Hermann Göring was one of the most powerful figures in Nazi Germany, second only to Hermann Göring. A decorated World War I fighter ace, he rose through the ranks of the Nazi Party to become commander of the Luftwaffe, founder of the Gestapo, and Hitler’s designated successor. His story is one of extreme ambition, ruthless power, and a dramatic fall. He was convicted at the Nuremberg Trials of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but escaped the hangman’s noose by taking his own life in his cell the night before his execution was scheduled.
Göring’s life was marked by contradictions. He was a highly decorated war hero who became a central architect of the Nazi terror state. A man of immense wealth and lavish tastes, he was also a severe drug addict whose erratic behavior impacted critical wartime decisions. Even in death, his final act of defiance—suicide by cyanide—added a final, controversial chapter to his complex and devastating legacy. This article examines his death, the fate of his family, and his pivotal role in the Third Reich.
How Did Hermann Goering Die?
Death & Trial
Committed suicide by cyanide hours before execution after being convicted at Nuremberg.
Family
Married Emmy Sonnemann, had one daughter Edda; his brother Albert opposed the Nazi regime.
Nazi Role
Commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s designated successor, architect of Gestapo and concentration camps.
Drug Addiction
Morphine addiction began after WWI injury, heavily influenced his behavior and decision-making.
The final act of Hermann Göring’s life played out in the dimly lit corridors of Nuremberg Prison. On October 15, 1946, the night before he was to be hanged, he took a cyanide capsule and died in his cell. His conviction at the International Military Tribunal had been the culmination of a trial he tried to dominate with his intellect and defiance.
Key insights from his downfall include:
- Göring’s suicide thwarted the hangman’s execution but underscored his continued defiance until the end.
- His daughter Edda Göring lived a private life in Munich, occasionally defending her father’s legacy.
- Brother Albert Goering saved Jews and dissidents during the war, creating a stark moral contrast.
- Goering was one of the few Nazi leaders to demand leniency for Jews early in his career, later reversing completely.
- His drug addiction, which began during the Beer Hall Putsch, influenced his erratic leadership of the Luftwaffe.
- At Nuremberg, he pleaded to be shot instead of hanged, but the request was refused by the tribunal.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hermann Wilhelm Göring |
| Born | 12 January 1893, Rosenheim, Bavaria |
| Died | 15 October 1946 (suicide), Nuremberg, Germany |
| Positions | Reichsmarschall, Commander of Luftwaffe, Minister of Aviation, Prime Minister of Prussia |
| Trial | Convicted at Nuremberg (crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity) |
| Spouse | Emmy Göring (born Emmy Sonnemann, married 1935) |
| Children | Edda Göring (born 1938) |
| Famous Quote | “I have no conscience! Adolf Hitler is my conscience.” |
What Happened to Hermann Goering’s Family After the War?
The legacy of Hermann Göring did not end with his death. His immediate family, including his wife Emmy and their daughter Edda, faced a dramatically altered life after the fall of the Third Reich. They were stripped of wealth, property, and social standing, forced to navigate a post-war Germany that reviled the Göring name.
Who was Hermann Goering’s wife?
Hermann Göring married the actress Emmy Sonnemann on April 10, 1935. Emmy was a well-known figure in German theater and became a prominent hostess in Nazi elite circles. After the war, she was arrested by the Allies and spent time in an internment camp. She was released after being classified as a “minor offender” and lived out her life in relative obscurity, writing a memoir and defending her husband’s legacy until her death in 1973.
What happened to Edda Göring?
Edda Göring, the couple’s only daughter, was born in 1938. Following the war, she was raised by her mother and lived a private life, primarily in Munich. She has rarely given public interviews, though she has occasionally defended her father, attributing his crimes to the influence of others. Her exact location and daily life after the war are not publicly documented in detail.
Who was Albert Goering and what was his relationship with Hermann?
Albert Goering, Hermann’s younger brother, presents a remarkable moral contrast. Unlike his sibling, Albert was vehemently anti-Nazi. He used his family name and influence to save Jews and political dissidents throughout the war, an act that put him in direct conflict with his powerful brother. Hermann reportedly protected Albert from the Gestapo, but the two were deeply estranged by ideology.
While Hermann Göring was architecting the Nazi terror state, his brother Albert Goering was actively sabotaging that regime. His rescue efforts included forging documents, providing food and work permits, and even leading protests against the Gestapo to free prisoners This dichotomy between the two brothers remains a powerful and difficult part of the Göring legacy.
What Was Hermann Goering’s Role in the Nazi Party?
Hermann Göring’s role in the Nazi Party was foundational and multifaceted He was not just a military commander he was a political architect, an economic czar, and a key enforcer of the regime’s most brutal policies. His career illustrates how a charismatic and ruthless individual could shape the direction of an entire nation.
Early Rise and Key Positions
Göring joined the Nazi Party in 1922 after hearing Adolf Hitler speak and was given command of the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1923. He became a central architect of the Nazi police state, helping establish the Gestapo and the first concentration camps for political opponents In 1936, he was named Plenipotentiary of the Four-Year Plan, giving him control over Germany’s economy for war mobilization.
The Luftwaffe and Wartime Leadership
As Reich Commissioner for Aviation and founder of the Luftwaffe, Göring oversaw its critical role in the early victories of the war, including the Battles of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940 However, his leadership faltered. His drug addiction, which required treatment at two centers, contributed to poor strategic decisions, such as the failed campaign in the Battle of Britain.
Severely wounded in the groin during the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, Göring was given morphine for the pain This led to a lifelong drug addiction that twice forced him into treatment centers Remarkably, while awaiting trial at Nuremberg and facing his own mortality, he successfully broke his morphine addiction, a fact that has often been cited as a final act of self-control.
What was Goering’s Defense at Nuremberg?
At the Nuremberg Trials, Göring attempted to control his own narrative He denied involvement in the regime’s “monstrous activities” like the Holocaust, claiming his focus was on the economy and the air force He presented himself as a loyal soldier following orders, a defense the tribunal ultimately rejected, convicting him on all four counts: conspiracy, waging a war of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Hermann Goering: Key Events Timeline
- 1893: Born in Rosenheim, Bavaria.
- 1914-1918: World War I fighter ace, commands the ‘Flying Circus’ squadron, earns the Pour le Mérite.
- 1922: Joins the Nazi Party.
- 1933: Appointed Prime Minister of Prussia, creates the Gestapo.
- 1935: Marries Emmy Sonnemann.
- 1936: Appointed Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, builds the Luftwaffe.
- 1938: Birth of daughter Edda.
- 1939: Designated Hitler’s successor; begins severe drug dependency.
- 1945: Captured by US forces, tried at Nuremberg.
- 1946: Convicted; commits suicide with cyanide hours before scheduled execution.
While the fact of Göring’s suicide is certain, several details remain debated His exact last words are disputed; some accounts report he said “Hoch lebe Deutschland” or nothing at all. The identity of the person who smuggled the cyanide capsule into his cell is still speculated upon, often attributed to US guard Herbert Stivers The exact context of his last photo, taken through a window, remains a point of discussion among historians.
Separating Certainty from Speculation
A clear distinction exists between what is historically established and what remains unverified in the story of Hermann Göring.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Goering died by cyanide suicide on 15 October 1946. | Exact last words are disputed (some accounts say ‘Hoch lebe Deutschland’ or nothing). |
| He was married to Emmy Göring and had one daughter, Edda. | The identity of the person who provided the cyanide capsule is still speculated (often attributed to US guard Herbert Stivers). |
| He was the founder of the Gestapo and a key architect of the Nazi terror state. | Hermann Goering’s last photo (through a window) is widely circulated but its exact context is debated. |
| He was convicted of war crimes at Nuremberg. | Edda Göring’s exact location and daily life after the war are not publicly documented in detail. |
The Context and Contradictions of a Nazi Leader
Hermann Göring must be understood within the complex hierarchy of the Nazi regime He was second only to Hitler, but he was also a rival of figures like Himmler and Goebbels His early statements, such as “I want justice for all,” stand in stark contrast to his later role in creating the Gestapo and concentration camps His drug addiction is a critical factor in understanding his poor leadership, particularly the stagnation of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, a failure that had significant consequences for the war.
The moral contrast with his brother Albert is one of the most compelling aspects of his story While Hermann built the machinery of genocide, Albert actively saved lives. This dichotomy serves as a powerful reminder of individual choice even within oppressive systems Göring’s legacy is not just one of power, but of deep, unforgivable criminality.
Quotes and Historical Sources
“I have no conscience! Adolf Hitler is my conscience.”
Hermann Goering, 1933, quoted in various histories
“The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused.”
Goering at Nuremberg, 1946
“Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat.”
Attributed to Goering (often cited as Nazi slogan)
What is the Final Verdict on Hermann Goering?
Hermann Göring was a man of immense energy, charisma, and ambition who used those qualities to become one of history’s most notorious criminals He was the architect of the Gestapo, the commander of the Luftwaffe, and the mastermind behind the economic plunder of Europe His suicide, a final act of defiance, denied justice its full measure but could not erase the weight of his crimes His story remains a powerful and grim lesson in the abuse of power.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hermann Goering
What was Hermann Goering’s voice like?
Recordings reveal a high, somewhat reedy voice despite his imposing physique He often spoke with a Bavarian accent.
What is the best Hermann Goering book?
Key biographies include ‘The Reich Marshal’ by Leonard Mosley and ‘Göring: A Biography’ by David Irving (controversial) Also ‘Hermann Göring: The Man and His Work’ by himself (propaganda).
Did Hermann Goering give a famous speech?
Yes, his 1936 speech at the Reichsparteitag highlighting the Four Year Plan, and his ‘Guns vs. Butter’ speech are the most frequently cited.
What was the relationship between Goering and Goebbels?
Rivalry – Goering saw himself as Hitler’s successor, while Goebbels was propaganda minister They competed for influence within the Nazi hierarchy.
How tall was Hermann Goering?
Approximately 5’9″ (1.78 m), though his substantial obesity made him appear significantly larger
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Lucy Hartley covers crime, courts and community affairs across Edinburgh and the Lothians.