The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Wehrmacht
Albert Kesselring (1885–1960): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 30 November 1885, Marktsteft |
|---|---|
| Died | 16 July 1960, Bad Nauheim |
| Key offices | Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff (1936); Luftflotte 1 (1939); Generalfeldmarschall (19 July 1940); Commander-in-Chief South (December 1941); Commander-in-Chief West (March–April 1945) |
| Documents bearing his name | Luftwaffe and theatre command documents, award papers, post-war letters and books |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Albert Kesselring commanded German air fleets in the early campaigns and then all German forces in the Mediterranean and Italy. He was later convicted by a British military court for the killing of hostages and partisans in Italy. Because he lived until 1960 and wrote memoirs, both wartime and post-war signatures exist.
Who Was Albert Kesselring?
Kesselring was born in Marktsteft in 1885. He transferred from the army to the Luftwaffe in December 1933 and became its Chief of General Staff in 1936. He led Luftflotte 1 at the start of the war and was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall on 19 July 1940. From December 1941 he was Commander-in-Chief South, with command over German forces in the Mediterranean and Italy, and from 11 March to 22 April 1945 he succeeded Rundstedt in the West.
What Documents Bear Kesselring’s Signature?
Wartime signatures appear on Luftwaffe and theatre command documents and on award papers; post-war signatures on letters, photographs and copies of his memoirs, including letters written from prison. Separate the two periods clearly. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Generalfeldmarschall only from 19 July 1940.
- Separate wartime and post-war signatures.
- Prison letters need clear provenance.
Responsibility and Fate
On 6 May 1947 a British military court in Venice-Mestre sentenced Kesselring to death for the unlawful execution of hostages and Italian resistance fighters. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and later reduced. He was released in October 1952 and died in 1960.
Collector’s Note
A letter Kesselring wrote in prison is a moving document, but it is also a post-war one. I describe such pieces with the date and circumstances in full, so that no buyer confuses them with wartime papers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kesselring become a field marshal?
On 19 July 1940.
Was Kesselring convicted of war crimes?
Yes, by a British military court in 1947; the death sentence was commuted.
Are post-war Kesselring letters genuine?
Many are; each still needs examination and provenance.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Albert Kesselring 1885–1960 (A. Mühle and A. Scriba; last updated 2014).