Albert Kesselring

Kesselring commanded Luftflotte 2 during the Battle of Britain. His air fleet conducted bombing raids against British airfields and cities. The Luftwaffe failed to achieve air superiority, leading to the cancellation of Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain.

Kesselring was appointed Commander-in-Chief of German forces in Italy after the Allied invasion. He organized a successful defensive campaign, delaying the Allied advance up the Italian peninsula. His strategy included the use of fortified lines and delaying actions.

Kesselring commanded the defense of the Gustav Line, anchored by Monte Cassino. German forces held off repeated Allied assaults for months. The battle resulted in the destruction of the Monte Cassino abbey and heavy casualties on both sides before the line was finally breached.

Kesselring surrendered his forces in Italy in May 1945. He was tried by a British military court for war crimes, including the Ardeatine massacre and the shooting of partisans. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He was released in 1952.