1928 Goering.

[A. F Medic]

Goering really loved medals......

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[GRF]

Perhaps a case of "big hat no cattle"? GRF

[gunner]

Perhaps a case of "big hat no cattle"? GRF

You got it!!!

Regards

Ulrich

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Actualy Goering earned most those medals in WW1 as a fighter pilot including the "Pour Le Merit"
What happened later is another story. Turned into a drug addict because of morphine given when he was wounded.

You might want to keep in mind that the photo was in the 1930's evidenced by the number of S.A. in the pic so any of what he was wearing then was from the Imperial german government.

There was a joke much later that he had his medals made of rubber so he could wear them in the bathtub. But later medals he had were under Hitler.

I don't care for him at all. but give credit where it's due.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

John,

I almost wrote exactly what you said, but had a hard time taking up for him for the way he acted after he became a Nazi and what he did in WWII.

He was a good pilot and highly decorated squadron leader in WWI, but went nuts later after he became a drug addict and ultimately megalomaniac clown who stole untold treasures during German occupation in WWII.

[smellie]

Yes, Fat Hermann stole a lot of art during the Second War but he also bought quite a lot. He liked really rare stuff and when he got the chance to pick up a few Vermeers, he paid cash-on-the-nail. Only problem was that they were several hundred years newer than they should have been, painted by a guy named van Meegheren (if that's the right spelling). Notorious case: museums are still full of fake Vermeers.

AND, on the medals side of things, he DID award himself the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross as a tribute to himself (and the Luftwaffe) in the taking of France.... and then declared the Order permanently 'closed' so that nobody else could get one.

But the World War I medals he won, fair and square. What folks often lose sight of is that the old German Empire (Deutsches Reich) was actually a federation of several Kingdoms, a Customs Union and a bunch of Free Cities and so forth. They were all fighting the same war, so, if Saxony, Wurttemberg and Bavaria decided to honour an aviator or other hero who already had a Prussian or Imperial decoration, it was okay to do so. Hitler was another example: he had 5 personal decorations but he only ever wore the Iron Cross, First Class in public. But Hermann had the lot, practically. And he did love to wear them.

If you look on the old 2- 3- and 5-Mark pieces, you will see a picture of Big Willy. The inscription describes him as "Deutscher Kaiser, Konig von Preussen": "German Emperor, King of Prussia". All the other Kings, Princes, Dukes and other Sovereign rulers were under him, but only in Imperial affairs. At home, they still had the sovereignty. Hitler was rejected as physically-unfit for Austrian Service and was not eligible for German Service; he got in by route of a personal letter of petition to the King of Bavaria and joined the Bavarian Army by Royal warrant.

FWIW, anyway.

[gunner]

You did a good research!!!

Regards

Gunner

[enfield303t]

Many years ago a good friend Andy Wright of Swift Current Sk. owned Goering's sword from his Hunting Lodge. Andy had the most fantastic collection of authenticated Nazi items which was sold after his death to someone who as far as I know was never disclosed. To anyone on this site that saw this collection I know you can verify its quality and extent. I was fortunate to know Andy well enough that I saw items that were never shown to the general public and must say I thnk Andy knew more about the Nazis then they knew about themselves. He also owned Hitler's handgun that the Walther Company presented him. it was gold plated and I think on the cover of True magazine in the 1950's. Andy was a great guy and told me that more than once the German Gov't tried to buy his collection.

[lboos]

i wonder what Hitler said to him when he found him sitting in his new conv. VW ?
can anyone guess?

[gunner]

Maybe something like " Hermann, get out of my car! It hasn´t your load class and like you know I AM THE BOSS!"

Regards

Gunner