Albert Kesselring (23 November 1885 – 16 July 1960) was a German field marshal of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was one of the most senior commanders within the Wehrmacht, serving as Chief of the German Air Force from 1936 until 1941, when he was appointed as Commander-in-Chief South, acting as the highest-ranking officer in the Mediterranean theatre. Kesselring's strategic leadership and tactical innovations significantly influenced the early successes of the German air force, particularly during the Battle of Britain and the North African Campaign. In Hebrew, his name is transliterated as אלברט קסלרינג. In Italian, he is known as Albert Kesselring, and in French, he is referred to as Albert Kesselring. After the war, Kesselring was convicted of war crimes by a British military court and sentenced to life imprisonment, although he was released in 1952 on grounds of failing health. His legacy remains controversial, with some viewing him as a brilliant military strategist and others as a war criminal responsible for atrocities committed under his command.
German military officer (1885–1960)
Albert Kesselring was a German military officer and convicted war criminal who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. In a career which spanned both world wars, Kesselring reached the rank of the Generalfeldmarschall and became one of Nazi Germany's most highly decorated commanders.