Goering and Kesselring Captured

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 5

Goering and Kesselring Captured

LONDON, May 9. Field-Marshal Goering, former head of the Luftwaffe, and Field-Marshal Kesselring have been captured by American troops of the 7th Army in Bavaria. Goering said he had been in the area in which he was captured since last March, when Hitler had sentenced him to death but he escaped. Hitler condemned hi in to death because he had suggested that he should take over the leadership from Hitler. S.S. troops arrested him, hut members of the Luftwaffe later rescued him. Goering told his capturers that he was arrested on Hitler’s instructions and taken to Berchtesgaden, where he was told he had been sentenced to death because he had told Hitler that further resistance was useless and that peace should be sought. Goering said he believed Hitler died in Berlin on April 28.

Goering's wife and child are also in the custody of the 7th Army. Frau Goering wept continually after she was apprehended, but Goering did not give the impression of a man under the influence of drugs as was recently reported.

Goering did not use the Nazi salute when he surrendered to an assistant divisional commander, Brigadier-Gen eral Stack. He exchanged the military salute and shook hands, says a British United Press correspondent. Goering told Brigadier-General Stack about his falling out with Hitler. “I was in Berchtesgaden, and spoke to Hitler by telephone,” he said. “I reminded him of his statement to me that if anything happened I was to assume the command. I explained my view that it looked like the end. Hitler flew into one of his characteristic rages and screamed ‘You have signed your own death warrant, but if you renounce all your titles and honours you will be foregiven.’ I complied, but Hitler nevertheless ordered my execution and had me placed under arrest. ’ ’

After the S.S. troops arrested Goering, his Luftwaffe followers shot theit way through the S.S. men and carried Goering to his mountain hide-out, of which the S.S. troops were unaware. Goering seemed in excellent health and in high spirits. He was apparently unaware that having escape# one death sentence he is likely to face another as a war criminal.

Goering complained that he had lost over half his decorations in bombed Berchtesgaden, hut the Grand Cross of the Knight’s Cross with diamonds and brilliants (the only one of its kind in Germany) and the Order Pour le Merite hung from his neck and chain while Luftwaffe decorations dangled from his left breast. Goering is short but not gross as the cartoonists depict him. He posed for the photographers and asked them to hurry because he wanted to eat. One photographer said: “And drink?’*

After lunch Goering was flown to Seventh Army Headquarters. Before the flight there was a discussion as to whether the plane was big enough to hold Goering. He asked how many the plane was capable of carrying and when told two he replied with his eye gleaming: “I have plenty of bigger ones. ’ ’