Hermann Wilhelm Göring was born in Rosenheim east of Munich on 12 January 1893. When he was only twelve years old Hermann Göring went off to the military academy at Karlsruhe. He left Karlsruhe aged sixteen with good results. Göring then attended the officer cadet training college at Lichterfelde near Berlin. On successful completion of his exams, Göring left Lichterfelde, aged nineteen, to join the 112th Prince Wilhelm Regiment. Hermann Göring was twenty years old when the First World War began. Göring’s dearest wish was to join his friend, Bruno Loerzer in the Imperial Air Corps. He submitted an application, and, following certain irregularities, and a degree of string-pulling, his wish was granted. Hermann Göring quickly earned a reputation as a brave and competent pilot.
In 1917 he was appointed commander of a new squadron, Jagdstaffel 27, based in Flanders. A Jagdstaffel is a formation consisting of between nine and twelve aircraft. Göring went on to win the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honour. The Pour le Mérite was normally awarded to pilots who had shot down twenty-five enemy aircraft. However with only fifteen victories to his credit at the time, Hermann Göring received the prestigious award for his leadership qualities and professionalism. Göring was given command of the famous ‘Richthofen Squadron’ following the untimely death of its commander, Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen (1982-1918) better known as the ‘Red Baron’. Hermann Göring ended the First World War with twenty victories.