Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-10
kesseIring Surprised
Hitler Did Not Hold 0ul
IAf Berchtesqaden
By HOWARD cowAN,

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring
the last commander of the German
armies in the west, is most sur
prised" that Hitler did not lead his
Nazis into a planned holdout in the
fortified underground tunnels of
the Salzburg- Berchtesgaden area.
Kesselring, found by American
troops aboard his special train in
the Tyrolean Alps and awaiting
completion of arrangements for his
formal surrender, said he is "abso-
lutely. certain" Hitler is dead.
II was most surprised" he told
American war correspondents last
night "at the decision of Der
Fuehrer at the last moment to fight
with his soldiers in Berlin"
1t had been known Kesselring was
in this area where his predecessor,
Field Marshal Karl Rudolf Gerd
Won Rundstedt, and Reichsmarshal
Goering and other prominent Ger
mans were taken prisoner. He was
at ease during the press conference,
in contrast to the taut. severe man.
ner of Won Runstedt, who faced
newsmen a week ago.
Saw Hitler in Mid-ApriI.
Kesselring said he last saw Hit
Ter about the middle of April in
Berlin.
He appeared in excellent health,
the field marshal added. 1T was two
of three days before the Russian
attack"
Il had an opportunity to speak
with the chief of staff of the 9Th
Air Army today, and he was at the
chancellery until two days before
Berlin FELL" the field marshal said.
He said Hitler was dead"
Kesselring declared he did not
know how Hitler had died, but said
he had "the absolute conviction Der
Fuehrer was unwilling to fall into
Russian hands alive"
"Out of profound knowledge OF
Adolph Hitler" he volunteered, I'm
sure he would have welcomed an
opportunity to conclude peace with
Great Britain and America at any
time. We are similar races-the Nor
die type-and it is senseless to beat
one another to death"
Praises Hitler's Genius"
Kesselring was asked if he thought
the German army could have fought
better without Hitler's "intuitive"
| leadership.
ITO give justice to Der Fuehrer,"
he said. Il must say he was a genius
in operations sense and conception
Sometimes, however, the ideas of
genius are misunderstood
Il only regret that Der Fuehrer
had to direct Germany's military
political and economic life. He was
overtaxed by the weight of his bur-
dens."
Discussing the war in general,
Kesselring declined to offer any
specific criticism of Allied strategy.
He singled out Field Marshal Sir
Bernard L. Montgomery, Gen.
George S. Patton and Air Chief
Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder among
the Allied commanders who had won
his respect and admiration. He
referred to the field marshal as
Monty
Kesselring recalled statement by
Montgomery that whoever had the
superior air force would win the war.
LAS an old Luftwaffe soldier n
cannot deny the truth of those
words" he said. Dive bombings
and terror attacks on civilians and
heavy bombardment were onr I'M
doing"
He asserted the Germans never
did entertain the idea of using
gas"
eve are not as bad as you be-
lieve us to be-" the marshal added.
He followed up with these asser-
tons:
ct is impossible that the Ger
mans dressed in American uni
forms in the Ardennes offensive.
There are unwritten laws we all
observe"
Il have seen an extreme increase
in the ability of American and Eng
lish soldiers in combat. We have
always spoken of our aggressors
with the greatest esteem"
Wanted to Invade England.
with enough German soldiers in
it-yes. we could have held the Sieg-
fried Line. But in six years their
quality and number declined"
II don't know why we didn't in
wade England after Dunkerque. Per-
sonally, was for it. We should |
have done it."
Soldier to soldier, I can only say
that on the other side leadership |
has been very skillful and adaptable |
to all events. At least I can't say
anything against the skill of Gen.
Patton"
Kesselring told newsmen he had
broken long precedent by talking
to them.
II had always escaped them before
this - this armistice,' he said.
Please, in your stories to the Ameri-
cans, don't misquote me-" !