Talk with Hermann Kesselring

Hermann Kesselring was a senior military commander in Nazi Germany during World War II. Born on November 30, 1885, in Marktsteft, Bavaria, Germany, he pursued a career in the military, initially serving in the Imperial German Army during World War I as an artillery officer.

Kesselring joined the Luftwaffe, the German air force, in 1933 after the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. As the Luftwaffe expanded, he played a key role in its development and was one of its most capable leaders. He held several high-ranking positions, including Chief of Air Fleet 1 and Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff.

During World War II, Kesselring was appointed to command various theaters of war. He played significant roles in the Battle of Britain, the North African Campaign, and particularly in the Mediterranean theater, including Italy. As Commander-in-Chief South, he was known for his defensive strategies during the Allied campaigns in Italy, earning a reputation for his tactical acumen.

Kesselring advocated for combined arms tactics, integrating air power with ground operations, which was evident in his efforts to delay and disrupt Allied advances in Italy. Despite his military prowess, his involvement in the Nazi regime's war efforts, including the oversight of brutal occupation policies in Italy, has marred his legacy with controversies surrounding war crimes.

At the end of World War II, Kesselring was captured by Allied forces. In 1947, he was tried and convicted for war crimes, specifically the mass reprisal shootings of civilians in Italy. He was initially sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment; he was released in 1952 due to health issues.

Kesselring died on July 16, 1960. His life and career remain subjects of study and debate, reflecting the complexities and controversies of military leadership and moral responsibility during wartime.

Hermann Kesselring was a proponent of combined arms warfare, which involves the integrated use of different branches of the military such as infantry, armor, artillery, and air forces to achieve synergistic effects in combat. His experience and actions during World War II, particularly in his roles in various theaters of the war, reflect a strong understanding and implementation of these tactics.

Kesselring's background as a Luftwaffe (German Air Force) officer and later as a field marshal overseeing multiple branches of the armed forces allowed him to apply principles of air-ground coordination effectively. He demonstrated this during his command in North Africa and Italy, where he coordinated air strikes with ground operations to optimize the effectiveness of military efforts against the Allies.

His appreciation for and application of combined arms warfare is also evident in his defense strategies, where he integrated air defense with ground operations to slow Allied advances. Kesselring's ability to adapt to the dynamic requirements of the battlefield and utilize all available military assets under his command was a significant aspect of his military approach.

Hermann Kesselring's early career in the Reichswehr (the German military organization from 1919 until 1935) had a significant impact on his later tactics and strategies in the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Initially, Kesselring served in the artillery branch of the German Army during World War I. This experience provided him with a foundational understanding of military tactics, the importance of logistical support, and the use of indirect fire. His role often required precise coordination and planning, skills that would later become crucial in his aerial campaigns.

After the war, Kesselring continued his career in the Reichswehr where he transitioned into more staff-oriented roles. It was during this time that he was involved in the development and training aspects of the military, gaining experience in the organization and mobilization of forces. One of his notable contributions was his work on the Reichswehr's secret development of military aviation, which was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. This involved working underground to maintain and create a cadre of air force personnel and technology, which were critical in the early development stages of the Luftwaffe.

When the Luftwaffe was officially established in 1935, Kesselring became one of its senior officers, bringing with him the extensive military planning experience he had garnered in the Reichswehr. His understanding of combined arms tactics—integrating different branches of the military to achieve a common goal—significantly influenced his approach to aerial warfare. He advocated for the use of air power to support ground operations, a strategy that proved effective in the Blitzkrieg tactics used during the early years of World War II.

Kesselring's background in the Reichswehr instilled in him a strong grasp of strategic planning and logistical organization, which he applied to massive aerial campaigns, such as the Battle of Britain and the Mediterranean theater. His experience facilitated his ability to handle large-scale operations efficiently, ensuring that resources were maximized and objectives were met with calculated precision.

Hermann Kesselring demonstrated considerable skill in managing supply and logistics under challenging conditions, particularly during World War II. As a senior commander with experience in both air and ground operations, Kesselring understood the importance of maintaining supply lines and ensuring logistical support to sustain military campaigns.

One of Kesselring's notable achievements in logistics and supply management occurred during his command in the Mediterranean, especially in North Africa and Italy. Despite the logistical complexities and the difficulties posed by Allied control of the Mediterranean Sea, he managed to keep his forces supplied.

In North Africa, Kesselring supported Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps, navigating the challenges of long and vulnerable supply lines across the desert. He coordinated air and sea transport to deliver necessary supplies, though the capacity was often outstripped by demand, particularly as the Allies intensified their interdiction efforts.

Later in Italy, Kesselring faced severe logistical challenges due to the mountainous terrain, harsh weather, and continuous Allied bombings of infrastructure. He adapted to these conditions by improvising and reallocating resources effectively, maintaining defensive operations for longer periods than many expected, given the circumstances.

Kesselring's approach typically involved maximizing the use of available resources, prioritizing essential supplies, and employing a mix of strategic withdrawals and defensive tactics to extend the sustainability of his forces. His ability to keep his forces operational under such strained conditions is often noted as one of his significant administrative and tactical capabilities.

Hermann Kesselring received several notable awards and honors during his military career, primarily reflecting his high-ranking positions in the Luftwaffe and his roles in various military campaigns during World War II. Some of the prominent decorations include:

1. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds: This was one of Nazi Germany’s highest military honors, awarded for extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Kesselring was awarded the Knight's Cross in 1940, the Oak Leaves in 1941, the Swords in 1943, and the Diamonds in 1944.

2. Pour le Mérite: Often known as the Blue Max, this was a highly respected Prussian military order, which he received during World War I for his services as a staff officer.

3. Iron Cross (1914) 1st and 2nd Class: He was awarded these medals during World War I. The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle as well as other military contributions in a combat field.

4. Military Merit Order (Bavaria) 4th Class with Swords: This Bavarian military order recognized Kesselring’s service in World War I.

5. Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918: This was awarded to military personnel who had served in World War I.

6. Wehrmacht Long Service Award: Awarded in several classes, this decoration was for long service in the Wehrmacht, including the Luftwaffe.

7. Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 1st and 2nd Class: These were awarded during World War II under the Nazi regime, to denote an additional award of the Iron Cross.

These awards underscore Kesselring’s extensive military career and his prominent role within the Luftwaffe during the war.

Hermann Kesselring’s approach to dealing with partisans, especially during his time as commander in Italy during World War II, was severe and often brutal. Kesselring considered partisan resistance to be a significant threat to German military operations and supply lines, and his directives advocated harsh measures to suppress it.

His strategy involved comprehensive counter-insurgency operations, including reprisal killings and the destruction of civilian property linked to partisan activities. One of the most infamous examples of such reprisals was the Ardeatine massacre in March 1944, where 335 Italian civilians were executed in response to a partisan attack in Rome that killed 33 German soldiers. This event highlighted the ruthless tactics endorsed under Kesselring's command as a means to deter further resistance.

Kesselring's orders often emphasized the necessity of rapid and severe responses to partisan attacks, aiming to instill fear and deter the local population from supporting the resistance movements. These actions have been widely criticized and remain a controversial aspect of his military legacy.

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