Most people know Hermann Göring as the face of Nazi Germany’s air force, but his reach went far beyond the Luftwaffe. He built the Gestapo, commanded the war economy, and was named Hitler’s successor. This article looks at his life, his crimes, and how he met his end, drawing on historical records and trial testimony.

Don't miss these

4 related posts

Full Name: Hermann Wilhelm Göring ·
Born: January 12, 1893 ·
Died: October 15, 1946 ·
Rank: Reichsmarschall ·
Role: Commander of the Luftwaffe ·
Trial Verdict: Guilty of war crimes

Quick Snapshot

1Confirmed Facts
2What’s Unclear
  • How Göring obtained the cyanide capsule in prison
  • The full extent of his paracodeine addiction during the war
  • Whether his IQ was genuinely 138 or lower
3Timeline Signal
  • 1923 – Wounded in Beer Hall Putsch (USHMM)
  • 1933 – Founded the Gestapo (Britannica)
  • 1946 – Committed suicide before execution (PBS)
4What’s Next
  • The Nuremberg Principles continue to shape international criminal law
  • Historians still debate Göring’s personal responsibility vs. Hitler’s orders

Ten key facts about Hermann Göring, one pattern: his career spanned from celebrated WWI aviator to the highest-ranking Nazi convicted at Nuremberg.

Label Value
Full Name Hermann Wilhelm Göring
Born January 12, 1893, Rosenheim, Kingdom of Bavaria
Died October 15, 1946, Nuremberg, Germany
Rank Reichsmarschall (highest in Nazi Germany)
Commands Luftwaffe (1935‑1945), Gestapo (founded 1933)
Political Party Nazi Party (NSDAP)
Spouse(s) Carin von Kantzow (1923–1931), Emmy Sonnemann (1935–1946)
Children Edda Göring (born 1938)
Criminal Status Convicted war criminal; sentenced to hang
Cause of Death Suicide by cyanide poisoning

Who Was Hermann Göring?

Early Life and WWI Service

Joining the Nazi Party

  • After the war, Göring met Adolf Hitler and joined the Nazi Party (PBS).
  • Hitler appointed him leader of the party’s paramilitary organization, the SA (USHMM Encyclopedia, the Holocaust memorial institution).
  • He was seriously wounded during the failed Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923 and fled abroad to avoid arrest (USHMM).
The paradox

A decorated war hero who later built the Nazi police state. Göring’s early bravery in the skies contrasted sharply with his later role as a brutal enforcer of Hitler’s regime.

The implication: Göring’s journey from national hero to war criminal reveals how institutional loyalty can override moral boundaries.

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

Commander of the Luftwaffe

  • Göring became head of the Luftwaffe, the German air force, under the Nazi regime (PBS).
  • His mishandling of the air force on the English and Russian fronts was widely viewed as evidence of his incompetence as commander (PBS).

Reichsmarschall

Designated Successor

  • Hitler named him his official successor in 1939 (Britannica).

A comparison of his key roles shows how power concentrated in one man:

Role Date Source
Prussian Minister of the Interior 1933 PBS
Commander of the Luftwaffe 1935 PBS
Reichsmarschall 1940 Wikipedia
Designated successor to Hitler 1939 Britannica

What this means: Göring’s formal titles gave him control over police, the economy, the air force, and the military chain of command – a concentration of power second only to Hitler himself.

Who Were Hermann Göring’s Wife and Daughter?

Emmy Göring

  • His second wife was actress Emmy Sonnemann, whom he married in 1935 (Britannica).
  • Emmy Göring remained with him until his death and was later tried and acquitted of denazification charges.

Edda Göring

  • His only daughter, Edda, was born in 1938 (Britannica).
  • Edda Göring became a non‑controversial figure after the war, living quietly and rarely speaking about her father.
The trade‑off

Göring’s personal life offered him a semblance of normalcy even as he orchestrated state terror. His family’s post‑war quiet stands in stark contrast to the destruction he helped cause.

The pattern: Göring’s family survived the regime’s collapse largely untouched, while millions of others did not.

Timeline

  • 1893 – Born in Rosenheim (Britannica)
  • 1914–1918 – Served as a flying ace, awarded the Pour le Mérite (PBS)
  • 1922 – Joined the Nazi Party and SA (USHMM)
  • 1923 – Participated in the Beer Hall Putsch, wounded (USHMM)
  • 1933 – Appointed Prussian Minister of the Interior; founded the Gestapo (Britannica)
  • 1935 – Appointed Commander‑in‑Chief of the Luftwaffe (PBS)
  • 1938 – Daughter Edda born (Britannica)
  • 1939 – Named Hitler’s official successor (Britannica)
  • 1940 – Promoted to Reichsmarschall (Wikipedia)
  • 1941 – Directed the implementation of the Final Solution (USHMM)
  • 1945 – Surrendered to U.S. forces (PBS)
  • 1946 – Convicted at Nuremberg; committed suicide (PBS)
Bottom line: Göring’s timeline shows a steep rise from war hero to police‑state architect, followed by a sharp fall at Nuremberg. For historians, the key lesson is how quickly institutional power can corrupt individual judgment.

Clarity: Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed Facts

  • He founded the Gestapo (Britannica)
  • He was commander of the Luftwaffe (PBS)
  • He was convicted and sentenced to death at Nuremberg (USHMM)
  • He committed suicide by cyanide (PBS)
  • He had a daughter named Edda with his wife Emmy (Britannica)

More related posts

The Open 2025: Results, Dates, Royal Portrush Recap MSTR Share Price: Is It a Good Buy? Predictions & Ownership Dakota Johnson: Chris Martin, Low Blood Sugar, Russell Crowe House of Guinness: True Story, Season 2 & Family Facts Brisbane Broncos Players – 2024 Full Squad and Key Stars Frieren Season 2: 10 Episodes, Schedule & Season 3 News King Charles Birthday: Why He Has Two Celebrations James Tedesco: Biography, Salary, State of Origin, and Ethnicity
Thomas Charlie Thompson Taylor

About the author

Thomas Charlie Thompson Taylor

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.