Hermann Göring
Who was Hermann Göring?
Nazi leader who commanded the Luftwaffe during World War II and was a key architect of the Holocaust. He was convicted of war crimes at Nuremberg and sentenced to death.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Hermann Göring (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Hermann Wilhelm Göring (1893-1946) was a German military officer, politician, and war criminal who became one of the most powerful figures in Nazi Germany. Born in Rosenheim, Bavaria, he made a name for himself as a fighter pilot during World War I, earning the prestigious Pour le Mérite and eventually leading the esteemed Jagdgeschwader 1 fighter squadron once commanded by Manfred von Richthofen. His military skill and charismatic personality drew him to Adolf Hitler's early Nazi Party in the 1920s.
Göring took part in Hitler's failed Beer Hall Putsch in Munich in 1923, sustaining serious injuries that led to a long-term morphine addiction. After Hitler rose to power in 1933, Göring quickly took on multiple government roles and became the second most powerful man in the Third Reich. He initially set up the Gestapo secret police before handing it over to Heinrich Himmler in 1934. His most notable role was as commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, Germany's air force, which he transformed from scratch into a formidable military branch.
As Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan in 1936, Göring took control of large parts of Germany's wartime economy and industrial mobilization. Hitler named him as his official successor in 1939, and after Germany defeated France in 1940, Göring was given the unique rank of Reichsmarschall, placing him above all other German military commanders. However, his influence began to drop as the Luftwaffe failed to secure decisive wins in the Battle of Britain and later struggled against Allied air power.
Göring was largely responsible for the Holocaust and other Nazi war crimes through his leadership and policy actions. After Germany’s defeat, he was captured by Allied forces and tried at the Nuremberg Trials as a major war criminal. Convicted on multiple counts including crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, he was sentenced to death by hanging. However, Göring committed suicide in his prison cell on October 15, 1946, just hours before his scheduled execution, using cyanide that had been smuggled into his cell.
Before Fame
Göring came from a middle-class Bavarian family and was educated at top military academies like the Royal Prussian Cadet House in Karlsruhe and the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute. He also studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. His military career took off just as World War I started, allowing him to shine as a fighter pilot when aviation was changing warfare.
The political turmoil and economic chaos in Germany after the war set the stage for extremist movements such as the Nazi Party to grow. Göring's military background, aristocratic connections, and charismatic personality made him useful for Hitler's early political goals, while Germany's defeat and the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles fueled his nationalist feelings.
Key Achievements
- Commanded Jagdgeschwader 1 fighter squadron and earned Pour le Mérite as World War I ace pilot
- Founded and initially controlled the Gestapo secret police organization
- Built the Luftwaffe from nothing into a major air force as its Supreme Commander
- Directed Germany's economic mobilization for war as Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan
- Rose to become Hitler's designated successor and held the unique rank of Reichsmarschall
Did You Know?
- 01.He was married twice, first to Swedish aristocrat Carin von Kantzow (later Carin Göring) and after her death to actress Emmy Sonnemann (Emmy Göring)
- 02.During World War I, he shot down 22 enemy aircraft, making him one of Germany's leading fighter aces
- 03.He amassed one of Europe's largest private art collections, much of it stolen from Jewish collectors and museums in occupied territories
- 04.His morphine addiction began after being wounded in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch and required him to take increasingly large doses throughout his life
- 05.He received military decorations from multiple countries including Japan (Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers) and Romania (Order of Michael the Brave)
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pour le Mérite | 1918 | — |
| Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | — | — |
| Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class | — | — |
| Order of Michael the Brave | — | — |
| Collar of the Imperial Order of the Red Arrows | 1938 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Iron Cross | — | — |
| Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 | — | — |
| Golden Party Badge | — | — |
| Blood Order | — | — |
| Danzig Cross | — | — |
| Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class | — | — |
| Royal Order of the Sword | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary | — | — |
| Order of the Most Holy Annunciation | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus | — | — |
| Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy | — | — |
| Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland | 1941 | — |
| knight of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern | 1917 | — |
| Order of the Zähringer Lion | 1917 | — |
| Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order | 1917 | — |
| Iron Cross 2nd Class | 1915 | — |
| Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog | 1938 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty | 1942 | — |
| Danzig Cross 2nd Class | 1939 | — |
| Danzig Cross 1st Class | 1939 | — |
| Cross of Honour for Combatants, with Swords | 1934 | — |
| Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd class with swords | 1941 | — |
| Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd class | 1941 | — |
| Order of Michael the Brave, 1st class | 1941 | — |
| honorary citizen of Gdańsk | 1943 | — |
| Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-apostles | — | — |
| Knight of the Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order | 1918 | — |