High-Ranking Nazi Hermann Göring Surrenders to the U.S. 36th Infantry Division in May 1945

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As Nazi Germany collapsed in the final days of World War II, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, one of Adolf Hitler’s highest-ranking deputies and head of the Luftwaffe, attempted to position himself as Hitler’s successor. On April 23, 1945, he sent a message to Hitler suggesting he take over leadership, since Hitler was trapped in Berlin. Hitler interpreted this as treason and stripped Göring of all titles and ordered his arrest. Realizing Germany’s defeat was imminent, Göring attempted to surrender to the Western Allies rather than fall into Soviet hands. On May 6, 1945, he surrendered to U.S. forces near Radstadt in Austria. He was taken into custody without resistance. The Americans treated Göring as a high-value prisoner. He was interrogated, held at Camp Ashcan (the interrogation center for senior Nazis), and later became the top defendant at the Nuremberg Trials. During the trials he attempted to defend the Nazi regime and portray himself as Hitler’s rational counterbalance, but he was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sentenced to death by hanging, Göring avoided execution by committing suicide with cyanide on October 15, 1946. Subscribe to chronoshistory: http://goo.gl/IVGjVB #secondworldwar #history #hermanngöring #nuremberg #russellcrowe #ramimalek #michaelshannon #johnslattery