The warlord and the renegade

"They were the most unlikely siblings - one, Adolf Hitler's most trusted henchman, the other a fervent anti-Nazi. Yet Hermann and Albert Goering shared a fraternal bond that transcended their polarised political ideologies. In this portrait of the brothers, James Wyllie charts a relationship of seemingly irreconcilable extremes set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany." "Hermann Goering was a founder member of the Nazi Party, who became commander of the Luftwaffe, ordering the terror bombing of civilians and promoting the use of slave labour in his factories. Yet he was also a dedicated conservationist, loved by his family and for many years a popular hero to Germans of all ages and social class." "His brother, Albert, two years younger, loathed Hitler's regime and saved hundreds - even thousands - across Europe from Nazi persecution. Albert was a devout Christian, who nevertheless was married four times, had a string of affairs and enjoyed the high life. He deferred to Hermann as head of the family but spent nearly a decade working against his brother's regime, intervening wherever possible to rescue the victims of Nazi tyranny, running escape routes, hauling people out of death camps, influencing policy, promoting sabotage and helping the resistance." "Had Albert been anyone else, he would have been imprisoned or executed. Hermann could have disowned Albert and left him to his fate but he never even considered it. This was not because he approved of Albert's actions, but because the two brothers continued to enjoy a good relationship, despite the profound ideological gulf between them." "The stigma of being Hermann's brother never left Albert. Now he steps out of the shadows and receives the recognition he deserves."--BOOK JACKET.