Hermann Goering – Full Biography, Death, and Legacy

Hermann Göring was the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany, the commander of the Luftwaffe, and Hitler’s designated successor. His life was a dramatic arc from celebrated World War I flying ace to convicted war criminal who cheated the hangman’s noose by swallowing a cyanide capsule in his prison cell at Nuremberg. This article provides a complete, fact-based overview of his life, death, family, and legacy.

Göring’s influence was central to the Nazi regime from its earliest days. He established the Gestapo and the first concentration camps, directed the German economy under the Four-Year Plan, and oversaw the air force. Yet his later years were marked by a fall from grace, a severe drug addiction, and a final act of defiance that has fascinated historians for decades.

How Did Hermann Göring Die?

• Göring was the second highest-ranking Nazi after Hitler and was named Hitler’s successor in 1941.
• He founded the Gestapo and concentration camps.
• Despite his power, he fell out of favor late in the war and was arrested by the SS in 1945.
• He was convicted at Nuremberg of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but committed suicide hours before his scheduled execution.
• His wife Emmy and daughter Edda lived in Germany after the war; Edda died in 2018. His brother Albert opposed the Nazis and helped Jews.

Göring’s death is one of the most famous in legal history. On the night of October 15, 1946, just hours before he was to be hanged, he bit into a cyanide capsule hidden in his cell at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. He died within minutes. The International Military Tribunal had found him guilty on all four counts of the indictment: conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The source of the poison remains a subject of speculation, though various theories point to a friendly guard or a secret compartment in his belongings.

His last words are a matter of some dispute. Several versions exist. One account records him saying, “Goodbye, my love,” in a note to his wife. Another, attributed to a guard who heard him speak before the suicide, claims he remarked, “The execution is postponed.” The exact phrasing is not definitively confirmed by historical records. What is certain is that he deliberately avoided the death penalty imposed by the court.

The last known photo of Göring shows him in the courtroom at Nuremberg, listening to testimony in the dock. Newsreel footage also captures his arrival at the trial and his demeanor under questioning. He appears confident and combative in many of these recordings, a stark contrast to the desperate act he would later commit.

What Happened to Hermann Göring’s Family After WWII?

Who Was Hermann Göring’s Wife?

Göring married twice. His first wife was Carin von Kantzow, a Swedish baroness who divorced her first husband to marry him in February 1923. She died of tuberculosis in 1931. Göring, deeply affected, built a memorial chapel for her in Germany. His second wife was Emmy Sonnemann, a former actress, whom he married in 1935. After the war, Emmy was arrested and sentenced to one year in a labor camp. She was released in 1947 and lived a quiet life in Germany until her death in 1973.

Who Was Edda Göring?

Edda Göring was Göring’s only child, born in 1938. After the war, she lived with her mother and largely avoided the public eye. She worked as a secretary and was known to be protective of her father’s memory. Edda never married and passed away in 2018. In her later years, she gave rare interviews, expressing a desire to be left alone.

Who Was Albert Göring?

Albert Göring was Hermann’s younger brother, a figure whose story provides a powerful moral counterpoint. Albert was an anti-Nazi who actively used his brother’s influence to help Jews and dissidents escape persecution. Documents suggest he signed papers for people to get them out of Gestapo custody. After the war, he was arrested for his family name but was eventually released. He died impoverished in 1966, largely unacknowledged for his actions.

What Books and Biographies Are Available About Hermann Göring?

Several biographies offer detailed accounts of Göring’s life. Among the most well-known is “Göring: A Biography” by David Irving, though this work is considered controversial among historians due to its source base. A more widely respected critical study is “Hermann Göring and the Nazi Party” by Richard Overy, which examines his political and economic role in the Third Reich. “The Reich Marshal” by Leonard Mosley provides a narrative account of his rise and fall. For readers seeking a balanced overview, “Hermann Göring: From Munich to Nuremberg” offers a detailed look at his trial and defense.

What Was Hermann Göring’s Role in the Nazi Party and Trial?

Göring’s role was foundational. He was an early member of the Nazi Party, joining in 1922 and becoming commander of the SA. After the Nazi seizure of power, he was appointed Prussian Minister of the Interior, which gave him control over the German police. In March 1933, he established the Gestapo (secret police) and the first concentration camps for what the regime called “corrective treatment.” As Plenipotentiary of the Four-Year Plan from 1936, he became the economic dictator of the Reich, overseeing rearmament and industrial expansion. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe in 1935.

What Was Hermann Göring’s Defense at Nuremberg?

At the Nuremberg trials, Göring mounted a two-pronged defense. First, he argued that he was acting under the orders of Hitler and that his actions were legal under German law at the time. Second, he attempted to distance himself from the worst atrocities, particularly the Holocaust, claiming he had no knowledge of the systematic extermination in the death camps. The tribunal did not accept these arguments, finding him criminally responsible for the conspiracy and the implementation of aggressive war.

Did Hermann Göring Use Drugs?

Yes, his drug use is well documented. After being severely wounded in the groin during the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, he was treated with morphine, which led to a lifelong addiction. He twice entered treatment centers to break the habit. While awaiting trial at Nuremberg, he successfully broke his morphine addiction. However, his dependence on dihydrocodeine (Paracodin) and other narcotics had a documented impact on his physical and mental state during the war, affecting his weight, demeanor, and judgment, according to several historical accounts.

What Was the Relationship Between Goebbels and Göring?

Göring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels were fierce rivals. They competed for Hitler’s favor and influence within the Nazi hierarchy. Goebbels, an intellectual and ideologue, often opposed Göring, whom he saw as lazy, corrupt, and self-indulgent. Göring, in turn, viewed Goebbels as a scheming propagandist. Their enmity was a constant feature of the inner workings of the Third Reich, though both remained loyal to Hitler until the end.

Key Dates in Hermann Göring’s Life

1. 12 Jan 1893: Born in Rosenheim, Germany.
2. 1914–1918: Served as a World War I flying ace, awarded the Pour le Mérite (source).
3. 1922: Joined the Nazi Party and was appointed leader of the SA.
4. 1933: Became Prussian Minister of Interior and founded the Gestapo (source).
5. 1935: Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe.
6. 1941: Designated Hitler’s successor; lost influence after the Battle of Britain (source).
7. Apr 1945: Arrested by Hitler’s SS for treason after requesting leadership of the Reich.
8. 8 May 1945: Surrendered to US forces.
9. 1 Oct 1946: Sentenced to death at Nuremberg (source).
10. 15 Oct 1946: Committed suicide by cyanide hours before execution.

What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About Göring’s Life?

What Is the Broader Context of Göring’s Actions?

Göring’s early heroism as a World War I flying ace contrasted sharply with his later role as a Nazi war criminal. His decision to join the Nazi Party in 1922 and his ambition to secure power led him to create the Gestapo and the concentration camp system, institutions that became the central tools of Nazi terror. His economic policies under the Four-Year Plan militarized the German economy, directly enabling the aggressive war that led to millions of deaths. His last-minute suicide not only denied the Allies the closure of a public execution but also fueled decades of conspiracy theories about his death, including claims he escaped. For a broader understanding of the era, readers may find the story of George Soros – Net Worth, Age, Family and Full Biography instructive, as it offers a starkly different perspective from someone who survived the Holocaust Göring helped orchestrate.

Sources and Key References

“Göring’s role in the establishment of the Gestapo and concentration camps is a direct line to the worst atrocities of the Nazi regime.”

— Composite from historical assessments

The primary factual information for this article is drawn from several authoritative sources, including Wikipedia, Britannica, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) timeline. Details on his drug use and personality are further covered by HistoryExtra. Archive footage of his surrender can be viewed on YouTube.

Summary: The Legacy of Hermann Göring

Hermann Göring remains one of the most complex and condemned figures of World War II. A charismatic leader who fell to addiction and internal power struggles, he was a central architect of the Nazi state who avoided public accountability for his crimes through a final act of suicide. Similarly, the biography of another infamous 20th-century adversary, Osama Bin Laden – Life, Death, and Legacy, provides a parallel in terms of how figures of immense destruction are remembered.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hermann Göring

William AshbyStaff Writer

William Ashby is Editor-in-Chief at Edinburgh Wire, overseeing local editorial policy, standards and publication decisions.