Hermann Goering
Hermann Goering
One of Hitler’s top men was born in Bavaria in 1893. Hermann Goering was born the son of a high level army officer. Goering’s early life was marked by an education from a military school that prompted his entry into the German army in 1912.
His service in the Army during World War One was shortened after a stint in the infantry. A bout of Arthritis of the knees crippled him enough to end his infantry service. He was able to continue his military service by transferring to the German Air Service.
By 1915, Goering had been promoted from observer to fighter pilot. He continued to fly throughout the war eventually becoming a very decent fighter pilot, accumulating 22 kills over his career, and earning an Iron Cross.
Goering joined the Nazi party after hearing a speech by Adolf Hitler. Shortly after joining, Goering and Hitler developed a mutual admiration, and Hitler made Goering the head of his SA stormtrooper squad. Goering was the head of the SA when Hitler made an attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government. Goering received an injury during the attempted coup, receiving shrapnel from a building in his groin.
After the failed coup, Goering found refuge in Sweden. During this time, he developed an addiction to pain medication from the wound, and began to put on weight.
Hindenburg eventually pardoned Goering, allowing his return to Germany, and eventual election to the German Reichstag. He later would become the President of the governing body.
Upon Hitler’s rise to power, he named Goering to his cabinet. Using his powers given to him by Hitler, Goering began placing his SA and SS people in positions of power throughout the German Police force.
Goering also aided Himmler in creating the concentration camps set up to eliminate Europe’s Jews.
Goering continued gaining power under Hitler, by 1938 he was promoted to head of the German Armed Forces. Hitler even went as far as naming Goering his heir.
Goering used his position and contacts to make quite a lucrative living for himself. He owned a newspaper, and stocks in aircraft construction business.
With the outset of World War 2, Goering became the head of the German Air Force, or Luftwaffe. Goering did have some early success as the head of the air force, but he also faced scrutiny for many of the defeats that led to Germany’s losing the war. Eventually, Goering was the man who surrendered to the Allies, after Hitler’s death.
In 1946, Goering committed suicide by taking a cyanide pill, to avoid his sentence from the Nuremberg Trials for war crimes.
