The Third Reich: Hermann Goering

*In depth analysis of Hermann Goerings life
*Several pictures of Hermann Goering and the Third Reich
*Table of contents

Hermann Goering was a German politician, an award-winning air force pilot, and a high-ranking member of Germany’s Nazi Party. Goering joined the Nazi Party in its early days and worked closely with Adolf Hitler to achieve its stated goals of building a stronger Germany and eliminating races the Fuhrer considered unworthy of life. Unlike Hitler, Goering was not physically abused as a child, leading a somewhat unorthodox, though relatively peaceful childhood. Though he eventually fell out of favor with Hitler and the Nazis, he played a pivotal role in the events of World War II and the Nazi Holocaust.

Goering married twice and fathered a daughter during his second marriage. He was a close personal confidant of Hitler, who served as the best man in Goering’s second marriage and as the Godfather to his daughter. Because Hitler’s relationship with Eva Braun was so non-traditional, it was Goering’s second wife who became the First Lady of the Third Reich. In many ways, Goering was better loved by the German populace than Hitler, and his wife’s role in public affairs further enhanced this relationship.

During his life, Goering suffered from drug addiction, which some have speculated affected his behavior throughout his political career. It was not until he was captured by Allied forces that his addiction ended. Fueled by this drug addiction and his desire to lead an affluent life, Goering would go to any lengths to accumulate wealth. He loved the finer things and was the owner of several elaborate homes and an extensive art collection, most of which was stolen from the victims of the Holocaust.

Goering was right by Hitler’s side during many of the crucial developments during the rise of the Nazi Party and leading up to World War II. He played a major role in the Reichstag fire and was one of the first to point fingers following the first. He was part of the Beer Hall Putsch and was an avid supporter of the Stab in the Back legend following World War I. He was also a fervent advocate of the anti-Jewish measures made in an effort to reduce them to second class citizens. This included the events following Kristallnacht, as well as the Nuremberg Laws that created legal backing for much of the discrimination already in action.

Goering held several positions in the Third Reich and throughout World War II. He was responsible for the creation of the Gestapo and played a major role in the institution of the concentration camps. Goering also commanded the Luftwaffe, or German Air Force, during much of World War II.

Hermann Goering was definitely one of the most colorful characters involved in the Second World War, and his cruelty and inhumanity ranked among the period’s most notable, including Adolf Hitler. But even with his bold personality and complex personal issues, he eventually met the same fate as his Fuhrer, committing suicide in prison in order to avoid death by hanging. In the end, his actions left him alone, disrespected by a country that once adored him, and facing the darkest potential eternity.