Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Hess was one of Adolf Hitler’s earliest and most loyal followers, playing a significant role in the rise of the Nazi Party and the early years of Nazi Germany. His life story is a strange mix of blind loyalty, mysticism, political ambition, and ultimately, isolation.
Hess was born on April 26, 1894, in Alexandria, Egypt, to a wealthy German family involved in the export-import trade. His early life was comfortable and privileged. He received a solid education, and later, the family moved back to Germany where he attended school in Bavaria. From a young age, Hess showed a quiet, introverted nature, but also a deep interest in Germany’s national identity and military strength. His early schooling also exposed him to nationalist and anti-Semitic ideas that were becoming more common in parts of Germany at the time.
When World War I broke out in 1914, Hess joined the German army. He served with distinction on the Western Front and was wounded several times. After the war, like many former soldiers, Hess was disillusioned with Germany’s defeat and the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He joined paramilitary groups such as the Freikorps, which were active in crushing communist uprisings and promoting nationalist ideas.
In the early 1920s, Hess enrolled at the University of Munich where he studied geopolitics under Karl Haushofer, a professor whose ideas about “Lebensraum” (living space) and the importance of geographic expansion deeply influenced Hess. Around this time, he became aware of Adolf Hitler and the fledgling Nazi Party. In 1920, Hess attended one of Hitler’s speeches and was immediately drawn to him. He joined the Nazi Party soon after and quickly became one of Hitler’s most devoted followers.
Hess was involved in the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, an attempted coup by Hitler and the Nazis to seize power in Munich. After its failure, Hess was imprisoned along with Hitler. During their time in Landsberg Prison, Hess became Hitler’s private secretary and assisted in the writing of Mein Kampf, Hitler’s political manifesto. This time in prison cemented Hess’s place as one of Hitler’s inner circle.
As the Nazi Party gained power, Hess remained close to Hitler. When Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, Hess was appointed as Deputy Führer in 1933, a position that made him Hitler’s official second-in-command for party matters. Though not involved in military planning or foreign policy, Hess was given considerable authority within the Nazi Party. He oversaw internal matters such as party organization, ideological training, and approving legislation related to racial policy and education. He was seen as the custodian of Nazi ideology and was often involved in the more ceremonial or symbolic aspects of Nazi governance.
Despite his high rank, Hess never wielded real power in the way that figures like Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring, or Joseph Goebbels did. He was more of a loyal servant than a policymaker. Many of his contemporaries described him as overly serious, naive, and somewhat eccentric. Hess was deeply spiritual and believed in astrology and supernatural forces, which set him apart even in the bizarre world of Nazi politics. He was known to avoid alcohol and women, preferring long walks and meditation.
In 1941, in one of the most bizarre episodes of World War II, Hess shocked the world by flying solo to Scotland in an unauthorized attempt to negotiate peace with Britain. He believed that Britain and Germany should be united against the Soviet Union and thought he could broker a deal behind Hitler’s back. The mission was a complete failure. Hess crash-landed in Scotland and was immediately taken prisoner by the British. Hitler, furious and embarrassed, declared Hess mentally ill and stripped him of all titles and power. From that point on, Hess lived in British custody for the remainder of the war.
After the war, Hess was tried at the Nuremberg Trials in 1946 along with other top Nazi leaders. Although he had not been involved directly in the Holocaust or military strategy, he was convicted of crimes against peace and conspiracy. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Spandau Prison in Berlin, where he became the sole prisoner for decades as others either died or were released.
Rudolf Hess spent the rest of his life in isolation. Over the years, his mental and physical health deteriorated, and he remained largely unrepentant. In 1987, at the age of 93, Hess died in Spandau Prison under mysterious circumstances. Officially, it was ruled a suicide by hanging, though some have speculated that foul play was involved. He was buried in Germany, but in 2011, his grave was removed to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine.
Rudolf Hess remains one of the more enigmatic figures of the Nazi regime. While he never held real power over policy or military affairs, his early loyalty and close relationship with Hitler gave him a front-row seat to history. His strange flight to Britain and long imprisonment turned him into something of a tragic and puzzling figure—one whose actions defy easy explanation even today.
