german january october german politician military leader leading member veteran world war fighter pilot ace recipient pour known blue max commander fighter wing led member earliest days wounded failed coup known beer hall addicted treated drug injuries helping adolf hitler power second powerful man germany founded later gave command appointed commander chief luftwaffe air force position held final days world war peak power influence minister charge year plan responsible functioning german economy build world war hitler promoted rank rank senior commanders hitler designated successor deputy offices standing hitler reduced beginning luftwaffe failed stop allied bombing german cities unable resupply german forces trapped largely withdrew military political scene focused acquisition property artwork taken jewish victims holocaust informed april hitler intended commit suicide sent telegram hitler requesting permission assume control considering act treason hitler removed positions expelled party ordered arrest world war convicted war crimes crimes humanity trials sentenced death hanging committed suicide night sentence carried early life born january bavaria father october december cavalry officer governor general german modern day children previous marriage fourth children second wife july peasant elder siblings younger brother albert time born father serving consul general haiti mother returned home briefly birth left week old baby friend bavaria child years returned germany godfather wealthy jewish physician businessman father met africa provided family surviving pension family home berlin small castle called near mother mistress time remained years acquired minor title service donations crown interested career soldier early age enjoyed playing toy soldiers dressing boer uniform father given sent boarding school age food poor discipline harsh sold violin pay train ticket home took bed illness told return continued enjoy war games pretending lay siege castle studying legends mountain scaling peaks germany austrian alps sixteen sent military academy graduated distinction war crimes trials psychologist measured having intelligence joined prussian army year mother falling family forced leave moved munich father died shortly world war began august stationed regiment world war year world war served infantry regiment area garrison town french frontier hospitalized result damp trench warfare recovering friend convinced transfer october air combat force german army request turned later year flew observer informally transferred discovered sentenced weeks confinement barracks sentence carried time supposed imposed association official assigned team flew reconnaissance bombing missions crown prince invested class completing pilot training course assigned seriously wounded hip aerial combat took nearly year recover transferred commanded february steadily scored air victories assigned command serving continued win victories addition 1st 2nd class received swords swords class finally pour according knew men lobby award finished war victories thorough post war examination allied loss records showed claimed victories doubtful possible certain highly likely july following death successor commander famed flying circus arrogance unpopular men squadron days war repeatedly ordered withdraw squadron point ordered surrender aircraft allies refused pilots intentionally crash landed planes falling enemy hands like german veterans proponent stab legend belief held german_army lost war instead betrayed civilian leadership jews especially republicans overthrown german monarchy world war remained aviation war tried briefly worked spending living denmark moved sweden joined swedish airline hired private flights winter hired fly castle stockholm invited spend night time seen emblem set chimney piece family badge time saw future wife count introduced sister law née estranged husband years year old son immediately asked meet stockholm arranged visit home parents spent time left munich political science university obtained divorce followed munich married february home hunting lodge alps near kilometres munich met adolf_hitler joined moved suburb munich early nazi career joined hearing speech hitler given command later appointed lieutenant general held rank rolls time liked hitler played meetings leading nazis including husband hitler hitler later recalled early association liked head heads ran properly gave short time organised division men hitler held mass meetings rallies munich early 1920s attempting gain supporters bid political power inspired march rome nazis attempted seize power november failed coup known beer hall hitler heading march shot leg fourteen nazis policemen killed nazis including hitler arrested help smuggled received surgery given pain remained hospital december beginning addiction lasted imprisonment authorities munich declared wanted man short funds reliant good nazi abroad moved austria venice visited rome florence met expressed interest meeting hitler prison personal problems continued mother ill difficulty raised money spring journey sweden austria czechoslovakia poland danzig violent family shocked deterioration ill weak heart allow doctors charge son taken father certified dangerous drug placed asylum september violent point confined psychiatrist felt condition caused solely drug left facility briefly return treatment returned germany amnesty declared resumed working aircraft industry hitler written prison released december ill tuberculosis died heart failure october period rebuilding waiting economy recovered meant fewer opportunities nazis change reorganised head founded initially bodyguard hitler membership party increased elections party obtained seats available elected representative bavaria wall street crash led disastrous german economy election won votes seats hitler sent mission vatican met future pope july election nazis won seats far away largest party longstanding tradition nazis entitled select president able elect post fire fire occurred night february arrive scene van der communist radical arrested claimed sole responsibility fire immediately called crackdown communists nazis took advantage fire advance political aims passed day hitler urging suspended basic rights allowed detention trial activities suppressed communist party members arrested demanded shot head prussian political police ignored order researchers including opinion responsible starting fire trials general testified admitted responsibility starting fire said held hitler birthday said knows set fire testimony denied story second marriage early 1930s company actress hamburg married april berlin wedding celebrated huge scale large reception held night berlin opera house fighter aircraft flew overhead night reception day ceremony daughter born june nazi hitler named chancellor germany january appointed minister portfolio minister commissioner aviation named minister head hoped create unified police force germany november established prussian police force head force called thinking ruthless use effectively counteract power handed control april time numbered million men hitler deeply concerned chief planning coup plotted use crush members got wind proposed action thousands took streets violent demonstrations night june enraged hitler ordered arrest leadership shot dead cell refused commit suicide personally went lists numbering thousands determined shot people killed period june july known night long knives hitler admitted july killings entirely illegal claimed plot underway overthrow law passed making action legal criticism met arrests terms treaty versailles place end world war stated germany allowed maintain air force signing police aircraft permitted appointed minister germany began accumulate aircraft violation treaty existence luftwaffe formally acknowledged aviation minister cabinet meeting september hitler announced german programme sped october hitler named year plan undertake task created new organisation administer plan drew labour agriculture umbrella bypassed economics ministry policy making decisions minister charge huge expenditures spite growing resigned december took position control way institutions brought control auspices year plan july established state ownership led aim steel production level private enterprise economically provide involved affair led war minister field marshal army commander general acted witness wedding year old january information received police showed young bride prostitute felt tell hitler saw event opportunity dispose field marshal forced resign want appointed position superior days later revealed file contained allegations homosexual activity blackmail charges later proven false lost hitler trust forced resign hitler opportunity leadership military asked post war minister turned appointed rank field marshal hitler took supreme commander armed forces created subordinate posts head main branches service minister charge year plan concerned lack natural resources germany began pushing austria incorporated province rich iron ore deposits country home skilled labourers useful hitler favour takeover austria native country met february austrian chancellor threatening invasion peaceful unification forthcoming legal austria gain power base referendum scheduled march hitler approve wording austrian head state demand resignation threatening invasion german troops civil unrest members resigned march cancelled morning german troops border marched austria meeting resistance named foreign minister february continued involve foreign affairs july contacted british government idea official visit discuss germany intentions czechoslovakia favour meeting talk pact signed britain germany february visited warsaw quell rumours upcoming invasion poland conversations hungarian government summer discussing potential role invasion czechoslovakia rally september speakers denounced inferior race conquered chamberlain met hitler series meetings led signing munich agreement september turned control germany world war success fronts senior officers concerned germany ready war hitler insisted pushing ahead soon possible invasion poland opening action world war began dawn september later day speaking hitler designated successor germany big german victories followed quick succession help luftwaffe defeated week seized vital airfields norway captured fort belgium luftwaffe played critical roles battles netherlands belgium france spring fall france hitler awarded grand cross successful leadership field marshal ceremony hitler promoted rank greater german special rank senior field military including luftwaffe result promotion ranking soldier germany end war received knight september commander chief luftwaffe declared war germany immediately invasion poland july hitler began preparations invasion britain plan royal_air_force raf bombing raids commenced british air installations cities centres industry announced radio speech single enemy aircraft flies german soil return raf began bombing german cities confident luftwaffe defeat raf days like admiral commander chief kriegsmarine navy chance success planned invasion hoped victory air force peace invasion campaign failed postponed indefinitely september defeat luftwaffe attempted defeat britain strategic bombing october hitler cancelled onset winter end year clear british morale shaken blitz bombings continued decline fronts spite pact signed nazi_germany began invasion soviet_union june initially luftwaffe advantage destroying thousands soviet aircraft month fighting hitler staff sure campaign christmas provisions reserves men equipment july germans planes remaining operation troop losses men choice concentrate attack vast efforts directed capturing moscow long successful hitler ordered halt advance moscow temporarily diverted groups north south aid pause provided opportunity fresh reserves historian considers major factors caused failure moscow offensive resumed october poor weather conditions fuel shortages delay building aircraft bases eastern_europe supply lines factors hitler permission partial retreat mid january time losses comparable french invasion russia hitler decided summer campaign concentrated south efforts capture battle major turning point war began august bombing campaign luftwaffe entered city location line possible soviets trap reinforcements supplies surrounded end november promised luftwaffe able deliver minimum tons supplies trapped men day basis assurances hitler demanded retreat fight man able supplies delivered exceeded tons day remnants men army surrendered early february captives survived russian prisoner war camps germany war germany strength american british bomber fleets increased based britain began operations german targets thousand bomber raid staged cologne air raids continued targets britain auxiliary fuel tanks installed american fighter aircraft refused believe reports american fighters shot far east winter reputation began decline american range miles began accompany bombers large numbers target area early point onwards luftwaffe began suffer casualties sufficiently replace targeting oil rail communications allied bombers crippled german war effort late german civilians blamed failure protect homeland hitler began excluding conferences continued positions head luftwaffe year plan lost hitler trust began spend time residences day june luftwaffe fighters small number bombers area landings allies total strength aircraft end war soviets approached berlin hitler efforts organize defence city meaningless futile birthday celebrated berlin april occasion leave taking nazis included time evacuated building destroyed art treasures moved arrived estate april day hitler lengthy generals publicly admitted war lost intended remain berlin end commit suicide stated better position negotiate peace settlement week start soviet invasion hitler issued decree naming successor event death operations chief present hitler notified chief staff meeting hours later sensing implications immediately flew feared accused treason tried power hand feared accused duty reviewed copy decree naming hitler successor placed line succession stated hitler lost freedom action complete authority act hitler behalf deputy state secretary concluded remaining berlin face certain death hitler governing agreed clear duty power hitler motivated fears rival seize power hitler death killed traitor mind sent carefully telegram asking hitler permission leader germany stressing acting hitler deputy added hitler reply night april assume hitler lost freedom action assume leadership telegram intercepted convinced hitler traitor telegram demand resign overthrown hitler sent reply prepared help informing resigned immediately executed high treason soon afterward hitler removed offices ordered staff placed house arrest announcement radio resigned health reasons april complex attack allies moved castle testament hitler expelled party formally rescinded decree making successor appointed navy commander chief president commander chief armed forces hitler wife committed suicide april hours hastily arranged wedding freed passing luftwaffe unit way american lines hopes surrendering russians taken custody near elements united_states_army likely saved life ordered executed berlin fallen trial death flown camp temporary prisoner war camp housed palace hotel les mild derivative taking equivalent grains day strict diet lost pounds tested custody found nazi officials transferred september location series military beginning november second highest ranking nazi official tried president admiral prosecution indictment charges including charge conspiracy war aggression war crimes including removal germany works art property crimes humanity including disappearance political opponents und night fog decree torture ill treatment prisoners war murder civilians including time estimated jews permitted present lengthy statement declared sense indictment guilty trial lasted days prosecution presented case november march defence presented lasted march sentences read september forced remain silent seated dock communicated opinions proceedings gestures shaking head laughing constantly took notes defendants tried control erratic behaviour seated breaks proceedings tried dominate defendants eventually placed solitary confinement attempted influence testimony captain german speaking american intelligence officer psychologist interviewed prison trial gilbert kept journal later published diary describes evening april trials halted day easter cell evening defensive happy turn trial taking said control actions defense anti semitic believed atrocities jews offered testify behalf occasions course trial prosecution showed films concentration camps atrocities present including found contents films shocking said films faked witnesses including tried portray peaceful moderate stated impossible oppose hitler orders likely meant death oneself family behalf emphasised loyalty hitler claimed know happened concentration camps control gave convoluted answers direct questions plausible actions war witness stand venue great length role attempting present diplomat outbreak war cross examination chief prosecutor read minutes meeting held shortly major november meeting plotted jewish property wake later proved impossible known iii murders shooting airmen recaptured escaping time prevented killings presented clear evidence knew hungarian jews found guilty counts sentenced death hanging judgment stated said moving force second leader leading war political military leader director slave labour programme creator oppressive programme jews races home abroad crimes frankly admitted specific cases conflict testimony terms broad outline sufficiently wide conclusive guilt guilt unique record man appeal asking shot soldier instead hanged common criminal court refused sentence imposed captors committed suicide potassium capsule night hanged theory obtained poison holds lieutenant stationed trials retrieved hiding place personal effects confiscated army handed prisoner gave gold watch pen cigarette case private served 1st 26th infantry regiment honour guard trials claimed gave medicine hidden inside fountain pen german woman asked prison later said know suicide body executed men displayed execution ground witnesses executions bodies cremated munich ashes scattered personal properties jewish property gave opportunity personal fortune properties seized acquired nominal price cases collected bribes allowing steal jewish property took favourable decisions year plan director money supplying arms spanish republicans spanish civil war greece germany supporting franco nationalists appointed master hunt master instituted reforms forestry laws acted protect endangered species time interested set aside acres km2 state park extant built elaborate hunting lodge memory wife body transported site placed vault estate main lodge large art gallery displayed works plundered private collections museums europe onward worked closely organisation tasked looting artwork cultural material jewish collections libraries museums europe headed task force set collection centre headquarters paris railroad cars art treasures furniture looted items sent germany france repeatedly visited paris headquarters review incoming stolen goods select items sent special train homes estimated value collection numbering pieces million known extravagant tastes clothing special uniforms posts held uniform included jewel pilot war recalled twice meeting dressed costumes medieval hunting costume practicing doctor second dressed red golden smoking unusually large pipe italian foreign minister noted wearing fur coat looked like high grade prostitute wears opera threw lavish parties time round construction completed changed costumes times evenings noted patronage music especially opera entertained frequently hosted elaborate birthday parties armaments minister recalled guests brought expensive gifts gold bars dutch valuable artwork birthday gave marble bust hitler member required donate considerable portion salary council birthday gift asked field marshal told similar donations required general fund birthday italian foreign minister decorated collar award reduced tears design standard light blue field featured gold german eagle reverse flag grand cross iron cross surrounded luftwaffe eagles flag carried personal standard bearer public occasions liked called der iron man muscular fighter pilot nazi leaders offense hearing jokes matter rude taking sign popularity germans joked ego saying wear admiral uniform bath sits stomach joke claimed sent wire hitler visit vatican mission accomplished pope perfect fit holocaust far mainly adopted attitude party politics required deputy jewish parent supported laws later initiated economic measures unfavourable jews required registration jewish property year plan meeting held financial burden jewish losses good german owned insurance companies proposed jews fined billion marks meeting options disposition jews property discussed jews segregated encouraged property seized programme compensation seized property low given detailed minutes meeting documents read trial proving knowledge persecution jews told gilbert supported anti jewish measures known going happen thought eliminate jews positions big business government claimed july issued memo ordering organise practical details solution jewish question time letter written jews killed poland russia conference held months later formally announced genocide jews europe official policy attend conference present meetings number people killed discussed support anti nazi brother younger brother albert despised offered active resistance regime including helping prisoners escape concentration camps arrested times secured release time daughter told guardian albert certainly help people need financially personal influence soon necessary involve higher authority officials support father decorations awards german iron cross 2nd class september 1st class march 2nd class september 1st class september september victories luftwaffe french campaign award decoration july golden party badge pour knight military merit order blood order commemorative medal november 1st 2nd class foreign grand order rising sun japan member class order michael brave kingdom romania knight order stephen kingdom hungary commander order sword kingdom sweden knight order crown italy kingdom italy
Hermann Göring