Hitler's most boring general...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m reading a book called Hitler’s Generals, a series of biographical essays edited by Correlli Barnett.

I’ve been trying for a week to get through the chapter on Albert Kesselring, one of Hitler’s lesser known but more able Field Marshalls. One of few (perhaps the only?) general officer successful as both an air and ground commander. He commanded the Luftwaffe forces during the Polish invasion, and the first season of the Russian invasion, after which he was put in charge of German forces in Italy and the Med area. There he waged a brilliant ground defence against Allied forces that held them up until the war was decided elsewhere. An interesting career, to say the least.

But EVERY time I sit down to read it through, something distracts me or I fall asleep. I’ve tried 6 or 7 times, and just couldn’t muster the requisite attention span.

I’ve come to the conclusion that regardless of his talents, he was undoubtedly Hitler’s most boring general.

2

Maybe that’s why he was a lesser known general.

3

I’ve never seen much reported on any personal peccadilloes; perhaps that’s what makes Kesselring seem boring by comparison. But his military career in WWII was very interesting - he was all over the place.

He was sentenced to death at Nuremburg, but was released in 1952. He published a book, A Soldier to the Last Day, that I’d like to find someday.

4

Klink was a lot more interesting. Too bad he didn’t make general.

5

Maybe the writing style of the author is what is sending you to sleep. My vote for most boring general is Keitel. Nothing but a yes man.

6

Egad, yes! Imagine Keitel’s biographyzzz…