R.M. Goring in Heer Generals uniform...

[ApathyL]

Hi guys,

Just saw this on a doco, do you also think that it is H.Goring ? Its either a very early pic or i dont know why he would be in a Heer Gen.`s uniform..

Regards, Les.

[Steve Sherlock]

Yes, that is definitely Gõring. I've also wondered why he's wearing an army uniform, as I've seen that picture before. The picture is sometime before February, 1938, since Field Marshal von Blomberg, standing next to Göring, was dismissed that month. It's probably a few years earlier given the style of eagle on the visored caps.

BTW, until his dismissal, Blomberg was the ranking officer in the Wehrmacht, he being the only field marshal. Only after his dismissal, (which in itself is a very fascinating story and worth reading), was Göing promoted to field marshal, and hence the ranking Wehrmacht officer.

I, too, would like to learn the explanation of Göing in the army uniform.

Steve

[DonC]

This picture dates to before the Luftwaffe was unveiled. Hitler made Göring a Heer Generalmajor (which I am sure went over swimmingly with the Heer Old Boy's Club) in 1933 or 1934 (note the pre-1936 Heer eagles on Göring and von Blomberg's caps) - I cannot recall what year, prior to his ascension to command of the Luftwaffe. I believe he was simultaneously a general in the DLV. Someone with better LW connections can correct me if I am wrong. There's also another postcard photo of Hermann in Heer uniform with a steel helmet - it might be a Hoffmann, I am not sure.

Don

[Johnny R]

There are a fair number of pictures of him in Army uniform. I had a studio portrait of him wearing an army tunic with a sash that I sold over 20 years ago only to learn it was very rare and no one had seen that image. I may have a photo copy somewhere buried.

[SCHUPO]

Göring also wore this style of uniform as a Polizeigeneral as head of the Landespolizei. Photos show him wearing his Army General Officer uniform as earlly as 1934. The photo of him wearing his Blue Max and the sash mentioned by Johnny R is shown in "Tag der deutschen Polizei 1934"

[GFM]

Hindenburg promoted Goring to the rank of General der Infantry in August of 1933.

[DonC]

Wow. He really must have been senile... I'd love to see the rationale behind that. Thanks for the info, Mike!

Don