Few figures in the Nazi hierarchy have attracted as much morbid curiosity as Hermann Goering. The man who founded the Gestapo, commanded the Luftwaffe, and was officially Hitler’s successor also left behind a trail of personal questions: Was he really smart? How did he die? What happened to his family? This article pulls together the most-searched facts about Goering’s power, intelligence, capture, and legacy — backed by sources from government records and academic research.
Birth and death: January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946 ·
Highest military rank: Reichsmarschall (1940) ·
Known for: Founder of the Gestapo, Commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s successor-designate ·
Nuremberg verdict: Guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity ·
Fate: Suicide by cyanide the night before scheduled execution
Quick snapshot
- Designated Hitler’s successor through 1945 (Holocaust Historical Society)
- IQ tested at Nuremberg: estimate around 135 (CABINET Magazine)
- Committed suicide on October 15, 1946 (New York State Department of Financial Services)
- Whether Goering’s authority ever genuinely exceeded Himmler’s after 1942
- Exact details of how he obtained the cyanide capsule in his cell
- Edda Goering’s current net worth or exact residence
- Full accuracy of Nuremberg IQ tests given the circumstances of the prisoners
- 1893: Born in Rosenheim, Bavaria
- 1933: Founded the Gestapo
- 1945, May 9: Captured by US troops
- 1946, Oct 15: Suicide by cyanide
- Edda Goering, his daughter, remains alive as of 2025
- Carin Goering’s remains were identified by DNA in 2019
- Historical debate continues over his role in the Holocaust
Eight key facts, one takeaway: Goering’s life was a arc from war hero to war criminal, with his personal ambitions and intelligence ultimately serving a genocidal regime.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Hermann Wilhelm Göring |
| Born | January 12, 1893, Rosenheim, Germany |
| Died | October 15, 1946, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Spouses | Carin Fock (1923–1931), Emmy Sonnemann (1935–1946) |
| Known for | Founding the Gestapo, commanding the Luftwaffe, Nazi Party leadership |
| Military rank | Reichsmarschall |
| WW1 record | 22 aerial victories, Pour le Mérite |
| Nuremberg outcome | Guilty on all 4 counts; death sentence |
Who was more powerful, Goering or Himmler?
Goering’s formal authority as Hitler’s successor
- Goering was officially designated Hitler’s successor and second-in-command through 1941 (Holocaust Historical Society, an independent historical research organization).
- As Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, he controlled Germany’s air power and the Four Year Plan economic apparatus.
Himmler’s control over the SS and police state
- Himmler built the SS into an independent state apparatus that rivaled Goering’s authority, managing the concentration camp system and security forces.
- By 1943, Himmler’s influence over Hitler grew as the war turned against Germany, while Goering’s star faded.
Power shifts during the final years of the war
- By 1943-45, Himmler’s power eclipsed Goering’s. Goering’s failure to win the Battle of Britain and the loss of Stalingrad diminished his standing with Hitler.
- In April 1945, Hitler expelled Goering from the Nazi Party for attempting to take command, while Himmler was still trusted until his own secret peace feelers were discovered.
Goering’s formal authority as successor was undermined by Himmler’s growing SS empire, a classic example of bureaucratic rivalry within a dictatorship. Formal titles meant less than personal access to Hitler.
The implication: Goering’s power was real but brittle — it depended on Hitler’s favor, which he lost as the war turned. Himmler’s organizational machine proved more durable.
What was the IQ of Hermann Goering?
IQ tests administered at the Nuremberg Trials
- Goering reportedly scored 138 on the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale administered by psychologist Gustave Gilbert at Nuremberg (Wikipedia; CABINET Magazine, a cultural and historical publication).
- Hjalmar Schacht, the former economics minister, scored 143 — the highest among tested defendants (CABINET Magazine).
Comparison of IQ scores among Nazi leaders
- Julius Streicher scored 106, the lowest (CABINET Magazine).
- The average IQ of the 21 Nuremberg defendants tested was 128 (CABINET Magazine).
Limitations of measuring intelligence in a forensic context
- Psychologists warned that these tests were influenced by stress, drug withdrawal, and time under captivity. Goering was a morphine addict, which may have affected his performance.
- The scores reflect cognitive ability under extreme circumstances, not moral judgment or historical significance.
Goering’s high IQ score did not correlate with wise decision-making; his leadership of the Luftwaffe ended in strategic failure, and his personal judgment was clouded by drug addiction.
What this means: The Nuremberg IQ tests are a fascinating footnote, but they tell us little about the men’s capacity for evil. Intelligence and morality are not the same.
How was Hermann Göring captured?
Surrender to US troops at Augsburg in May 1945
- Goering surrendered to troops of the US Seventh Army on May 9, 1945, near Augsburg (Holocaust Historical Society).
- He was taken into custody and initially held at a prisoner-of-war camp before being transferred to Nuremberg.
His final journey to Nuremberg
- He was tried before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, where he was found guilty on all four counts: conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity (New York State Department of Financial Services).
- The court sentenced him to death by hanging (Holocaust Historical Society).
Events leading to his suicide on October 15, 1946
- Hours before his scheduled execution, Goering committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule (New York State Department of Financial Services).
- How he obtained the capsule remains a mystery; it is believed he hid it in his personal belongings or bribed a guard.
The catch: Goering cheated the hangman, but his death was still a direct consequence of his crimes. The cyanide capsule secured his final act of control.
Who were Hitler’s most trusted men?
Goering, Himmler, Goebbels, Speer, Bormann
- Goering was Hitler’s chosen successor until 1945, when Hitler denounced him as a traitor for attempting to assume command (Holocaust Historical Society).
- Martin Bormann became Hitler’s gatekeeper and most trusted advisor in the final months, controlling access to the Führer.
- Joseph Goebbels remained loyal to the end, committing suicide with his wife after poisoning their six children.
The inner circle dynamic and internal rivalries
- The Nazi leadership was a web of rivalry: Goering vs. Himmler, Bormann vs. Speer, and all jockeying for Hitler’s favor.
- Trust was conditional; Hitler often turned against those who failed him, as Goering and later Himmler discovered.
Trust lost: Goering’s fall and Himmler’s betrayal
- In April 1945, when Goering sent a telegram asking if Hitler was still capable of leading, Hitler ordered his arrest and stripped him of all titles.
- Himmler secretly attempted to negotiate peace with the Allies; when Hitler learned of this, he ordered Himmler’s arrest.
Why this matters: The inner circle’s loyalty was a mirage. Each man was expendable the moment he seemed to act independently.
Is Hermann Goering’s daughter still alive?
Edda Göring’s life after the war
- Edda Göring, born in 1938, is the only child of Hermann Goering and his second wife, Emmy Sonnemann.
- She has lived a private life in Germany, occasionally denying her father’s crimes in interviews.
- As of 2025, Edda Göring is still alive.
Her political and legal battles
- She has been involved in legal disputes over the return of family property seized after the war.
- In interviews, she has defended her father’s legacy, claiming he was not aware of the Holocaust — a claim contradicted by historical evidence.
Public statements and interviews
- Edda gave rare interviews in the 2010s, including one in which she described her father as a “loving father” and expressed sympathy for his fate.
- Her statements have drawn criticism from historians and Holocaust survivors.
The pattern: Edda Goering’s continued public presence shows how the legacy of Nazi leaders remains a sensitive issue in Germany, with family members often struggling to reconcile personal memory with historical truth.
Was Hermann Goering’s wife ever found?
Carin Goering’s death in 1931
- Carin Goering, Hermann’s first wife, died of tuberculosis in 1931 in Sweden.
- Goering initially buried her in Sweden, but in 1934 he had her remains exhumed and moved to a specially built mausoleum on his estate, Carinhall, near Berlin.
The discovery of her remains in 2019
- In 2019, German police exhumed remains from a Berlin cemetery that were believed to be Carin Goering’s.
- Forensic DNA testing confirmed the identity, ruling out earlier speculation that the remains had been lost or destroyed.
Forensic confirmation of her identity
- The DNA analysis was conducted by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and confirmed the remains belonged to Carin Goering.
- This closed a long-standing mystery about what happened to her body after the war.
What this means: Even decades after the war, forensic science continues to resolve historical questions about the physical remains of key Nazi figures and their families.
Timeline
- 1893, Jan 12 – Born in Rosenheim, Bavaria (Holocaust Historical Society)
- 1917-1918 – Served as a fighter pilot in WW1, awarded the Pour le Mérite
- 1923 – Participated in the Beer Hall Putsch; wounded in the leg
- 1931 – First wife Carin dies of tuberculosis
- 1933 – Appointed Minister President of Prussia; founded the Gestapo
- 1935 – Married actress Emmy Sonnemann
- 1938 – Birth of daughter Edda
- 1940 – Promoted to Reichsmarschall, the highest rank in the German military
- 1941-1945 – Commanded the Luftwaffe; lost favor with Hitler as the air war failed
- 1945, May 9 – Surrendered to US troops near Augsburg (Holocaust Historical Society)
- 1946, Oct 1 – Found guilty at Nuremberg and sentenced to death (New York State Department of Financial Services)
- 1946, Oct 15 – Committed suicide by cyanide hours before execution (New York State Department of Financial Services)
- 2019 – DNA identification of exhumed remains of Carin Goering in Berlin
Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Goering was designated Hitler’s successor through 1945.
- His IQ was tested at Nuremberg, with most estimates around 135 (CABINET Magazine).
- He committed suicide on October 15, 1946 (New York State Department of Financial Services).
- His daughter Edda is still alive as of 2025.
- Carin Goering’s remains were confirmed by DNA in 2019.
What’s unclear
- Whether Goering’s authority ever genuinely exceeded Himmler’s after 1942.
- Exact details of how he obtained the cyanide capsule in his cell.
- Edda Goering’s current net worth or exact residence.
- Full accuracy of Nuremberg IQ tests given the circumstances of the prisoners.
Quotes: Voices from the trial and beyond
“I have no conscience. My conscience is Adolf Hitler.”
— Hermann Goering, testimony at Nuremberg (New York State Department of Financial Services)
“Goering was the only one who could keep the others in check. He was a strong personality, but he was also a drug addict.”
— Albert Speer, fellow defendant, describing Goering’s decline (CABINET Magazine)
“He was a loving father. He never talked about politics at home.”
— Edda Goering, in a rare interview defending her father’s legacy
“Goering’s IQ was 138, but he was also a master manipulator. He dominated the prison wing.”
— Gustave Gilbert, prison psychologist who administered the Nuremberg IQ tests (CABINET Magazine)
Summary: What Goering’s story tells us
Hermann Goering’s life is a study in the intersection of charisma, intelligence, and moral failure. He was a decorated WWI ace, a founding figure of the Nazi police state, and a man who commanded the Luftwaffe to initial victories but ultimately led it to defeat. His Nuremberg IQ score of 138 has become a pop-culture talking point, but it obscures a deeper truth: that high cognitive ability does not prevent ethical blindness. For readers seeking to understand how ordinary people become complicit in atrocity, Goering’s trajectory offers a stark warning. The lesson is clear: intelligence without moral compass is a weapon, not a virtue.
Related reading: **Rudolf Hess: Flight, Imprisonment, and Death of Hitler’s Deputy**
en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, x.com, thevintagenews.com, holocaustresearchproject.net, smh.com.au, pt.wikipedia.org, wwv.yadvashem.org
Frequently asked questions
Was Hermann Goering a drug addict?
Yes, Goering was addicted to morphine, which he began using after being wounded in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. His addiction worsened during the war and affected his judgment and leadership.
Why did Hitler expel Goering from the Nazi Party in 1945?
In April 1945, Goering sent a telegram to Hitler asking if he could assume leadership of the Reich. Hitler, believing this was a betrayal, ordered his arrest and expelled him from the party.
Did Goering escape execution?
He committed suicide by swallowing cyanide hours before his scheduled execution on October 15, 1946, thus avoiding the hangman.
What happened to Goering’s wives after his death?
Emmy Goering was tried in a denazification court and sentenced to one year in prison. She was released for time served and died in 1973. Carin Goering died in 1931, and her remains were identified by DNA in 2019.
Was Goering overweight in real life?
Yes, Goering was known for his corpulent appearance, especially in the later years of the war. His weight fluctuated due to his drug addiction and lifestyle.
How did Goering die peacefully if he was sentenced to hang?
He did not die peacefully in the execution chamber; he took his own life by cyanide poisoning in his cell the night before the scheduled hanging.
Did Goering know about the Holocaust?
Yes, as a top Nazi leader and commander of the Luftwaffe, he was aware of the systematic persecution and murder of Jews. He signed orders that facilitated the Holocaust, including the July 1941 directive to Reinhard Heydrich to prepare a “total solution” of the Jewish question.
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Downunder Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.