Rudolf hess
EARLY LIFE
Rudolf Hess was born in Egypt in 1894 and moved to Germany with his family at the age of 14. Hess did not get along with his father, who was a German merchant. When Hess wanted to go to college, his father forced him into the family business. During World War I Hess enlisted in the Germany Army. He suffered serious injuries at Verdun in 1917 but was promoted to Lieutenant in spite of them. After the war Hess attended the University of Munich, where he became involved in the Thule Society, an anti-Semite organization. NAZI INVOLVEMENT AND CRIMES IN WORLD WAR II In 1920, after hearing Hitler speak, Hess joined the Nazi party. He was its sixteenth member. Hess quickly became one of Hitler's most ardent followers, going to jail with him after the attempted Beer Hall Putsch. In jail, Hess helped Hitler with Mein Kampf and became his personal secretary. After his release, one of his responsibilities was to enthusiastically announce Hitler at meetings. His devotion to Hitler was such that Hitler often rewarded him for his loyalty. Hess's lack of competence impeded the amount of personal responsibility he was given inside the Nazi party, but he was Hitler's deputy. Being less aggressive and power hungry than other high-ranking Nazis, Hitler paid progressively less attention to Hess as he focused on building his own power. However, Hess's obsession with Hitler led him on a search for redemption. He subsequently flew himself to Scotland on a "peace mission". Hess tried to convince the British government to let Germany take over continental Europe in exchange for leaving Great Britain alone, but he had no authority to attempt these negotiations. Churchill called Hess crazy and imprisoned him and he was subsequently disowned by Hitler for the embarrassment he caused. In prison, Hess became paranoid and seemed to become more mentally unsound. TRIAL AND DEATH Rudolf Hess returned to Germany for the Nuremberg trials, where he stood by his devotion to Hitler, stating that if he had the option to start all over, knowing what he did then, that he would repeat his actions because Hitler was "the greatest son whom my nation has brought forth in the thousand years of its history." Hess was sentenced to life in Spandau Prison where he committed suicide in 1987, at the age of 92. Sources: "Rudolf Hess - Biography." Rudolf Hess - Biography. The History Place, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/biographies/apr-hess-cal.ht Bulow, Louis. "Rudolf Hess Hitlers Deputy." Rudolf Hess Hitlers Deputy. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2015.http://www.auschwitz.dk/hess.htm "Rudolf Hess". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk. 2014. Web http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/rudolf_hess.htm |