Rudolf Walter Richard

 Rudolf Hess was born, on 26-04-1894 five years after Hitler (see Hitler parents) (see William Hitler), in Alexandria, Egypt, the eldest of four children, to Fritz H. Hess, a prosperous German Lutheran importer/exporter from Bavaria, and Clara, born Münch. The family lived in luxury on the Egyptian coast, near Alexandria, and visited Germany often during the summers, allowing the Hess children to learn the German language and to absorb German culture. The family moved back to Germany in 1908, where Rudolf was subsequently enrolled in boarding school in Bad Godesberg, at the Evangelical School. Hess showed aptitude in science and mathematics, and expressed interest in becoming an astronomer. At the outbreak of World War I he enlisted in the 7^th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment, became an infantry man and was awarded the Iron Cross, second class. He saw heavy action both on the Western Front, at Ypres and Verdun. After the war the successful Hess family business collapsed and was taken over by the victorious Western allies. Hess went to Munich, and took a job at a textile importing firm. He joined the Freikorps. He also joined the Thule Society, a right-wing völkischoccult-mystical organization. Bavaria was undergoing fierce infighting right after the war's end, between right-wing groups and left-wing forces, some of which were Soviet-backed. After hearing Adolf Hitler (see Alois Hitler) (did you know), a powerful orator, speak for the first time in May 1920 at a Munich rally, Hess became completely devoted to Hitler, and spent much of his time and effort for the next several years organizing for Hitler at the local level in Bavaria. Hess joined the fledgling Nazi Party in 1920 as one of its first members. Hess introduced Karl Haushofer (see Haushofer) to Hitler in the spring of 1921, following a rally at a beerhall. Haushofer and Hitler connected immediately on a personal level and Haushofer would become a close adviser to Hitler and assume prominence in Germany with Hitler's rise. Eventually, Hess became the third-most powerful man in Germany, behind Hitler and Hermann Goering (see Hermann Goering) (did you know) (see Goering Fock). Soon after Hitler assumed dictatorial powers, beginning in early 1933, Hess was named "Deputy to the Fuhrer." and had the nicknames "Fraulein Hess," Miss Hess, "Fraulein Paula," Miss Paula and "Black Emma."  He at first endorsed a laissez-faire attitude toward homosexuality, especially among his close associates. He at last under "pressure", 33 years old, married the 27-year-old Ilse Pröhl from Hanover, born 22-06-1900 and died old age 95 on 07-09-1995, on 20-12-1927 .

           Together they had a son, Wolf Rüdiger Hess, born 18-11-1937 and he died age 62, on 24-10-2001. Ilse later complained that her life with him was much like that of a "convent schoolgirl."  
        Hess also played a prominent part in the creation of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. Hitler biographer described Hess' political insight and abilities as somewhat limited  Hitler appointed Hess as 'Minister Without Portfolio. Hess was privately distressed by the war with the United Kingdom because he, influenced by his academic advisor, hoped that Britain would accept Germany as an ally. Hess may have hoped to score a diplomatic victory by sealing a peace between the Third Reich and Britain, to contact Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14^th  Duke of Hamilton, Hamilton died age 70 on 30-03-1973. It is known that Hess had been getting flying lessons in a personalized Messerschmitt aircraft and in the early stages of this preparation he was accompanied by Hitler's personal pilot, Hans Baur (see Baur).  On 10 May 1941, at about 6:00 P.M., Hess took off from Augsburg in a Messerschmitt Bf 110, and Hitler ordered the General of the Fighter Arm to stop him, Hess parachuted over Renfrewshire, Scotland on 10 May and landed, breaking his ankle, at Floors Farm near Eaglesham. 

             In a newsreel clip, farmhand David McLean claims to have arrested Hess with his pitchfork. It appears that Hess believed the Duke of Hamilton to be an opponent of Winston Churchill (see Churchill), whom he held responsible for the outbreak of the war. Churchill sent Hess initially to the Tower of London, making Hess the last, in the long line of prominent political prisoners, to be held in the 900 year-old fortress. Churchill gave orders that Hess was to be strictly isolated, but treated with dignity. He remained in the Tower until 20-05-1941. Hitler also stripped Hess of all of his party and state offices, and privately ordered him shot on sight if he ever returned to Germany. However, Hitler (see Adolf Hitler) did grant Hess' wife a pension. Martin Bormann (see Martin  Bormann) succeeded Hess as deputy under a newly created title. Borman committed suicide after his escape together with Hitler's pilot Hans Baur (see Baur) from the Führer Bunker, age 44, on 02-05-1945. Hess then became a defendant at the Nuremberg Trials of the International Military Tribunal, where, in 1946, he was found guilty on two of four counts: crimes against peace, planning and preparation of aggressive war and conspiracy with other German leaders to commit crimes. He was found not guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity. He was given a life sentence.

   

   

   

 

On 17-08-1987, Hess died while under Four Power imprisonment at Spandau Prison in West Berlin, at the age of 93. He was found in a summer house in a garden located in a secure area of the prison with an electrical cord wrapped around his neck.

           His death was ruled a suicide by asphyxiation. He was buried with his wife Ilse, born Pröhl, who died old age 94, on 07-09-1995, at Wunsiedel in a Hess family grave plot sold to his family by the Vetters of the Sechsämtertropfen bitter liquor company of Wunsiedel.

 

 

                                

 

                         

                                                                                                     Since 21-07-2011 the grave is removed on order of the Mayor

                                                                                                        of Wünsiedel and the remains cremated and scattered on a

                                                                                                        secret place.