What was the role of Hermann Goering in World War 2?
Goering was the commander of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) during this period, and was seen, early in the war at least, as second in line to Hitler in the Third Reich’s hierarchy. He seems to have lost credibility following the failure to defeat the RAF in the Battle of Britain, with Goebbels and Himmler both superceding him in Hitler’s esteem as the war dragged on. In the end, he surrendered to the allies and was later convicted at Nuremberg of crimes against humanity. Sentenced to death, he escaped the executioner’s noose, however, by taking poison shortly before he was due to be hanged.
