Hermann Goering was the man who played a significant role in the history of the Nazi Germany. The success he achieved during his lifetime was truly a great one. He was a smart man who had a big desire to serve his country. Not many people know that success wasn’t everything there was in his life. His later years are marked by several failures. The man that once was thriving and wealthy ended his life by committing suicide.
Today, we want to share with you the most interesting facts about this man that many people may not know about. Let’s see what these facts are…
Hermann Goering: 8 interesting facts about the founder of Gestapo
1. Hermann Goering didn’t spend much time with his parents during his first years of life
Hermann Goering was born in January 1893 to Heinrich Goering and Franziska Tiefenbrunn. Heinrich was a well-off diplomat. He often travelled overseas. At the time Hermann was born, his father was appointed a consul general in Haiti. Franziska decided to join her husband. She asked a friend to take care of the baby-born Hermann and went to Haiti for almost 3 years. The family was reunited in 1895 when Hermann’s parents returned to Germany.
2. Hermann Goering dreamt of a military career since an early age
Hermann’s father was a friend of Otto von Bismarck, known under the nickname “Iron Chancellor”, an interesting fact about Hermann Goering. He wanted his son to build a successful military career. Luckily, Hermann was interested in military service from an early age. He spent hours playing with toy soldiers and entertaining himself with various war games. He also liked to wear the uniform that his father gave him as a present.
At the age of 11, he was sent to boarding school. Hermann disliked the place. He came home on his own and never returned to the school.
He spent his days reading different legends and he also became interested in mountain climbing. He also climbed several peaks in Germany and the Austrian Alps. Even though he spent much time climbing mountains, he didn’t forget about his biggest dream. At the age of 16, he started attending a military academy. His teachers characterized him as a brilliant student, an interesting fact about Hermann Goering.
After graduating from the academy, Hermann joined the Prince Wilhelm 112th Garrison. Unfortunately, his father couldn’t celebrate that event with him. He died one month before Hermann’s graduation.
3. Hermann Goering’s brother Albert was against the Nazis and their law
Since Hermann’s younger brother openly stated that he was against the Nazis, he criticized Hermann’s action and helped the Jews in every way possible. When the Second World War ended, Hermann’s younger brother came back to Germany. Because he was the brother of Hermann Goering, it was impossible for him to build a successful career. He was never promoted to a highly-ranked position.
4. Hermann Goering played a significant role in the history of medicine
Apart from the areas of politics and military service, Goering significantly contributed to the development of medicine. Truth be told, this was never his aim. It happened due to the lack of morphine, the drug that was used to relieve pain. Goering ordered pharmaceutical companies to develop and produce a special drug. The drug that could be used as a replacement for heroin and help to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The scientists developed a formula of methadone. The drug is used nowadays as a cure for heroin addiction.
5. Hermann Goering was addicted to morphine
Hermann met Hitler in 1921, and the speech of Hitler inspired him very much. One year later, he joined the Nazi Party. In his effort to seize the party, the Nazis organized the Beer Hall Putsch. Goering was playing one of the key roles in this event. He was badly injured. The Putsch failed, and Goering was expected to be arrested soon. Fortunately for him, together with his wife, he managed to escape to Austria.
He was undergoing treatment there. Due to the severe pains from the injuries, he was given morphine and as a result, he became addicted to morphine. The addiction was so strong that he had to undergo special treatment in one of the mental hospitals of Sweden, an interesting Hermann Goering fact.
6. Hermann Goering was appointed the head of the SA units
Hermann Goering and Adolf Hitler became close friends. In 1923, Hitler appointed Goering the head of the SA units. He stated that Goering was the only one capable of running them properly. It was really so. In a very short time, the division expanded. Soon, there were about 11,000 men in it. As for Goering, his efforts were rewarded generously. He was promoted to the Lieutenant-General of the SA.
7. Hermann Goering was interested in art
A fun fact about Hermann Goering is that Goering developed a passion for art in his later years. He supported financially several music composers. He also collaborated with the organization that illegally confiscated various masterpieces of cultural significance from private collections and museums in Europe.
8. Hermann Goering was expected to become Hitler’s successor
The Decree of 1941 stated that Goering was the second-in-command. Once it became clear that the Nazis would lose the war, Hitler expressed a desire to stay in berlin and commit a suicide.
Shortly after the speech, Goering wrote to Hitler a letter saying that would take hold of the Third Reich. However, this never happened. One of Hermann’s rivals told Hitler that Goering demanded for a total control of the Reich no matter whether Hitler wanted it or not.
The Fuhrer declared Gering a traitor, expelled him from the Party and stripped him of all his privileges.
Conclusion
The last years of his life Goering spent in Mautendorf where he had a castle. During the Nuremberg trial, Goering tried to present himself as a peacemaker rather than an aggressor. He committed suicide one day before he was to be hanged.
We hope that the facts provided helped you to know more about the life and career of Hermann Goering. If you are interested, visit the Historical People Facts Page!