World War 2 Question No. 8: Could Hermann Goering Have Stopped Hitler and Prevented World War 2?
Answer. In the late 30's, Adolf Hitler seemed bound and determined to have his war of revenge. Only one man in Germany had the stature to possibly stop Hitler and he failed to act. Instead, he actually wrote the order that initiated the "final solution" for the German Jewish "problem" although he personally had no grudge against the Jews.
Hermann Goering, the Reich marshal, was second only to Hitler in Nazi Germany. Goering is best know for being commander of the Luftwaffe during the early battles of World War 2.
During World War 1, Goering, possessing great physical courage, was a fighter ace and became a hero to the German people. He met Hitler in 1922 and Hitler was very happy to have the World War 1 ace, Goering, join the Nazi Party where he rapidly rose to high positions. In 1923, Goering marched with Hitler in the Beer Hall Putsch and was severely wounded. During his recovery, he became addicted to morphine, an addiction he struggled with for some time.
Goering was a very shrewd individual and was one of the few Nazi leaders who foresaw the consequences of the war Hitler was starting.
"God save us if we lose this war!" he said as the war began.
The German people loved Goering more than any other of their leaders. He was fat and jolly (Falstaff?) and could make jokes about himself. He loved fancy uniforms and fine living (he even had his own train!) He often presented a garish figure wearing heavy rouge and other makeup and sometimes wearing ladies coats. A really eccentric figure.
Goering had certain good qualities: During the "Night of the Long Knives" when anyone opposing the Nazis was being slaughtered, it was Goering who finally prevailed on Hitler to stop the slaughter. (Cynics have noted that Goering took this action only after his personal enemies had been eliminated.)
Goering also had the good quality of adoring both his wives, Carin (who died early on) and Emmy. (Emmy Goering was of strong character who was not afraid to help her Jewish friends and Goering, on several occasions, had to plead her case with Hitler.)
Goering also had no personal grudge against the Jews as did Hitler and Goebbels and certain other Nazis. He promoted individuals who almost certainly were of Jewish ancestry. When questioned about this, Goebbels said, "I will determine who is Jewish and who is not!" Obviously, Goering was a very confident individual. Goering cynically used the Jewish question as it suited him.
However, Goering's greatest crime of the war was related to the Jewish issue. On July 31, 1941, at Hitler's order, Goering sent a letter to Reinhard Heydrich (a very sadistic individual) ordering him to submit a plan for a "final solution" to the Jewish problem. In doing so, Goering kept to his policy of always carrying out Hitler's orders without protest. Millions of Jews were to die as a result of the "final solution."
Goering was loyal to Hitler until the last days of the war when he tried but failed to take over command of the government. At the Nuremberg trials, Goering had fully recovered from his drug addiction and tried to dominate the other Nazi prisoners to such an extent that he had to be separated from them.
Two hours before he was to hang, Goering committed suicide with a cyanide pill he had kept hidden. Some references report that the German people were pleased to hear that Goering had beat the hangman's noose. He was still their favorite.
It has been said that, of all the leaders of Nazi Germany, Goering was the only one with the stature to have a chance to control Hitler and prevent World War 2. Goering had great physical courage. Too bad he didn't have the moral courage to, at least, try to control Hitler. Tens of millions of people might not have had to die.
