In November 1941, Kesselring was appointed Commander-in-Chief South and was transferred to Italy along with his Luftflotte 2 staff, which for the time being also functioned as his Commander-in-Chief South staff.
I november 1941 blev Kesselring udpeget til øverstkommanderende i Syd og blev overført til Italien sammen med staben for hans Luftflotte 2, som indtil videre også fungerede som hans stab som øverstkommanderende.