Hermann Göring's Nuremberg Testimony

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Hermann Göring's testimony during his trial at Nuremberg, focusing on his statements regarding the vandalism of Jewish shops, the financial implications of the destruction, and his denial of involvement in the Reichstag fire. Participants explore various aspects of Göring's character and historical actions, including his early life and military career.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Historical
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the significant financial burden of replacing the glass broken during the vandalism of Jewish shops, suggesting that Göring anticipated reliance on foreign re-insurance to cover costs.
  • Others highlight Göring's denial of any party involvement in the Reichstag fire, with one participant expressing a belief in his claim based on his admissions of other actions.
  • There are comments on Göring's character, including skepticism about his military service during WWI and his later life as a morphine addict.
  • Some participants mention Göring's early life in Sweden and his connections to Swedish culture, including his first wife.
  • One participant references a book detailing an incident involving a Luftwaffe pilot, which provides an alternative perspective on Göring's actions during the war.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on Göring's character and historical actions, with no consensus reached on the interpretations of his testimony or the implications of his past. Disagreement exists regarding the credibility of his claims and the overall assessment of his role in history.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal opinions and interpretations rather than established historical facts. The discussion includes speculative elements about Göring's motivations and character, which remain unresolved.

Hornbein
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I read Hermann Göring's testimony at his trial in Nuremberg. On the night that the Jewish shops were vandalized and ransacked, so much glass was broken that replacing it would consume the entire Belgian glass output for six months. Germany had no glass industry so there was concern about replacements. The Nazis forbade having the Jews paid any insurance money, but foreign money was needed to replace the glass. Göring figured that the cost was so great that the German companies would not have enough funds so they must resort to the re-insurance they held for widespread catastrophes. The re-insurance was from foreign companies so foreigners would pay for the damage. This had to be in foreign currency as the replacement glass had to be of foreign origin and other countries didn't want Reichsmarks.

It was suggested that the money be paid to the Jews and then surreptitiously expropriated but Göring instead passed a law that all insurance payments must go to the German government.

Wiretaps were strictly regulated. Göring had to personally approve all wiretaps.

Göring denied any party involvement in the Reichstag fire and declared that "I almost perished in the flames." At the time Göring was president of the Reichstag. He was residing in the palace of the Reichstag president, which is across the street from the Reichstag itself. There was a big tunnel between the two structures for transporting coke for heating, so the fire menaced his residence. Since Göring freely confessed to worse things than this arson I am quite inclined to believe him. He makes no futile attempt to wiggle out of any of the charges, involvement in the Reichstag fire is the only act denied. It appears that his aim is to set the historical record straight.
 
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Hornbein said:
I read Hermann Göring's testimony at his trial in Nuremberg. On the night that the Jewish shops were vandalized and ransacked, so much glass was broken that replacing it would consume the entire Belgian glass output for six months. Germany had no glass industry so there was concern about replacements. The Nazis forbade having the Jews paid any insurance money, but foreign money was needed to replace the glass. Göring figured that the cost was so great that the German companies would not have enough funds so they must resort to the re-insurance they held for widespread catastrophes. The re-insurance was from foreign companies so foreigners would pay for the damage. This had to be in foreign currency as the replacement glass had to be of foreign origin and other countries didn't want Reichsmarks.

It was suggested that the money be paid to the Jews and then surreptitiously expropriated but Göring instead passed a law that all insurance payments must go to the German government.

Wiretaps were strictly regulated. Göring had to personally approve all wiretaps.

Göring denied any party involvement in the Reichstag fire and declared that "I almost perished in the flames." At the time Göring was president of the Reichstag. He was residing in the palace of the Reichstag president, which is across the street from the Reichstag itself. There was a big tunnel between the two structures for transporting coke for heating, so the fire menaced his residence. Since Göring freely confessed to worse things than this arson I am quite inclined to believe him. He makes no futile attempt to wiggle out of any of the charges, involvement in the Reichstag fire is the only act denied. It appears that his aim is to set the historical record straight.
Difficult to believe Fat Hermann flew fighters during WWI alongside Manfred 'Red Baron' von Richthofen. I would not credit any public statement from Göring although he did unwittingly assist Allied war effort by incompetently mismanaging WWII Luftwaffe.
 
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A partisan political comment has been deleted from the thread, and it is reopened provisionally. Please keep partisan political statements at that "other website". :wink:
 
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Klystron said:
Difficult to believe Fat Hermann flew fighters during WWI alongside Manfred 'Red Baron' von Richthofen
Difficult to believe you think he was fat during WW1. I don't think you thought that one through.
1765758013528.webp
 
Yeah he was quite a womanizer in his youth.

Later he became a fat morphine addict prone to dressing in Wagner costumes. And then he took his own life before he could witness before the tribunal didn't he?

Anyway, you can't have all.
 
Klystron said:
..although he did unwittingly assist Allied war effort by incompetently mismanaging WWII Luftwaffe.
I recently read A BOOK about THIS incident where a Luftwaffe pilot escorted a battered B-17 safely across the northern coast of Germany. Interesting perspective on the war (the book was mostly a biography of the German pilot) - he really hated Goering.
 
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