The Empire's Sunset: Witnessing the German Army's Final Hours

The author of this book, Albert Kesselring, known as the “Eagle of the Reich,” was one of Germany’s 26 field marshals during World War II. He served in the German military for many years and played an important role in the creation and expansion of the German air force. He fought in both world wars, particularly in the campaigns in Poland, the Soviet Union, North Africa, and Italy during World War II, where he planned, commanded, and carried out many major operations. In 1945, as commander in chief of German forces on the Western Front, he surrendered to the Allies and witnessed the final defeat of German military power. As a defeated commander drawing on his personal experience, he offers distinctive views on the successes and failures of German strategy and tactics in World War II, making his account of some significance to military history. Having spent many years among Germany’s senior leadership, he had close contact with numerous political figures and military commanders, and was familiar with many events that shaped the course of German political and military life. His account helps readers better understand many pivotal moments in history, while reconstructing a complex past in a fuller, more nuanced way from multiple perspectives. His narrative traces the rise and fall of the German military and the Nazi regime.