The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring (English and German Edition)

By Albert Kesselring

Book Overview

Covers the entire military career of one of World War II's great commanders. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891413537
• ISBN13: 9780891413530
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Presidio Pr
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

The story of a Human by a human

Kesselring's description of his life, specially the military aspects, give the impression of a man that deserves the nickname of "smiling Albert", as he always seems to see the good side of even a person perceived by others to be evil. The book brings brilliance and experience of an officer to life who can deal with incredibly difficult situations in battles of military strategy and political entrapment. The subject may be dry, but the narrative is very engaging.

Any collection seeking source material and definitive first-person exposes will want this.

Field-Marshal Albert Kesselring was one of Germany's top military strategists who commanded air fleets during the invasion of France and Battle of Britain. This edition of his memoirs blends in introductions from James Holland and Kenneth Macksey which surveys Kesselring's background and effects, providing a fine survey to the focus of Kesselring, who details both military background and his involvement in World War II - including the war's end and his subsequent trial. Any collection seeking source material and definitive first-person exposes will want this.

The safeguarding of historic art treasures.

Albert Kesselring was the commander of German forces in Italy during World War 2, but his memoires cover his entire military service, from pre-WW1 through WW2. He waxes nostalgic on the friendly pre-WW1 relations between the German troops stationed near France, and the ladies across the boarder. (What would the Boarder Patrol think of it!) His discussion of the post-WW1 period focusses largely on the circumstances of his transfer from the army to the air force. An intermediate amount of coverage is given to the early WW2 period, with the latter part of the war in Italy dominating the memoires, much as it dominated his career. Hauptsturmfuhrer Otto Skorzeny (the commando leader who freed Mussolini) commented in his own memoires about his differences in methodology from those of Kesselring, and Kesselring takes this opportunity to provide his side of the matter. In addition, Kesselring discusses why he was chosen as the commander most uniquely qualified to serve as a liason with the Italians. Several sections cover the important steps he took to preserve historic art treasures in the midst of the destruction of war, and his views on the criminal nature of guerillas who disguise themselves as civilians in violation of the Geneva Convention.