Kesselring with ZG 26

[CJE]

Attached here is a PK snapshot of Kesselring paying a visit to ZG 26 during BoB.
Extreme right is Obstlt. J-F. Huth, the Kommodore.
Can anyone ID the other chaps?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[John Beaman]

Just out of ignorance and curiosity, why did Kesselring already have the Knight's Cross during the BoB? What did he do to deserve that?

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Just out of ignorance and curiosity, why did Kesselring already have the Knight's Cross during the BoB? What did he do to deserve that?

Hello John,

I am happy to be returning to this forum after a longer absence than I had intended!

Various online sources say Kesselring was awarded the Knight's Cross for his leadership of Luftflotte 1 in the Polish Campaign, some of these say it was awarded on 30 September 1939.

Regards,

Paul

[CJE]

Right. RK awarded as Chef der Luftflotte 1.

[Paul Thompson]

Here is an extract from Doug's Officers database, see fuller details at link - http://www.ww2.dk/Lw%20Offz%20G-K%202015.pdf .

30.09.39 Gen.Fl., awarded Ritterkreuz
12.01.40 Generaloberst, appt Oberbefehlshaber Luftflotte 2 and concurrently appt Bef. Nord (to 11.06.43).
19.07.40 promo to Generalfeldmarschall.
25.02.42 GFM, awarded Eichenlaub, Ob. Süd .
18.07.42 GFM, awarded Schwerter, Ob. Süd.
19.07.44 GFM, awarded Brillanten, Ob. Süd.

CJE, thank you for confirming the 1939 award! Do you have anything to add about the awards in 1942? See below:

To a greater degree than the award of the Knight's Cross, the very rapid ascent from the Oak Leaves to the Swords is worthy of comment! I wonder whether the Oak Leaves award had been delayed for one reason or another and related to Kesselring's earlier command in the West or during Barbarossa.

Regards,

Paul

[CJE]

I assume he was one of the very few Generals that could command at the same time air and ground forces. Must have been a precious character.

[John Beaman]

Thanks guys,

Must have been one hellava "leadership" in the Polish campaign!

[CJE]

Some kind of Swiss knife?

[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.

[VtwinVince]

An extremely capable leader of both air and ground units. Period.