Albrecht Kesselring Biography

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

Appointed Captain

Appointed Commander in the Reichswehr

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

Appointed Commander of the 4th Artillery Regiment

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

Helps create the administrative and training infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Helps create the infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Appointed Major General for to create the infrastructure of the Luftwaffe

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 3

Appointed General of the Airforce

Creates the Paratroop Arm of the Luftwaffe

Creates the Paratroop Arm of the Luftwaffe

Creates the paratroop arm of the Luftwaffe

Appointed Chief-of General Staff of the Luftwaffe

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 1, based in Berlin

Commands Lufftflotte 1 which provides most of the air support

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

Responsible for Luftwaffe operations against Britain and the west

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 2 in the west

Appointed Commander Luftflotte 2 in the west

July, appointed General Field Marshal

Responsible for the air war against Britain & the west

Sets up a wirless intercept system to hear RAF messages

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

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

Suports the German 6th Army in Flanders

Suports the German 6th Army in Flanders

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

The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk

The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk

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

Appointed General Field Marshal

Directs Luftflotte 2 operations against southern Britain.

Supports attacks on Channel shipping during the opening phase.

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

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

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

Commands major Luftwaffe formations during Eagle Day.

Luftflotte 2 attacks targets across south-east England.

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

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

Ordered to provide air support for Army Group Centre under von Bock

Ordered to provide air support for Army Group Centre under von Bock

Kesselrings concentration of Luftflotte is completed. In the 1st raid 2,500 enemy aircraft are destroyed

Provides air support for Guderians panzer groups

Responsible for land & air forces & keeping Italy in the war

Orders heavy bombing of Malta because of its strategic importance to the British

Appointed Commander in Chief, South

Appointed Commander in Chief, South

At the last moment Hitler decides to cancel Operation Hercules

Arrives at Rommels HQ & reluctantly agrees to his continuation into Egypt

The Allies invade Algeria & Tunisia

Moves HQ to Sicily for an Allied invasion

Commands 8 German Divisions in Italy against the Allied invasion

Launches the German counterattacks after the Allied landings at Salerno

Drives the British back to Molina Pass after the Allied invasion at Salerno

Defends the Gustav line from Minturno to Cassino

Forced to withdraw 15 miles north of the Volturno Line

Appointed Supreme Axis Commander in Italy

Appointed Supreme Axis Commander in Italy

Appointed Commander in Chief, West

Appointed Commander in Chief, West

Patton crosses the Rhine at Oppenheim

Kesselring's remaining forces pass into American custody as German resistance collapses.

Surrenders to the Americans

The death sentence is later commuted to life. Sentenced to death by a British Military Court for shooting 335 Italian civilians

Pardoned & freed