I'm confused. Who was the number 2 of Nazis? Borman, Himmler, Goring, or Goebbels?

Question

I am confused by this, as different history book describes all of them as #2 of Nazis party. But who had the most power, next to Hitler? Martin borman, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, or Hermann Göring? (For example, in US, Truman was next to Roosevelt).
And if you can, please order them in a power order.

Answer 1

Greetings! The Nazi Party had a very different hiarchy system than any other government. Here in the US, we have a Vice President that can replace a President. In the days of Yor, A King or Queen could be replaced by a higher Prince or Princess.
The Nazi Party was a lifetime position. It was given by willed decree of the dictator. What that means is Hitler would prescribe in his will who would take over the chancellery.

Herman Goering was the primary heir apparent, but fell out of favor late in the war when Goering assumed (correctly) that those in the bunker would not survive the Russian invasion of Berlin and requested that he take over as was asssumed.

Heinrich Himmler was also very high on Hitler's list, but he became an instant fugitive when Hitler learned that Himmler was suing for peace through the government of Sweden.

Joseph Goebbels, while close to Hitler obviously was not going to be chosen as heir. Goebbels could not think of the world without Hitler so he and his wife gathered up the family and had them poisoned, then he and his wife killed themselves.

Martin Bormann, was a party hack. He remained skulking in the background of the chancellery hoping to be the key advisor of the dictator. He was part of the major breakout from the fuhrerbunker just before Berlin collapsed.
He was killed in the escape attempt. He was tried in absentia in Nuremberg, but his body was not found until 1973 during a construction project in Berlin.

The heir, decreed by Hitler was Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz. The message was passed to him by Goebbels after Hitler had killed himself. By that time,Nazi Germany was in ruins. Doenitz held the realm for only nine days before Germany completely surrendered.

Hope this helps. Take care.

Answer 2

Goering was #2 in power from the mid-1930s until c.1943. Hess was intended to be groomed as a successor briefly, but Goering was the heir by decree from 1934 to 1945.

Hitler's will split his positions: Doenitz was made President (head of state, a largely ceremonial position), Goebbels was to become Chancellor (head of government). This is unsurprising since Goebbels probably helped compose the will.

Himmler was powerful, but definitely lower in rank than Goering and lesser in power at least until 1943. Bormann was personally influential on Hitler but not in the same league as Himmler or Goering for status or independent power. Goebbels was neither 2nd in command nor Hitler's successor until the will written right before Hitler's (and then Goebbels's) suicide and lacked the power base of Goering and Himmler.

All this is complicated by the fact that Hitler's arbitrary fiat could change things at a moment's notice.

Answer 3

The official second in command was Goerring, at least up until the last few days. But in terms of actual power behind the scenes, i'd have to pick Bormann, Hitler's personal aide. He was the link to the outside world, so to speak. Everything had to go through him, even orders to generals and other high Nazi leaders. A close second to Bormann would be Himmler, the Reichfuhrer SS, head of the secret service...Gestapo, etc. The Propagander Minister would be the 4rth in line, however, he did hold Hitler's trust and contolled the mass media.

Answer 4

Goring was the number two man for the most part. Himmler's position as head of the SS made him almost equal in power to Goring.

Goebbels really was not in a position of direct power. He was an powerful man within Nazi Germany, but mostly through his close association with Hitler rather than any innate power of his position.

I can't remember Martin Borman at all, so I can't really help you with that one.

Just before Hitler committed suicide, he appointed Carl Donitz, the commander of the German Navy as his successor. Once Donitz was in power, he quickly called for a cease fire and the unconditional surrender of German forces.

Answer 5

It depends on what time period you choose.

UP to 1940 it was actually Rudolf Hess, he was Reichs Vice Chancellor directly after Hitler, but when he went to Britain to try and sue for peace he was captured and this put Goering as the #2 man for most of the rest of the war, it was not until after he failed Hitler that he lost face with him and though in title he remained the #2 man, at that point I would say that Gestapo leader Himmler or Goebells would have been next but the way the war ended it was actually Admiral Donitz that surrendered the entirety of the German armed forces to the Allies though it was Field Marshal Jodl that went to Eisenhowers camp to surrender for Germany.

Jodl was treated very coldly and was actually executed for war crimes, but Admiral Donitz was not, for he was a Naval Commander and was not responsible for any atrocities to mankind, he fought a war at sea as naval men did in that era so he was not responsible for any war crimes as people like Jodl, Goebells, Himmler, all were. Borman was important but not as important as the others.

So pick your time frame, once it was Hess, than Goering then Himmler and ended up in the lap of Admiral Dontiz who probably never even wanted it!!

Answer 6

No. No question the Bush administration has sought to expand its power as do all administrations. And yes they have used underhanded tactics to infringe on personal freedoms and privacy rights, but what they have done cannot be put in the same realm as what Hitler did. If there is a comparison to be made its is between the German population at that time and the often silent and complaint American population today. Power corrupts, in a Democracy it is the people who are responsible for checking that power.

Answer 7

After Rudolf \Hess departed in 1941 Martin Bormann became the Deputy Fuehrer. Hitler named Admiral Doenitz as his successor before committing suicide in 1945

Answer 8

From this group (sans Hess)
Goering is normally seen as the number 2 Nazi.
Himmler ran a close 3rd
Goebbels was probably next.
Borman's power came from his control of access to Hitler rather than direct power.

Answer 9

Himmler was the ultimate second in command under Hitler. No other had the authority he did, but then he ended up giving up his superior to escape judgment.

Answer 10

Himmler And Hitler