Personal properties Hermann Göring

göring s reichsmarschall baton , smith & wesson revolver. left silver-bound guest book carinhall. (west point museum)

göring s name closely associated nazi plunder of jewish property. name appears 135 times on oss art looting investigation unit (aliu) red flag names list. compiled army intelligence in 1945-6 , declassified in 1997.

the confiscation of jewish property gave göring opportunity amass personal fortune. properties seized himself or acquired nominal price. in other cases, collected bribes allowing others steal jewish property. took kickbacks industrialists favourable decisions 4 year plan director, , money supplying arms spanish republicans in spanish civil war via pyrkal in greece (although germany supporting franco , nationalists).

göring appointed reich master of hunt in 1933 , master of german forests in 1934. instituted reforms forestry laws , acted protect endangered species. around time became interested in schorfheide forest, set aside 100,000 acres (400 km) state park, still extant. there built elaborate hunting lodge, carinhall, in memory of first wife, carin. 1934, body had been transported site , placed in vault on estate. main lodge had large art gallery göring displayed works had been plundered private collections , museums around europe 1939 onward. göring worked closely einsatzstab reichsleiter rosenberg (reichsleiter rosenberg taskforce), organisation tasked looting of artwork , cultural material jewish collections, libraries, , museums throughout europe. headed alfred rosenberg, task force set collection centre , headquarters in paris. 26,000 railroad cars full of art treasures, furniture, , other looted items sent germany france alone. göring repeatedly visited paris headquarters review incoming stolen goods , select items sent on special train carinhall , other homes. estimated value of collection—numbering 1,500 pieces—was $200 million.

göring s uniform on display @ luftwaffenmuseum der bundeswehr

göring known extravagant tastes , garish clothing. had various special uniforms made many posts held; reichsmarschall uniform included jewel-encrusted baton. hans-ulrich rudel, top stuka pilot of war, recalled twice meeting göring dressed in outlandish costumes: first, medieval hunting costume, practicing archery doctor; , second, dressed in red toga fastened golden clasp, smoking unusually large pipe. italian foreign minister galeazzo ciano once noted göring wearing fur coat looked high grade prostitute wears opera . threw lavish housewarming parties each time round of construction completed @ carinhall, , changed costumes several times throughout evenings.

göring noted patronage of music, opera. entertained , sumptuously, , hosted elaborate birthday parties himself. armaments minister albert speer recalled guests brought expensive gifts such gold bars, dutch cigars, , valuable artwork. birthday in 1944, speer gave göring oversize marble bust of hitler. member of prussian council of state, speer required donate considerable portion of salary towards council s birthday gift göring without being asked. field marshal erhard milch told speer similar donations required out of air ministry s general fund. birthday in 1940, italian foreign minister count ciano decorated göring coveted collar of annunziata. award reduced him tears.

standard, on display @ musée de la guerre in les invalides, paris

the design of reichsmarschall standard, on light blue field, featured gold german eagle grasping wreath surmounted 2 batons overlaid swastika. reverse side of flag had großkreuz des eisernen kreuzes ( grand cross of iron cross ) surrounded wreath between 4 luftwaffe eagles. flag carried personal standard-bearer @ public occasions.

though liked called der eiserne (the iron man), once dashing , muscular fighter pilot had become corpulent. 1 of few nazi leaders did not take offense @ hearing jokes himself, no matter how rude , taking them sign of popularity. germans joked ego, saying wear admiral s uniform take bath, , obesity, joking sits down on stomach . 1 joke claimed had sent wire hitler after visit vatican: mission accomplished. pope unfrocked. tiara , pontifical vestments perfect fit.