Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Goering was born on January 12, 1893 near Rosenheim, Bavaria into a life of privilege. His father was a judge and friend of Otto von Bismarck. It was Goering's aristocratic background and war hero status that made him attractive to Hitler.

Answer: He was diagnosed with arthritis

He earned the Iron Cross (First Class) as an infantry officer and the Pour le Merite (the "Blue Max"), Germany's highest decoration, as a combat pilot. There was no question of his physical courage.

Answer: False

Goering was credited with 22 victories in the air at the end of WWI. In his 1959 book "Stepchild Pilot", Jagdgeschwader 1 pilot Joseph Doerflinger wrote the following about Goering: "If I am to tell my story honestly, I must say that I was greatly impressed when I reported to Goering.

He spoke in a strong and pleasant voice that reeked with poise, authority, and enthusiasm. Men in the squadron, I learned later, considered him at least the equal if not the superior of the fallen Baron (Manfred von Richthofen) who had been dead these three months."

Answer: Jagdgeschwader 1

Goering assumed command of Jagdgeschwader 1 (composite fighter group or wing) on 7 July 1918. JG1 was also known as the Flying Circus and the Richthofen Fighter Squadron. Baron Manfred von Richthofen was JG1's first commanding officer.

Answer: Fuehrer

Goering was Hitler's designated successor, but a failed request that he be allowed to take over once Hitler locked himself away in the bunker resulted in Goering's dismissal from all his posts, expulsion from the Nazi Party, and his arrest. Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz assumed the role of Reichsprasident (not Fuehrer) after Hitler's suicide.

Answer: Morphine

Goering became addicted to morphine in Austria while being treated for wounds sustained during Hitler's Munich Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

Answer: False

France and the United Kingdom believed the Luftwaffe was capable of overwhelming the other air forces of Europe. In fact, Goering's Luftwaffe was ill prepared for war in 1938. It was Goering's overstating German capability and belittling of other air forces that played a key role in France and the United Kingdom accepting Germany's bloodless annexation of the Sudetenland, provided by the Munich Pact in 1938, not actual Luftwaffe operations.

Answer: Poisoned himself

Goering committed suicide to avoid being hanged "like a common criminal." Goering died by ingesting a cyanide capsule. There has been speculation that a prison guard, possibly U.S. Army Lieutenant Jack Wheelis, or U.S. Army Private Herbert Stivers, provided Goering the poison, but no proof has been found.

Answer: Waging an illegal war

Goering was convicted of all four counts against him. The fourth charge was conspiring to wage war.

Answer: False

This "quote" has been attributed to Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare, neither of whom actually spoke or wrote it. Goering did say something quite similar to Mr. Gilbert, however -- "...the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.

It works the same way in any country."