This series paints an incredibly vivid portrait of Hermann Goering, the man who would become ‘Reichsmarschall’ and Hitler’s second-in-command. Even after he was captured by US forces, Hitler’s most brutal deputy never acknowledged his own responsibility for Nazi atrocities, chillingly surmising that: "I have no conscience…my conscience is Adolf Hitler."

This documentary makes use of the most important recent single film find from the Nazi era, including never-before-seen celluloid material. Goering left behind no diaries and few personal documents. However, films from his private collection, which lay hidden for six decades, now reveal how this barbaric henchman viewed himself, and the world around him.

In this episode, we examine Goering’s dual roles as supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, and Germany’s economic dictator. We also look at his strategic disagreements with Hitler.

Although the Luftwaffe appeared to be Europe’s most modern air force, Goering knew it could not maintain a sustained and total war. Although he remained fiercely loyal to Hitler, the two men clashed repeatedly regarding Germany’s readiness for a major conflict. The Anschluss, the Czech crisis, and Germany’s forced annexation of the rump of Czechoslovakia, starkly revealed the differing outlooks of the two men.

We dramatically outline the instrumental role played by the Luftwaffe in the September 1939 attack on Poland. As German bombers cleared the way for advancing tanks, Goering’s strategy of ‘conquest by terror’ was unleashed. However, his initial confidence was to be short-lived. Although humiliating for the allies, the May 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk highlighted major weaknesses in German strategy; the Luftwaffe was unable to prevent the retreat of 338,000 French and British troops.

We look at the ceremony in which Hitler conferred the position of ‘Reichsmarschall’ upon Goering. This title, which was invented specifically so that he would outrank other commanders at all times, represented an enormous political achievement for Goering.

We also examine the June 1940 defeat of France. Not only did this constitute an immense triumph for Germany, it also allowed Goering to indulge his private passion for portraiture. He was obsessed with the idea of creating a giant art collection at Cairnhall which would be known as the ‘Hermann Goering Museum’. For the first time, we reveal the true extent of the art theft perpetrated by Goering. In his hunt for treasures owned by Jews, the art-loving Nazi with the ‘manic-expansive’ personality ordered his minions to comb every inch of the occupied territories.

Goering’s first major defeat, at the Battle of Britain, is afforded a thorough examination. We also look at his caution regarding the invasion of the Soviet Union, and the fundamental, and often understated, role he played in masterminding the ‘final solution’.

We outline the activities of Goering’s brother, Albert, who saved numerous Jews from death. The disastrous course of the war in the east, which contributed to the breakdown of relations between Goering and Hitler, is displayed vividly. An examination of the brutal activities of the ‘Hermann Goering Division’ concludes this chilling installment of ‘Goering: A Career.’