Hermann Goering: IQ, Mistakes, Death, and Biography
Few figures from the Nazi regime remain as contradictory as Hermann Goering: a decorated World War I flying ace who later became the second most powerful man in Hitler’s Germany, his story is one of ambition, addiction, and eventual disgrace. This article examines the facts behind his IQ score, the strategic failures that cost him Hitler’s trust, and the power struggles with Heinrich Himmler that defined the regime’s final years.
Born: January 12, 1893, Rosenheim, Germany ·
Died: October 15, 1946, Nuremberg, Germany (suicide) ·
Role in Nazi Party: Reichsmarschall, Commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s designated successor ·
Nuremberg Trial IQ: Estimated 130–138 (Wechsler-Bellevue scale) ·
Sentence: Death by hanging (commuted to suicide)
Quick snapshot
- Goering’s IQ was measured at 130–138 during the Nuremberg Trials (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
- He committed suicide by cyanide on October 15, 1946 (IMDb trivia)
- He was Hitler’s designated successor until 1945 (USHMM)
- He was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity (USHMM)
- The exact extent of his drug addiction’s impact on military decisions (ArcheoHistories)
- Whether his last words were accurately recorded as “The executioner is late” (IMDb trivia)
- Full details of his power struggle with Himmler in 1945 (USHMM)
- Suicide hours before execution on October 15, 1946 (IMDb trivia)
- Historical reassessment continues; Goering’s legacy as both war hero and war criminal remains contentious (USHMM)
Eight key facts about Hermann Goering, drawn from trial records and historical archives:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hermann Wilhelm Göring |
| Born | January 12, 1893, Rosenheim, Germany |
| Died | October 15, 1946, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Spouse | Carin von Kantzow (1923–1931); Emmy Sonnemann (1935–1946) |
| Children | Edda Göring (born 1938) |
| Military Rank | Reichsmarschall (highest rank in the Wehrmacht) |
| Notable Awards | Pour le Mérite, Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Nuremberg Trial IQ | 130–138 (Wechsler-Bellevue) |
What was the IQ of Hermann Goering?
During the Nuremberg Trials, U.S. Army psychologist Dr. Gustave Gilbert administered intelligence tests to the Nazi defendants. Goering scored between 130 and 138 on the Wechsler-Bellevue scale, placing him in the “superior” range (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). This figure has been widely cited in popular histories as evidence that high intelligence does not prevent participation in atrocities (ArcheoHistories).
IQ tests on Nazi leaders during the Nuremberg Trials
- Hjalmar Schacht scored highest (143) (ArcheoHistories)
- Joachim von Ribbentrop scored 129
- Rudolf Hess scored 120, though mental instability complicated assessment (ArcheoHistories)
- Goering’s score was higher than most other defendants (ArcheoHistories)
Nazi Leaders’ I.Q. – Who Was the Cleverest?
According to the testing data compiled by Gilbert and later summarized by historians, Goering ranked among the top five in IQ among the 21 defendants (ArcheoHistories).
The implication: IQ scores do not correlate with moral judgment. Goering’s high intelligence coexisted with full participation in crimes against humanity.
What were Hermann Goering’s mistakes?
Strategic failures as Luftwaffe commander
- Failed to win the Battle of Britain due to tactical errors and underestimating the RAF
- Overextended the Luftwaffe in the Soviet campaign, leading to resource depletion
Political miscalculations and loss of Hitler’s favor
- Lost Hitler’s trust after the Stalingrad defeat in 1943 (USHMM)
- Unauthorized peace feelers in 1945 led to his arrest for treason (IMDb trivia)
- Drug addiction (dihydrocodeine, morphine) impaired his judgment, as reported by contemporaries
The pattern: Goering’s combined failures in strategy, politics, and personal discipline sealed his fate.
Who was more powerful, Himmler or Göring?
Three dimensions of power, one clear shift over time:
| Dimension | Hermann Goering | Heinrich Himmler |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Position | Reichsmarschall, designated successor to Hitler | Reichsführer-SS, Chief of German Police |
| Control Over | Luftwaffe, Four Year Plan economy, Prussian police initially | SS, Gestapo, concentration camps, Waffen-SS |
| Power Peak | 1935–1941: commanded air force and economy | 1943–1945: security apparatus overshadowed all rivals |
| Relationship with Hitler | Close until 1943; then distrust and dismissal | Maintained Hitler’s trust until the final weeks |
| Downfall | Arrested for treason, suicide before execution | Arrested by British forces, suicide by cyanide |
For the first half of the war, Goering was clearly the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany (USHMM). But by 1943, Himmler’s grip on the security state made him the de facto number two, even as Goering still held the official title.
The trade-off: formal rank vs. real control. Goering had the titles; Himmler had the police and the trust of a paranoid dictator.
Who inherited Hitler’s wealth?
What happened to Hitler’s money after his death?
- Hitler’s estate was inherited by his sister Paula Hitler and later by other relatives
- After the war, Allied forces seized all assets
- No direct descendants exist; Hitler had no children
Do Adolf Hitler’s descendants get a cut of his painting profits?
- Profits from Hitler’s paintings are managed by the state of Bavaria, which refuses to pay royalties to any living relatives
The implication: Hitler’s personal fortune was seized by Allied forces and remains under state control.
What was Adolf Hitler’s IQ level?
Has Hitler’s DNA been found?
- Hitler’s IQ is estimated between 120–140 based on historical accounts and his writings
- No formal IQ test was administered to Hitler
- DNA analysis of Hitler’s relatives has been conducted, but no definitive findings about his intelligence
The catch: without a formal test, any IQ figure for Hitler is speculative. The Nuremberg data for Goering stands on firmer ground.
Timeline: Key milestones in Goering’s life
- 1893 – Born in Rosenheim, Germany (USHMM)
- 1914–1918 – Served as fighter pilot in WWI, awarded Pour le Mérite (USHMM)
- 1922 – Joined the Nazi Party (USHMM)
- 1933 – Appointed Minister President of Prussia; founded the Gestapo (USHMM)
- 1935 – Appointed Commander of the Luftwaffe (USHMM)
- 1939–1940 – Led Luftwaffe in Poland and France; Battle of Britain begins (USHMM)
- 1943 – Lost Hitler’s favor after Stalingrad; drug addiction worsens (USHMM)
- 1945 – Arrested by U.S. forces; tried at Nuremberg (IMDb trivia)
- October 15, 1946 – Committed suicide hours before scheduled execution (IMDb trivia)
Clarity check: What is known vs. what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Goering’s IQ was measured at 130–138 during the Nuremberg Trials (USHMM)
- He committed suicide by cyanide on October 15, 1946 (IMDb trivia)
- He was Hitler’s designated successor until 1945 (USHMM)
- He was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity (USHMM)
What remains uncertain
- The exact extent of his drug addiction’s impact on military decisions (reportedly severe, but not systematically documented)
- Whether his last words were “The executioner is late” – the account comes from prison guards but lacks corroboration (IMDb trivia)
- The full details of his power struggle with Himmler in the final months of the war – fragmentary records
“Goering was the second most powerful official in Nazi Germany for much of Hitler’s dictatorship.”
– United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)
“His last words were reportedly ‘The executioner is late.'”
– Prison guards quoted by IMDb trivia
“Goering’s drug use had become so severe that by 1945 he was often incoherent in meetings.”
– Albert Speer, as recorded in his memoirs (USHMM)
The story of Hermann Goering is a cautionary tale about the intersection of intelligence, ambition, and moral failure. For historians and readers trying to understand how a decorated war hero became a war criminal, the evidence is clear: high IQ does not inoculate against atrocity. The pattern of mistakes – tactical, political, and personal – offers a stark reminder that power without accountability leads to ruin. For anyone studying the Nazi regime, Goering’s trajectory is a case study in how unchecked authority and addiction can unravel even the most powerful figures.
For a deeper look at Hermann Görings WWI and Nazi career and his descent into addiction, OzReport offers a detailed account.
Frequently asked questions
What was Hermann Goering’s role in the Holocaust?
Goering was put in charge of coordinating Nazi Germany’s Jewish policy in 1938 and issued the directive that led to Kristallnacht. He also oversaw economic exploitation of Jewish property and approved the deportation of Jews to ghettos and camps (USHMM).
How did Hermann Goering die?
He committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule on the night of October 15, 1946, just hours before he was scheduled to be hanged (IMDb trivia).
Who was Hermann Goering’s wife?
He married Carin von Kantzow in 1923; she died in 1931. In 1935 he married Emmy Sonnemann, a German actress. They remained married until his death.
What happened to Hermann Goering’s daughter Edda?
Edda Göring was born in 1938 and lived a private life after the war. She passed away in 2018. She never married and had no children.
What were Hermann Goering’s last words?
According to prison guards, his last words were “The executioner is late” (IMDb trivia). The accuracy of the quote is disputed.
What is the Hermann Goering family today?
Goering’s direct line ended with his daughter Edda, who had no children. No living descendants carry the Göring name.
Read more about Eli Wallach, another WWII figure with a contrasting legacy.
Explore A History of Violence for perspectives on moral ambiguity.
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