Correspondence penned by Hitler's lieutenants
Article: Hermann Göring's Love Letters Reveal Personal Side Before Nazi Ascendancy
In a captivating turn of events, a collection of handwritten love letters penned by Hermann Göring in the 1920s is set to be auctioned at the Munich auction house Hermann Historica on April 29, 20XX. These letters, exchanged between Göring and Carin von Kantzow, a wealthy Swedish aristocrat, offer a rare glimpse into the personal life of one of the most infamous figures of the Nazi era before his ascent within the regime.
During this period, Germany was grappling with political instability, economic hardship, and social upheaval following World War I. Göring, a decorated WWI fighter pilot, was navigating his post-war life and the early stages of his political career. He met Carin in Sweden in 1920, and their relationship began before Göring's significant rise within the Nazi Party.
The letters, dating from the early 1920s, provide a stark contrast to Göring's later public persona as a ruthless Nazi leader. They reveal a more intimate, emotional side of Göring, showcasing his vulnerability and affection. In one letter, Göring wrote, "You are my wife before God, may you soon also become so before men."
At the time, the Nazi Party was still a relatively small but rapidly growing force after the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. Göring joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and soon became a close ally of Adolf Hitler. Despite this political turmoil and growth, Göring's personal relationship with Carin persisted.
Carin's influence on Göring was significant. After marrying her, he adopted a more aristocratic style and demeanor, helping him gain acceptance in higher social and political circles. The letters also foreshadow his influence, as they document Göring's pursuit of Carin before his rise to Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's second-in-command.
The letters, written before Göring's role in the Nazi regime, also reveal that he was troubled by Carin's marital status and the thought of another man impregnating her. In one letter, he wrote, "Think about the divorce. The thought that another could impregnate you as his wife troubles me greatly. Remain faithful to me in all things."
Historically, these documents are explosive as they reveal a private side of the later war criminal, offering a humanising perspective on a man who was responsible for countless crimes during the Third Reich. The auction of these letters is sure to spark a great deal of interest and debate among historians and the general public alike.
