Heinrich Ernst Göring

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heinrich Ernst Göring 1839-1913, colonial governor of German South-West Africa and father of Hermann Göring, the Nazi leader and commander of the Luftwaffe. He was the son of Wilhelm Göring (1791-1874), and wife, married in 1834, Caroline Maria de Neree (July 30, 1815 in Hochelten-1886), a daughter of Everhard de Neree (1772-1820), who was a direct male line descendant of Saint Philip Neri^[1], and wife Clementine Freiin von Locquenghien (1775-1861), who descended, among others, from the Grafen von Metternich and the then Freiherren von Schönborn.

[edit] Biography

[edit] German South-West Africa

During his life Göring demonstrated considerable abilities in academia, army, colonial administration and diplomacy. A university graduate with Dr. degree in the law from the Bonn University, he became a professional soldier and as a cavalry officer fought in the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He made a prominent contribution to the creation of the German colonial empire in Africa. Supported by his personal friend Otto von Bismarck in October 1885 Göring was sent to the South West Africa as Reichskommissar and attempted to make treaties with local rulers, by which they would accept German protection. This was one of the conditions that the European powers had agreed upon as being a necessary prerequisite for the establishment of a Protectorate.

He made an agreement with Maharero, the Herero leader, and established his headquarters at Maharero's capital, Okahandja. Some of the Nama tribes also made protection treaties, but those led by Hendrik Witbooi refused to do so.

Göring then returned to Germany to report on his progress. On his return to the territory in 1888 he was accompanied by the nucleus of a military force in the form of seven officers, only to find that Maharero had repudiated the treaty he had signed, and ordered Göring to leave Damaraland immediately. Göring retreated to the British enclave of Walvis Bay. He left Africa in 1890 and served as a German council in Haiti.