Kenneth Macksey Books

Illustrated with maps and a center section of black and white photographs. Kesselring-commander, leader, administrator; the only senior German officer to start and finish the Second World War holding a high command appointment. There was scarcely a major campaign in which he was not at some time deeply involved: he flew in the forefront of the battle over Poland, Holland, Britain, Russia and the Western Desert and was shot down five times; as a field commander he defended Tunisia, Italy and, ultimately, Germany. But it is as much for his role in the formation and development of the Luftwaffe that Kesselring is remembered-his were many of the ideas, plans and insights about the part played by aircraft in the land battle. They were central to the careful, systematic reorganization and building up of the German military machine in the 1920s and 30s. This first complete biography presents the complex, fascinating personality of a man whose qualities of utter determination, charm and good humor, harnessed to outstanding training and experience, enabled him to cope with both victory and defeat and, finally, when placed on trial for his life, to face his judges with dignity, equanimity and a staunch defense.

This compelling alternate history provides a harrowing insight into how Britain's war might have been if the Germans had launched their invasion.

The German armed forces faced defeat despite moments of near victory in the 20th century. Kenneth Macksey explores the inherent flaws in the German military system and its leadership, focusing on both World Wars while considering earlier conflicts like the Seven Years' War and the Napoleonic Wars. Germany, lacking natural defensive boundaries, developed an aggressive mindset that led to initial successes but ultimately to overstretch and failure. Macksey emphasizes the military's tendency to underestimate opponents and to be swayed by its own propaganda, as well as its inability to formulate a long-term war strategy. He examines the significant political influence of military staffs and other factors that historically undermined Germany's war efforts. Despite these systemic issues, Macksey acknowledges the brilliance of individual generals and military thinkers, alongside the innovation and determination of the troops. He delves into the motivations and actions of prominent German commanders, including Scharnhorst, Clausewitz, Moltke, Hindenburg, Ludendorff, Kesselring, Guderian, Rommel, and Manstein, as well as the roles of their Kaisers and Adolf Hitler. The analysis reveals a complex interplay of strengths and weaknesses that shaped Germany's military history.

Albert Kesselring was arguably the most able and versatile General Staff officer of his generation. In the Second World War he proved himself a master of envelopment by air and land, and of prolonged defensive warfare. He also displayed great diplomatic skill, enforcing close collaboration between air and land forces when the prevailing mood was for their independence, being more successful than most in persuading Hitler to follow his suggestions, and dealing with volatile Italian allies and antagonism from Rommel during his command in the Mediterranean. Kenneth Macksey's authoritative biography is based on a wide range of sources, including German records, evidence from Kesselring's colleagues, friends and enemies, and Kesselring's writings for the American Historical Division while imprisoned after the Second World War. They give a clear and compelling picture of Kesselring as a master strategist, brilliant commander and vital figure in the German military machine.

Although—like Hannibal, Napoleon, and Robert E. Lee—German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) met ultimately with defeat, his daring, tactical skill, charismatic leadership, and brilliant string of victories succeeded in placing him in the pantheon of great commanders. By 1942 Rommel and his Afrika Korps had converted a "side show" of World War II into a major offensive for the Axis powers. The British had been thrown back across the frontiers of Egypt until, at E1 Alamein, Rommel's army threatened Cairo, Alexandria, and the rich oil fields of the Middle East. Rommel: Battles and Campaigns provides a perceptive and incisive analysis of his entire military career, from his fighting in Rumania, Italy, and France during World War I, through his North African campaigns, to his command in Normandy and his fatal (though false) implication in the July 20 bomb plot against Hitler. Written by an expert in tank warfare, and illustrated with nearly two hundred photos and maps, this book presents a revealing, critical portrait of one of the most celebrated soldiers of World War II.

Kenneth Macksey's highly regarded biography of Generaloberst Heinz Guderian gives clear insight into the mind and motives of the father of modern tank warfare. It is now revised and updated and appears as the latest addition to the Greenhill Military

This is a reasoned and structured demonstration of the difficulty in making an effective decision in a wartime emergency situation, and how mistakes were made in good faith at the time with disastrous consequences.