The younger brother of a high-ranking Nazi official, Albert Göring operated as a mechanical engineer and businessman while clandestinely aiding victims of the regime. Despite his familial connections, he dedicated his career and resources to facilitating the escape of persecuted individuals, often utilizing his professional access at the Škoda Works to undermine local administrative control.
Early Background
Born in 1895 in the Berlin suburb of Friedenau, Albert Günther Göring was the fifth child of Heinrich Ernst Göring and Franziska Tiefenbrunn. The family resided in castles owned by their godfather, Hermann Epenstein Ritter von Mauternburg, who held Jewish heritage. Göring attended Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, eventually pursuing a professional path in mechanical engineering and business that contrasted sharply with the political trajectory of his brother, Hermann.
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During his tenure as export director at the Škoda Works, located in the occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Göring actively facilitated acts of subversion. He forged transit documents, frequently using his brother's signature to secure the release of dissidents. He also organized the transport of laborers away from concentration camps, allowing them to escape at isolated locations while managing risks through his proximity to power.
Post-Conflict Isolation
Following the collapse of the regime, Göring faced questioning during the Nuremberg trials and subsequent detention by Czechoslovak authorities. Testimony from those he assisted secured his release, yet he remained a social pariah in Germany due to his surname. He lived his final years in Munich, working as a translator and writer. To ensure his housekeeper received a pension, he married her in 1966, shortly before his death in a hospital in Neuenbürg.
Fast facts
- Born: 1895, Friedenau
- Died: 1966, Munich
- Education: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Occupations: Businessperson, mechanical engineer, resistance fighter
- Citizenship: Austrian, German
- Languages: German
Questions readers ask
Was Albert Göring Jewish?
Speculation arose due to his godfather, Hermann Epenstein, but historical evidence makes it highly unlikely that he was of Jewish descent.
Why did Yad Vashem not recognize him?
The organization cited a lack of primary sources to sufficiently document his activities, despite evidence that he maintained a positive attitude toward Jews.
Achievements
- Educated at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Worked as mechanical engineer, resistance fighter and businessperson
