One of the great military autobiographies * Explores the truth behind
Kesselring’s notorious smile and his Italian war crimes * Details Kesselring’s
role in founding the Luftwaffe
These memoirs rank among the great military autobiographies of the
period, written during Kesselring’s imprisonment after World War II.
Field-Marshal Albert Kesselring was one of Germany’s most
capable military strategists. Originally a Bavarian Army officer, he transferred
to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and became Göring's deputy, commanding air fleets
during the invasion of France and the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he was
appointed C-in-C South, sharing the direction of the North African campaign with
Rommel. As C-in-C in Italy in 1943-1944 his brilliant
defence of the peninsula became legendary. In 1945, after the Ardennes offensive failed, Kesselring replaced von
Rundstedt as C-in-C West. In his memoirs Kesselring describes his military
training, his service in World War I, his work in the Reichswehr, his role in
the founding of the Luftwaffe, and all aspects of his command in World War II.
Concluding with Kesselring’s account of his trial and imprisonment for war
crimes, these memoirs give a full picture of the whole military experience of
one of Germany’s great
commanders.
