Definition

Proper noun A prominent German political and military leader in Nazi Germany. He was a leading member of the Nazi Party, one of the most powerful figures in the regime, and a key architect of its police state and war machinery.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Hermann Göring was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).
  • The trial at Nuremberg found Hermann Göring guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
  • Historians study the role of Hermann Göring in the establishment of the Gestapo.

Advanced Usage

• "Göring's legacy": Refers to the lasting historical impact and consequences of his actions and policies.
  • Göring's legacy is one of aggression, persecution, and total war.
• "To quote Göring": Used when referencing something he famously said, often to illustrate Nazi ideology.
  • To quote Göring, "Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat."

Variants and Related Words

• Goering: An alternative, anglicized spelling of the surname "Göring."
• Reichsmarschall: The unique highest-ranking military title he held, specifically created for him.
• Luftwaffe: The German Air Force which he commanded and built.

Synonyms

• Nazi leader: A general term for a high-ranking official in the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
• War criminal: A person who has committed crimes violating the laws and customs of war, as he was adjudged to be.

Related Phrases

• Founder of the Gestapo: A phrase describing his direct role in creating the Nazi secret police apparatus.
• Defendant at Nuremberg: A phrase identifying his status as a major accused person in the post-World War II trials.

Related Idioms

• "Göring's failure": Often used to refer specifically to the failure of the Luftwaffe to achieve air superiority during the Battle of Britain, a major strategic setback.
  • The inability to defeat the Royal Air Force was Göring's failure.

Noun

1. German politician in Nazi Germany who founded the Gestapo and mobilized Germany for war (1893-1946)