Kesselring: The Making of the Luftwaffe

by Kenneth John Macksey

Book by Macksey, Kenneth

Genres: Biography, World War II, History, Military History, Military Fiction, German Literature, Aviation

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

British author and historian who specialized in military history and military biography, particularly of the Second World War. Macksey was commissioned in the Royal Armoured Corps and served during the Second World War (earning the Military Cross under the command of Percy Hobart). Macksey later wrote the (authoritative) biography of Hobart.Macksey gained a permanent commission in 1946, was transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment in 1947, reached the rank of major in 1957 and retired from the Army in 1968.

Amongst many other books, Macksey wrote two volumes of alternate history, one, entitled Invasion, dealt with a successful invasion of England by Germany in 1940 and the other describing a NATO–Warsaw Pact clash in the late 1980s. The latter book was done under contract to the Canadian Forces and focuses on the Canadian role in such a conflict. He was an editor and contributor to Greenhill's Alternate Decisions series since 1995.

In Macksey's Guderian – Panzer General, he refuted the view of historian Sir Basil Liddell-Hart regarding Hart's influence on the development of German Tank Theory in the years leading up to 1939.

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book for World War II history buff, but not saying anything too critical. Plenty of background knowledge needed. Looking back after reading the book, it made me realize that Kesselring was a much underestimated field commander. Back then I thought he was a tough adversary, making the Allies pay with blood with every little progress made in North Italy and Africa, but now I think he did a terrific job. Not only that he had experiences across Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, and eventually Wehrmacht, one of the very few among the combatants who can make that claim, he was also milking the most out of impossible situations. His track record was pretty decent even as a leader of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, and although it was his word that led to the loss of initiative because of the shift from bombing airfield to bombing cities, it was an honest mistake. Later, fighting against the Allies with their almost unlimited resources and superior intelligence, he was wonderful. He advocated attacking Malta but was overruled because Rommel wanted to strike Tobruk and push towards Cairo. Kesselring was obviously proven correct later. His strategy was eventually used in making the Allies progress slowly throughout the continent, not giving an inch. His responses are always timely and well measured. He was also unique in that he was product of the famed German general staff with all its thoroughness in preparation and tactics, like his predecessor in the Western front, von Runstedt and also his ex-Chief of staff Manstein, but he was an effective improvisational field commander in the mold of Rommel, Guderian and Model. So arguably, this book convinced me to some degree that Kesselring was one of the most effective German field commanders of World War II.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When talking about Wehrmacht’s Generalfeldmarschall, undoubtedly it was Rommel who got the main attention as the Legendary Desert Fox, with so many books written about him. I however, prefer the quiet, optimistic, yet politically shrewd Albert Kesselring. In this book, I see many faces of Kesselring. The artilleryman, the pilot, the soldier, and of course, the smooth political operator. He had a hand in building Luftwaffe into a formidable flying force, based on his belief of bomber as a flying artillery (which Göring irresponsibly squandered for political gains). Throughout the book the military career of Kesselring was described, from serving in Artillery, coordinating battles in Poland and Low Countries (his greatest success and apex of his career), the battle for Britain (in which his optimism undeliberately misguided him), the North African Campaign (where he began to take mantle of an army general and his feud with Rommel -my favorite part), and finally the Italian Campaign (in which he became a de facto commander in chief, while had to deal with prodding Italians into continuing the war, fending off endless Hitler interventions, which he did without losing his political standing). The most favourable aspect of Kesselring that I like the most is that his tendencies to keep other people out of inconveniences, just like what was shown in one story, in which he insisted to take a less comfortable seat in an aeroplane so an older general can fly more comfortable, and during the process of denazification trials, in which he tried to shift the blame of his subordinates to him.

[Dwight L Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A no nonsense biography of General Kesselring

Mr Mackey has written a wonderful book of one of the major German generals that was in World War 1 and 2. The author went to great lengths writing an in-depth analysis of Kesselring as a humane general that stood up to Hitler's lunacy while fighting a losing war.

General Kesselring was treated fairly including his shortcomings as well as his brilliance in battle by the author. Alot of historical data was wonderfully written as it pertained to the many circumstances the general was involved in.

[Gerald Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives insight into the German perspective and operations of WW2 from Kesselring's point of view. A very informative book (especially about N. Africa and Italy theaters of war), and I'm glad I read it.

[Marylou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me three tries to get through this book, but I finally completed it. It was very interesting to learn more in depth about a possible relative of mine. He was an exceptional man, in many ways.

[Mick Maye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insight into Smiling Albert. Not one of your glamour German generals of WW2 but a masterful strategist and brilliant commander. Versatile to the extreme comes to mind and it is all wonderfully presented by one of the pre-eminent authors on military history going around.