End of the war Hermann Göring

göring in captivity 9 may 1945

as soviets approached berlin, hitler s efforts organise defence of city became ever more meaningless , futile. last birthday, celebrated @ führerbunker in berlin on 20 april 1945, occasion leave-taking many top nazis, göring included. time, carinhall had been evacuated, building destroyed, , art treasures moved berchtesgaden , elsewhere. göring arrived @ estate @ obersalzberg on 22 april, same day hitler, in lengthy diatribe against generals, first publicly admitted war lost , intended remain in berlin end , commit suicide. stated göring in better position negotiate peace settlement. in 1941—a week after start of soviet invasion—hitler had issued decree naming göring successor in event of death.

okw operations chief alfred jodl present hitler s rant, , notified göring s chief of staff, karl koller, @ meeting few hours later. sensing implications, koller flew berchtesgaden notify göring, feared being accused of treason if tried take power. on other hand, if did nothing, feared being accused of dereliction of duty. after hesitation, göring reviewed copy of 1941 decree naming him hitler s successor. not placed göring first in line of succession, stated that, if hitler ever lost freedom of action, göring had complete authority act on hitler s behalf deputy. after conferring koller , hans lammers, state secretary of reich chancellery, göring concluded that, remaining in berlin face death, hitler had incapacitated himself governing. agreed göring therefore had clear duty take power in hitler s stead. motivated fears rival, martin bormann, seize power upon hitler s death , have him killed traitor. in mind, göring sent worded telegram asking hitler permission take on leader of germany, stressing acting hitler s deputy. added that, if hitler did not reply 22:00 night (23 april), assume hitler had indeed lost freedom of action, , assume leadership of reich.

detention report

the telegram intercepted bormann, convinced hitler göring traitor , telegram demand resign or overthrown. hitler sent reply göring—prepared bormann s help—informing him that, unless resigned immediately, executed high treason. afterward, hitler removed göring of offices , ordered göring, staff, , lammers placed under house arrest @ obersalzberg. bormann made announcement on radio göring had resigned health reasons.

by 26 april, complex @ obersalzberg under attack allies, göring moved castle @ mauterndorf. in last , testament, hitler expelled göring party , formally rescinded decree making him successor. appointed karl dönitz, navy s commander-in-chief, president of reich , commander-in-chief of armed forces. hitler , wife, eva braun, committed suicide on 30 april 1945, few hours after hastily arranged wedding. göring freed on 5 may passing luftwaffe unit, , made way lines in hopes of surrendering them rather soviets. taken custody near radstadt on 6 may elements of 36th infantry division of army. move saved göring s life; bormann had ordered him executed if berlin had fallen.