Goering - Supreme Pretender Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hermann

Hermann Goering spent most of his childhood living in a castle near Nuremberg. The castle was owned by his mother's Jewish lover, who the family spent much time with while his father served as a diplomat abroad and from 1885-90 as the first German colonial governor of South-West Africa (modern Namibia).

Answer: 1893

Due to his charm, Goering was popular. He found favour amongst Nazis as well as amongst foreign diplomats. In July 1940 he took the special rank of Reichsmarschall (Imperial Marshal).

Answer: Dunkirk and The Battle of Britain

For all his charm, the Reichsmarshall was powerless to press his own plans against Hitler's opposition. Unable to convince his Fuhrer that Germany needed more fighters, not bombers, he lost face when the Luftwaffe allowed the British to escape at Dunkirk and then lost the Battle of Britain.

Answer: Pour le Mérite for shooting down 22 planes

Goering is known as a fighter ace for shooting down 22 planes during the First World War. This achievement won him the highest award given by the Kaiser, "Pour le Mérite", often referred to as the "Blue Max".

Answer: True

Goering was wounded by police during a Nazi march in 1923. This injury was the source of his addiction to morphine. Goering is credited with having set up the Gestapo in 1933. He later became the Minister responsible for the German economy and for putting it on a war footing.

It is said that after the Nuremberg trials, Goering's body, along with the others sentenced to death, were burnt in the relit ovens of Dachau concentration camp and then the ashes were scattered in the Isar river.

Answer: Prussia

After joining the Reichstag in 1928, he soon became the leader of the Nazi Party there and in January 1933 he became the president ('speaker') of the Reichstag. In 1933, when Hitler became the German Chancellor he appointed Goering Prime Minister of Prussia.

Answer: Economy

After playing a part in the suppression of democracy in Germany using the Gestapo, Goering became Air Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe as well as overall head of the Nazi economy.

Answer: He commited suicide

Goering was the most senior Nazi leader tried at Nuremberg. He was arrogant and pompous throughout the trials and was eventually sentenced to death. However, he poisoned himself the night before he was due to be hanged.

Answer: Fatty

Although Goering possessed great charm and charisma, his pilots saw straight through the vast wealth, estates and art treasures to see a vain and self-centred man. Hence the nickname "Fatty".

In World War I, however, he had been held in high regard.

Answer: He was a commercial pilot

After being awarded the Pour le Mérite, he went on to fly commercially for both Denmark and Sweden. He became a fervent supporter of Hitler in 1921 after meeting Hitler.