Walther Richard Rudolf Hess, commonly known as Rudolf Hess, was a prominent German politician and a prominent figure in Nazi Germany. Born on April 26, 1894, in Alexandria, Egypt, he served as Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1941.
Hess was an early member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP). He played a crucial role in the Nazi rise to power and was appointed as Deputy Führer in 1933. As Hitler's deputy, he had a significant influence on the formulation of policies and decisions within the Nazi regime.
In 1941, Hess undertook a clandestine solo flight to Scotland, seemingly with the aim of negotiating peace between Germany and Britain. However, his mission was unsuccessful, and he was subsequently captured by British authorities. He remained in British custody for the remainder of World War II and was tried at the Nuremberg Trials for crimes against peace, conspiracy, and war crimes.
Hess was sentenced to life imprisonment and was incarcerated until his death on August 17, 1987, in Spandau Prison, Berlin.
Often referred to as the "Wolfsschanze Deputy" or simply "Hitler's Deputy," Hess remains a controversial and enigmatic figure in history due to his mysterious flight, the nature of his mission, and his subsequent imprisonment. His actions and his role within the Nazi regime continue to be subjects of debate and research among historians and scholars.
