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Göring's Secret: The Story of Hitler's Marshall

Best Documentary・26 minutes read

Hermann Goering's rise to power alongside Hitler, his involvement in atrocities and preparations for war, and ultimate downfall and suicide reveal the complex and influential role he played during World War II. Despite his attempts at peace diplomacy and leadership of the Luftwaffe, Goering's actions ultimately led to catastrophic losses and his sentencing to death for war crimes.

Insights

  • Hermann Goering, a key figure in the Nazi regime, played a pivotal role in shaping Germany's military and political landscape, from establishing the Gestapo to leading the Luftwaffe during WWII, ultimately facing the consequences of his actions through a trial and subsequent death sentence.
  • Despite Goering's initial aspirations for Germany's dominance in a global conflict, his leadership of the Luftwaffe faced significant challenges and defeats, culminating in a lack of resources, internal struggles, and catastrophic losses, leading to the eventual downfall of Germany in the war.

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Recent questions

  • What role did Hermann Goering play in the Luftwaffe?

    Commander in Chief

  • Where did Hermann Goering retreat to during wartime defeats?

    Carinhall

  • What was the outcome of Hermann Goering's trial?

    Sentenced to death

  • What was the significance of Carinhall in Hermann Goering's life?

    Symbol of career

  • What was Hermann Goering's role in the Nuremberg race laws?

    Involvement

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Summary

00:00

Goering: Hitler's confidant and powerful ally.

  • Films from Hermann Goering's private collection reveal his favorite role amidst cheering masses in Austria in May '38.
  • Goering, Hitler's confidant and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe, created a powerful weapon.
  • Goering's career was closely intertwined with Hitler's, raising questions about their common path.
  • Carinhall, Goering's castle-like residence in Schorfheide, was a symbol of his flamboyant career.
  • Goering, involved in regime atrocities, withdrew to Carinhall during wartime defeats.
  • Following Hitler's death, Goering, the highest-ranking living Nazi, took his own life in a camp for war criminals.
  • Goering's childhood in Franconia, his military aspirations, and his meeting with his first wife, Carin, shaped his life.
  • Goering's political rise under Hitler led to the establishment of the Gestapo and his key role in the dictatorship.
  • Goering's involvement in the Nuremberg race laws and the buildup of the German air force showcased his power.
  • Goering's pivotal role in the economy, the annexation of Austria, and preparations for war highlighted his influence alongside Hitler.

20:16

Goering's Rise and Fall in WWII

  • Goering anticipates a great war, where Germany would become the top global power and control world markets, despite the risks involved.
  • Goering practices peace diplomacy behind the scenes, receiving diplomats from Hungary, Poland, and Great Britain to improve relations with London.
  • At the Munich Conference in September '38, Goering presents a treaty to maintain peace, criticized by Hitler, leading to German troops entering the Sudetenland in October '38.
  • Goering's relationship with Hitler deteriorates, with Hitler calling him a coward, while Goering senses the inevitability of war but doesn't openly oppose it.
  • Despite Goering's assurance to Hitler about the Luftwaffe's readiness for war, he suppresses reality and is impressed by the air force's strength, with 400,000 personnel by summer of 1939.
  • Goering's attempts to prevent war fail, leading to the attack on Poland in September '39, where the Luftwaffe easily gains control, and Goering orders the dispossession of Polish Jews.
  • Goering's involvement in the war escalates, with his role in the deportations of Jews and the establishment of ghettos, leading to the extermination camps.
  • The Battle of Britain in 1940 marks Goering's first significant defeat, with the Luftwaffe unable to achieve air supremacy, leading to a shift in the war's dynamics.
  • Goering's leadership of the Luftwaffe faces challenges, with the defense system being chaotic, and the failure to provide adequate supplies to encircled troops in Stalingrad.
  • As the US Air Force gains control over Germany in 1944, Goering's Luftwaffe is severely weakened, lacking resources and clear decisions, leading to catastrophic losses and the eventual defeat in the war.

41:59

Luftwaffe's Challenges and Downfall in WWII

  • In November '44, 404 fighter planes are lost and 244 pilots killed, highlighting the significant casualties during this period of the war.
  • The hope for regaining air supremacy lies in the Me 262 jet fighter, with 1,400 jets delivered but over 200 never taking off, showcasing the challenges faced by the Luftwaffe.
  • Adolf Galland, a Luftwaffe general, criticizes the material inferiority of their weapons, leading to his fall from favor and replacement in January '45, indicating the internal struggles within the Luftwaffe.
  • Hermann Goering, once a powerful figure, is arrested and later found guilty of all indictments, sentenced to death for his role in the atrocities committed during the war.
  • Goering's final act is planning his suicide, hiding poison capsules to avoid facing the consequences of his actions, revealing his lack of remorse till the end.
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