Rudolph von Hesse

Kumba

Guest
I think this topic might've been brought up before, but does anyone know who Rudolph von Hesse was? I heard his name somewhere and it sounds so familar. Didn't he fly a plane into England or something? :confused:
 

westford

Member
from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERhess.htm[/i]

Rudolf Hess, the son of a wealthy German merchant, was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He joined the German Army in August, 1914, and served in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment during the First World War. He was twice wounded and reached the rank of lieutenant. In 1918 became an officer pilot in the German Army Air Service.

After the war Hess settled in Munich where he entered the university to study history and economics. He joined the Freikorps led by Franz Epp and helped to put down the Spartakist Rising during the German Revolution in 1919.

Hess was one of the first people to join the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) and soon become a devoted follower of Adolf Hitler.

In November, 1923, Hess took part in the failed Beer Hall Putsch. He was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison. While in Landsberg he helped Hitler write My Struggle (Mein Kampf).

Hess gradually worked his way up the Nazi hierarchy and in December 1932 was appointed head of the Central Political Committee and deputy leader of the party and minister without portfolio.

In the build up to the Second World War Hitler began to have growing doubts about the abilities of Hess and other leaders such as Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann became more important in the party.

Hess was considered mentally unstable and this was reflected in his decision on 10th May, 1941, to fly a Me 110 to Scotland with the intention of having a meeting with the Duke of Hamilton. Hess hoped that Hamilton would arrange for him to meet George VI. Hess believed he could persuade the king to sack Winston Churchill and to make peace with Germany in order to join forces against the Soviet Union.

When he heard the news Adolf Hitler was quick to issue a statement pointing out that "Hess did not fly in my name." Albert Speer, who was with Hitler when he heard the news, later reported that "what bothered him was the Churchill might use the incident to pretend to Germany's allies that Hitler was extending a peace feeler."

Hess was kept in the Tower of London until being sent to face charges at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. He was found guilty of actively supporting preparations for war and in participating in the aggression against Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Rudolf Hess was sentenced to life and was still in Spandau Prison when he was found dead on 17th August, 1987. Officially he committed suicide but grave doubts have been raised about the possibility of a 93 man in his state of health being able to hang himself with an electrical extension cord without help from someone else.


Hope that helps :)
 

Kumba

Guest
Wow, what an interesting way of life. Oh, and thanks Westford! You see, I knew it had something to do with a plane, and now I remember where I heard his name from! I was watching this stand-up comedy thing that featured Robin Williams (it was "Robin Williams Live on Broadway").
 

Kill Cavalry

New member
"mentally unstable"? you can say that again!

I believe this guy was Hitler's astrological advisor. Hess thought that something in the stars told him to fly to England, if I'm not mistaken.
 

Kumba

Guest
Hahahaha, something in the stars?! LOL!!! I never really beleive in that astrology mumbo-jumbo, but umm, some people are really devoted to it.
 
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