Rheinmetall Borsig Arms Company in the Ruhr, with affiliated
companies in Essen (Eisen & Metallgesellschaft AG) and Duis-
burg (Hydraulisch GmbH); in Austria, percent of the auto
manufacturers Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, percent of Steyr
Guss-Stahlwerke (which in turn controlled a Swiss arms fac-
tory), percent of Maschine und Waggonbau AG at Simmer-
ing, percent of the Paukersche Werke AG and the Fanto oil
refinery. Ultimately H.G.W. would also purchase controlling
stock in the First Danube Navigation Corporation (Ersten
Donaudampfschiffahrt AG), thereby gaining important com-
mercial rights and assets in Hungary and Romania. Austria, in
fact, was the economic gateway to the Balkans, which was one
more reason why Göring wanted to bring Austria under Ger-
man control.
A few days after he signed the contract for Brassert to build
the Hermann Göring Works, the new, enlarged Carinhall was
handed over to Göring for permanent occupation. The Görings
dispatched a fulsome telegram to Hitler at Berchtesgaden
thanking him for the keys. “We know,” this said, “that, as with
everything else, we owe it to you that we are able to move into
this beautiful house today.” There was no other home like it.
The footmen were liveried in forest-green plush, with sleeve
cuffs reversed and coattails caught up behind in eighteenth-
century fashion.
Their very first guest on July , , was Ambassador
Henderson. He challenged Göring now that he was out here
in his own domain to come clean about Nazi Germany’s ulti-
mate ambitions.
“Germany,” replied Göring, “has been placed by fate in the
heart of Europe. She has to be militarily strong, and now that we
have abandoned all idea of expanding in the west” a renewed
promise that Germany would not try to recoup Alsace and