[RolandF]

After the death of General Wever in '36 his successor Kesselring - a pilot himself - was responsible in leading position for the re-build of the clandestine Luftwaffe to its operative status in '39. It were those merits which made him deserve the Knight´s Cross in Hitler´s eyes. Having served as colonel in the army before '35 also made him suitable for both Heer and Luftwaffe.