Before WWIIHermann Goering served as a fighter pilot during World War I. In 1921, Goering met Adolf Hitler and joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, which later became known as the Nazi Party. Goering became a loyal follower of Hitler. He attended the Munich Putsch in 1923, where he was injured and arrested. However, he escaped the police and ran away to Austria with his wife Carin von Kantzow. In 1927, he returned to Germany and began to gain power in the Reichstag, the German parliament. In 1935, when Hitler created the Luftwaffe, he appointed Goering as the head of the Luftwaffe. ("Hermann Goring")
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During WWII |
Hermann Goering thought that the war would be quick, and that long-range strategic bombers were unnecessary (Constable). At the start of WWII, Goering was very enthusiastic about leading the Luftwaffe. However, he made some critical decisions that led to their loss of air superiority. For example, he convinced Hitler to let him bomb the Allied troops at Dunkirk. However, these attacks were unsuccessful, as many Allied troops were able to evacuate to Britain. Also, he signed a decree to stop developing and producing aircrafts in 1940 because he thought that the war would be over shortly. This decision caused the Luftwaffe to not have modern aircrafts and equipment, allowing the other Air Forces to catch up. Goering did poorly leading the Luftwaffe. He became obsessed with wealth and extravagance, taking many vacations at luxurious estates. He feared Hitler and often exaggerated the Luftwaffe's power so that he would not be disappointed. (Faber) Goering blamed his pilots for the Luftwaffe's failure, but did not take any of the blame for himself (Constable).
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Death |
On May 5, two days before Germany surrendered, Goering was taken prisoner by the Americans. A year later, at the Nuremburg Trails, he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging. On October 15, 1946, he took poison two hours before his execution. (Constable)
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