In this picture (imgur mirror), Hermann Göring, German vice-chancellor from 1941 to 1945, is standing in front of the flag of Texas.
His German Wikipedia page describes the picture like this:
Hermann Göring kurz nach seiner Festnahme am 9. Mai 1945 vor einer texanischen Flagge. Orden und Ehrenzeichen hatte man ihm für diese Aufnahme zurückgegeben.
Translation:
Hermann Göring, shortly after he was arrested on the 9th of May, 1945, in front of a Texan flag. Medals and decorations were returned to him for this picture.
Now, I would like to know why they, I assume Americans, made this picture.
Goering was captured on May 8, 1945, by the 36th Infantry Division, a part of the Texas National Guard, and commanded then by General Dahlquist. Goering had reached out to Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower about surrendering before his capture.
The picture was taking while Goering was with General Dahlquist at Castle Fischhorn the Grand Hotel in Kitzbuhel, Austria (The 36th's Command Post). Goering was under the impression that he would be allowed to take a leadership role in the new Germany in exchange for his surrender. General Dahlquist's hospitality probably encouraged Goering's belief.
In fact Dahlquist was seen as too friendly to the Luftwaffe Commander when the pictures were published in the United States, especially considering the United States having taken a no "fraternization" policy with the Germans (including civilians). Goering and Dahlquist along with Brigadier General Stack had eaten a chicken dinner together. Dahlquist was also fluent in German and had dismissed his interpreter, thus making the pictures seem like they were friends.
Stafford, David. Endgame, 1945: The Missing Final Chapter of World War II.
