[citation needed] After the German defeat, he joined the Freikorps forces of Franz von Epp, fighting against the communist Bavarian Soviet Republic.

Deßloch took part in the fast build-up of the Luftwaffe after the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, from 1 December 1934 as commander of a Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (flight training school).

He provided air support to the Heer Army Group B in the 1940 Battle of France and from 1941 commanded Luftwaffe units on the Eastern Front.

Promoted to General der Flakartillerie on 1 January 1942, he served as a commander on the southern Eastern Front and in the Caucasus Mountains.

When in the summer 1944 the Western Front collapsed, Deßloch was appointed commander of Luftflotte 3 by Hermann Göring to replace dismissed Hugo Sperrle.