Hermann Göring: The Rise and Fall

by Ian Baxter

A former Great War fighter pilot, Hermann Göring became, at his height, the second most powerful Nazi. Ambitious and ruthless, in addition to being a primary architect of the Third Reich state police and Gestapo, his numerous appointments included Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Director of the Four Year Plan and playing a leading role in the Final Solution to the ‘Jewish Question’. By the outbreak of the war in 1939, he was acknowledged as Hitler’s successor and in 1940 was given the special rank of Marshal of the Empire and senior to all field marshals through the German armed services. Due to being held responsible for a number of military disasters, Göring’s pre-eminent position declined as the war dragged on to the point where he was expelled from the Party for ‘illegally attempting to seize control of the State’. Captured by the Allies, he was found guilty at Nuremberg of being a leading war aggressor and advocate of the persecution of Jews and other races. He cheated the hangman by committing suicide.

The career of this leading Nazi is admirably described here in words and copious images.

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2024

About the author

Ian Baxter is a military historian who specializes in German twentieth-century military history. He has written more than forty books and over 100 articles about the World War II era.

He has reviewed numerous military studies for publication and supplied thousands of photographs and important documents to various publishers and film production companies worldwide.

Reviews

[Patricia Comeford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains an excellent selection of photographs of Hermann Goring, one of the most handsome and accomplished men who ever lived. The book also provides a fairly good description of his life and extremely impressive career.
What I didn't like about the book were the harsh and exaggerated criticisms (by the author and the Nuremberg judges) of Goring's character and his actions. I believe he wasn't responsible for all of the war crimes of which he was accused, that he was doing the best he could for his country, and from that point of view, was an exceptionally honorable and admirable man.

[pallav mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great book in terms of details, but a great coffee table book with a lot of rare photographs of Göring and people surrounding him through WWII. I think the only objective of this book was to showcase these rare pics, but not chronicle the life of the Reichsmarschall der Grossdeutsches Reiches.