe the British defences

Role range: 1939-1945

Kanalkampf

The Kanalkampf comprises a series of running fights over convoys in the English Channel launched partly because Kesselring and Sperrle were not sure about what else to do, and partly because it gives German aircrews some training and a chance to probe the British defences

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Sea Lion

Goering arrives at Kesselrings HQ to take command of Operation Sea Lion

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of Luftflotte 2

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 2 in the west

General

July, appointed General Field Marshal

Battle of Britain

Responsible for Luftwaffe operations against Britain and the west

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of Luftflotte 2

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 2 in the west

Role range: 1939-1945