This teletype message documents a significant moment in World War II history: the awarding of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring on February 26, 1942 by Adolf Hitler. This military-historical document provides insight not only into the Nazi decoration system but also into the communication structures of the German High Command during the war.
Albert Kesselring (1885-1960) was among the most prominent military commanders of the Wehrmacht. After a career in the Bavarian Army, he transferred to the newly established Luftwaffe in 1933 and rapidly rose to command various air fleets. In December 1941, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief South (Oberbefehlshaber Süd), a command encompassing German forces in the Mediterranean theater. This position made him one of the most important military leaders in this strategically crucial theater of operations.
The Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross represented the second level in the hierarchy of this prestigious decoration. The Knight's Cross itself was instituted on September 1, 1939, as a continuation of the Prussian Iron Cross. The Oak Leaves supplement was introduced by decree on June 3, 1940. Kesselring was the 78th recipient of this decoration—a number that underscores the rarity and high value of this honor.
The award in February 1942 came at a critical juncture. German forces in North Africa under Field Marshal Rommel had just begun a successful offensive, and the Luftwaffe under Kesselring's command played a decisive role in securing air superiority over the Mediterranean and supporting ground troops. The siege of Malta and air operations over North Africa presented complex logistical and operational challenges that tested Kesselring's organizational abilities.
The teletype system was an essential means of communication for the Wehrmacht. This document displays the typical structure of a military teletype message of that era: the header with designation “FRR - WNOF Nr 35,” the time notation showing receipt by the O.B.S. teletype station at 0100 hours, and the characteristic formatting with equal signs as separation markers. The abbreviation “DSZ” stands for official correspondence. The document's perforation indicates filing in military binders, a standard procedure for important correspondence.
The text of the teletype follows the formulaic language of the Nazi era. Hitler awards the decoration “in grateful appreciation” of the “tireless, brave commitment in the struggle for the future of our people.” This formulation was typical for award citations and was intended to emphasize the personal connection between the Führer and his generals. The concluding “best wishes” for Kesselring and his troops underscored this personal touch.
Kesselring would later receive additional decorations, including in 1943 the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves as the 30th soldier of the Wehrmacht, and in 1944 the Diamonds as the 15th recipient. His military career made him one of the most highly decorated officers of the Wehrmacht. After the war, he was sentenced to death by a British military court in 1947 for war crimes, later commuted to life imprisonment, and released in 1952 for health reasons.
Such documents are today of great military-historical interest. They document not only the decoration system of the Third Reich but also the administrative practices and communication culture of the Wehrmacht. The authenticity of such teletypes can be verified through various characteristics: the paper used, the telex formatting, the correct departmental designations, and the period-appropriate language. Collectors and historians use such primary sources to reconstruct and understand the events of World War II.
