Nazi Hunters (TV Mini Series) Goering: The Star Exhibit (2010) User Reviews

Good overview of one of the most infamous nazis, but could have gone on much longer

[nickenchuggets · 8/10 · 1 May 2021]

Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering was probably the most flamboyant of Hitler's leading nazis. Head of the German air force, the Luftwaffe, prime minister of Prussia, as well as Hitler's designated successor from 1941 on, Goering racked up victory after victory in the early stages of the war against poland, france, and the low countries, as the world got its first taste of nazi blitzkrieg. At the end of the war in europe, Goering was apprehended by the americans and made to stand trial for his crimes during the war at Nuremberg. Found guilty of being implicated in the holocaust, Goering was sentenced to death but managed to commit suicide by swallowing a capsule of cyanide a couple of hours before he was supposed to be hanged. This final episode of nazi hunters takes a look at his past and how a man born like any other was able to propel himself to the position of being second only to Hitler himself. Nowadays, it is easy to laugh at him because of corpulent frame and affinity for collecting pet lions, but unlike many other german generals, Goering was an intelligent and imposing figure. In the first world war, he becomes a very experienced fighter pilot, shooting down 22 enemy aircraft, 17 of which are credited definitely to him. After Manfred von Richthofen, the famous red baron, is killed in 1918, Goering takes his place and serves as the last commander of his Jasta 11 squadron. After the war though, Goering suffers along with the rest of Germany as harsh restrictions are imposed on the nation by the Versailles treaty. Germany is essentially militarily neutered, and the country is not allowed to have an army larger than 100 thousand men, have armored vehicles, an air force, submarines, or full sized battleships. Hidden from the world, Goering supervises the rearmament of Hitler's new reich. In the early stages of the war, Goering's Luftwaffe pummels everything in its way, with german dive bombers acting as flying artillery to kill enemy strongholds and bunkers. Even at this early stage in the war, Hitler's confidence in Goering starts to shrink drastically as his air force is unable to bomb britain into surrendering during the summer of 1940, and Germany turns its attention to the war in Russia. As the war on the eastern front drags on into 1942, Goering's luck continues to run out. The German sixth army is crushed at Stalingrad. Goering promises the fuhrer that his air force will fly in much needed supplies and guns, but the soviets encircle the city and over 100 thousand germans are killed. While all this is going on, the reich itself is getting pummeled. American and British bombers thunder over germany, day and night, flattening cities, docks, and industrial facilities. In Dresden, thousands of people are killed in just one night. Goering was now finally paying the price for his decision earlier in the war for Germany not to have a long range bomber aircraft that can attack targets as far away as America's eastern seaboard. The rest of this episode mainly focuses on Goering's attempted usurpation of Hitler, when he tries to telegram Hitler and asks him to "hand over total control of the reich and represent Germany in both internal and external affairs, at home and abroad." As a result, Hitler becomes enraged and Goering is stripped of his right of succeeding him, setting the stage for when he is eventually captured. Overall a good and captivating watch that is well worth your time.