Hermann Göring – Death, Trial, and Role in the Holocaust

Hermann Wilhelm Göring was one of the most powerful Nazi leaders, according to Wikipedia. As Hitler’s close associate and commander of the Luftwaffe, he stood at the center of the regime’s political and military hierarchy. He was later held among the principal figures responsible for the regime’s crimes, including the Holocaust.

After the Second World War, Göring was convicted at the Nuremberg trials and sentenced to death. He died by cyanide suicide on 15 October 1946, hours before the execution was to take place, in Nuremberg, Allied-occupied Germany.

Göring’s trajectory from decorated war hero to condemned war criminal raises enduring questions about how the Nazi regime operated and how its leaders were held accountable.

How Did Hermann Göring Die?

Göring was the lead defendant at the Nuremberg trial of Nazi leaders, which ran from November 1945 to September 1946. At the end of the proceedings, he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and was sentenced to death by hanging.

His profile, in brief:

Several points stand out in historical assessments of Göring:

• Göring was Hitler’s designated successor for most of the Nazi era.
• His addiction to morphine and other drugs affected his later performance and decisions.
• He gave written authorization for the “Final Solution” to Heydrich in 1941.
• He was sentenced to death at Nuremberg but avoided execution by suicide.
• His weight fluctuated dramatically; he was known for his corpulence later in life.
• He founded the Gestapo in 1933.
• He held the rank of Reichsmarschall, the highest in Nazi Germany.

Key facts at a glance:

The execution was scheduled for 15 October 1946, but Göring took his own life hours before it could be carried out. The New York Department of Financial Services records the cause of death as suicide by cyanide poisoning. PBS’s American Experience likewise notes that Göring killed himself on the night before the execution was to take place.

Who Was Hermann Göring’s Family?

Göring was married twice. His second wife, Emmy Sonnemann, married Göring in 1935. The couple’s daughter, Edda Göring, was born in 1938.

Who Was Emmy Göring?

Emmy Sonnemann Göring is identified in biographical overviews as Göring’s wife from 1935. The historical sources confirm the marriage but do not offer a detailed biography of her life.

Who Was Edda Göring?

Edda Göring, the couple’s only child, was born in 1938. As with her mother, the principal sources confirm her existence and birth year but do not provide a fuller account of her life.

What Happened to the Family After the War?

Documented information about the post-war lives of Emmy and Edda Göring is limited. The main biographical sources confirm the marriage and the birth of Edda but do not follow the family beyond 1945.

What Was Hermann Göring’s Rank and Role in Nazi Germany?

Göring’s authority in Nazi Germany rested on a combination of military rank, party standing, and state offices.

The Rank of Reichsmarschall

According to Britannica’s summary of Göring, he served as head of the German air force, the Luftwaffe, and held the title of Reichsmarschall, the highest military rank in Nazi Germany. Film and television databases such as IMDb describe him as the regime’s top air commander and one of Hitler’s most prominent lieutenants.

Role in the Nazi Party

Göring joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and rose quickly through its leadership, according to Britannica. In the 1930s he held major state and party offices, including control over Prussian police institutions and later economic and military responsibilities.

Hitler’s Second-in-Command

Göring was Hitler’s designated successor for most of the Nazi era. He became Minister President of Prussia in 1933, was appointed Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan in 1936, and was promoted to Reichsmarschall in 1940.

What Was Hermann Göring’s Role in the Holocaust?

Göring’s role in the Holocaust was central but indirect in the bureaucratic sense, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He was among the principal Nazi leaders tied to the policies of persecution and extermination, and he was the lead defendant at the Nuremberg trial of Nazi leaders.

Responsibility for the Gestapo

In 1933, Göring became Minister President of Prussia and founded the Gestapo. This placed him at the heart of the police apparatus used to persecute political opponents and, later, Jewish people across Europe. These actions took place within the broader framework of The Holocaust.

The 1941 Authorization

In 1941, Göring gave written authorization for the “Final Solution” to Reinhard Heydrich. The document and its wording are widely discussed in Holocaust historiography.

The Nuremberg Judgment

The Nuremberg trial examined Göring’s responsibility for these crimes. As the lead defendant, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and was sentenced to death by hanging.

What Were the Key Events in Hermann Göring’s Life?

1. 1893: Born in Rosenheim
2. 1914–1918: Fighter pilot in WWI, awarded Pour le Mérite
3. 1922: Joins Nazi Party
4. 1933: Becomes Minister President of Prussia, founds Gestapo
5. 1935: Marries Emmy Sonnemann
6. 1936: Appointed Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan
7. 1940: Promoted to Reichsmarschall
8. 1941: Orders Heydrich to prepare for the “Final Solution”
9. 1945: Arrested by US troops, faces Nuremberg trial
10. 1946: Sentenced to death; commits suicide night before execution

The dates are drawn from the principal biographical sources cited above.

What Is Known and What Is Uncertain About Hermann Göring?

Most of the broad outlines of Göring’s life are well documented. Some specific details, however, are recorded inconsistently or remain the subject of debate.

Göring’s drug addiction is frequently mentioned in historical discussions. One documentary source describes him as a “morphine-addicted” Reichsmarschall. A detailed medical biography of his addiction, however, is not provided in the principal sources reviewed.

Why Does Hermann Göring Still Matter Historically?

Göring’s rise mirrored the rise of the Nazi Party. His early popularity and war hero status gave him a unique position within the regime, and his trajectory illustrates how political violence was normalized in Germany in the 1930s.

His drug addiction, often downplayed in earlier histories, severely impacted his judgment and leadership. HistoryExtra has examined how drug use shaped his later years and decisions.

The Nuremberg trial showcased his intelligence and defiance. His suicide became a symbol of Nazi defiance and the failure of justice to hold him accountable. More recently, productions such as the 2023 film Nuremberg with Russell Crowe have kept Göring in public discourse, while historical analysis of his drug use and its impact on Nazi leadership continues to expand.

Which Sources Document Göring’s Life and Crimes?

The documentary record of Göring’s life is extensive. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum holds documentation of his role in Nazi persecution policies, while the Nuremberg trial transcripts preserve his own testimony. The Holocaust Explained provides an educational overview of the same period.

“The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused.”

— Hermann Göring, at the Nuremberg trials

What Is the Bottom Line on Hermann Göring?

Göring was one of the most powerful Nazi leaders, the head of the Luftwaffe, and a central defendant at Nuremberg. He was convicted of crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, sentenced to death, and took his own life before the sentence could be carried out. His legacy remains tied to the persecution and extermination policies of the Nazi regime.

What Else Do People Ask About Hermann Göring?