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began:

    I had guessed, sir, that you, as Minister of War, would put in an appearance here today. But I had hoped to see a black band on your sleeve that would symbolize your deep regret for the outrage you are proposing to inflict on us. Instead of that black band you are wearing blue stripes on your arm. I think, sir, it would have been more appropriate for you to wear red stripes!
    The officers broke into applause, but Goering held up his hand for silence and went on speaking.
    We officers did our duty for four long years . . . and we risked our bodies for the Fatherland. Now we come home—and how do they treat us? They spit on us and deprive us of what we gloried in wearing. And this I can tell you, that the people are not to blame for such conduct. The people were our comrades—the comrades of each of us, irrespective of social conditions, for four weary years of war . . . Those alone are to blame who have goaded on the people-those men who stabbed our glorious Army in the back and who thought of nothing but of attaining power and of enriching themselves at the expense of the people. And therefore I implore you to cherish hatred—a profound, abiding hatred of those animals who have outraged the German people. . . . But the day will come when we will drive them away out of our Germany. Prepare for that day. Arm yourselves for that day. Work for that day. 6

    Then Goering left the hall, refusing to serve any longer in an Army that was ready to obey the degrading orders of a republican government.
    He wanted only one thing now, to turn his back on the disgrace of Germany. His chance came through the German aircraft industry, which was unaccountably still in business. Goering knew the aircraft manufacturers, since he had often, as an air ace, visited their works and tested their machines. He undertook now to demonstrate the Fokker F 7 at an aeronautical display in Copenhagen, and in return for doing this he was presented with the aircraft to keep as his personal property. He flew the machine to Kastrop airport and there gave flying demonstrations to the crowds. He performed aerobatics and gave people brief flights for fifty crowns a trip. In this way he made sufficient money and lived well in a hotel. His brilliant war record, which was a liability at home, was a social advantage in Denmark. He remained in that country for the greater part of the year 1919, living as gay a life as his earnings allowed, and the women enjoyed his company. He flew by day and flirted by night.
    Goering’s behavior in Denmark was not always exemplary, but he was good-looking and unattached, a useful and attractive man to make up a hostess’s table. One hostess, however, suffered badly from his lack of manners and self-control on the day the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were published, when at a dinner party at which there were twenty or more guests present, he shouted, “One day we will come back to write another treaty!” Eventually he made life impossible for himself socially in Denmark, and a married woman with whom he was in love did everything she could to influence him to leave the country for Sweden. 7
    Goering was ambitious to obtain an official position in flying. Aerobatics might test his courage and please the crowds, but this way of life was scarcely the right one for a soldier and a would-be gentleman. He heard that a civil airline was to be established in Sweden, and in 1920, after some preliminary approaches, he was successful in obtaining a position as pilot for Svensk-Lufttrafik. Before this, however, after a period during which his plane was out of action because of damage to the undercarriage, he earned a living with demonstration flights and aerobatics near Stockholm. (Goering favored the legend which had grown up that his plane was the one he had piloted as commander of the Richthofen squadron; the publicity was good for business.) He was also making some money as agent in Stockholm for the