Herman Goering Essay

Herman Goering made a significant contribution to 20th century history. He was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party who affected history many significant ways. From childhood, Goering displayed psychological symptoms that would influence his entire life. These symptoms included aggressive egotism, a vivid fantasy life that would blur the distinctions between reality and fantasy, a tendency to dominate the environment through showmanship and brute force, and an emotional insensitivity and perverted humour which allowed him to approve measures under the Nazis whose repercussions are felt today. Goering’s early desire to join the Nazi Party satisfied his aggressiveness, greed, status strivings, and militant nationalistic ego. From there his prodigious abilities together with his close friendship to Hitler allowed Goering to assume positions of power which culminated in activities such as his leadership of the Luftwaffe, the creation of the Gestapo, and a leading role in the invasion of Austria and later Poland which lead to the start of World War II. He was also actively involved in the holocaust. Gilbert and other sources support the view that Goering, because of his psychological makeup and desire for power was responsible for the above actions. During the Nuremberg trial it was stated that: ...Goering was the adviser, the active agent of Hitler, and one of the prime leaders of the Nazi movement… He developed the Gestapo and he first concentration camps... Roehm purge…threatened to bomb Prague… attack on Poland… use of slave labour…persecuted the Jews.” Hermann Goering was born on the 12th of January 1893 at the Marienbad sanatorium in Rosenheim, Bavaria. He had 5 siblings and another five half siblings, all born from the same father Heinrich Ernest Goering a former cavalry officer. At the time Goering was born, his father was serving as consul general in Haiti, and his mother returned home briefly to give birth. She