Rudolf Hess Rudolf Hess was born on April 26, 1894, in Alexandria, Egypt. Hess was the son of a German merchant, and was not Egyptian. It wasn’t until the age of twelve that Hess was sent to Germany. Upon return to Germany, Hess was educated at Godesberg and would later join his father’s business in Hamburg. In 1914, Hess joined the German Army and served in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Hess was wounded when fighting in World War I, and received the rank of lieutenant. He then became an officer pilot in 1918. Hess went to the University of Munich to study history and economics, and it is here that he met Karl Haushofer. Haushofer was a university professor that that Hess thought very highly of. Hess was influenced by Haushofer and his political views.
Hess became a friend, and faithful follower of Adolf Hitler shortly after joining the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). Hess was one of the first members of NSDAP, and would be a loyal member throughout his life. Hess was arrested sometime after the Beer Hall Putsch, and sent to the same prison as Hitler. It was during this time in prison that Hess helped Hitler write Mein Kampf. After their release from prison, Hess was appointed Central Political Committee head in 1932. He was also made the deputy leader of the party and minister without portfolio. Just before the start of World War II, Hitler became doubtful of Hess’s abilities. It was now that others such Goering, Himmler, Goebbels, and Bormann took his place. Many believed that he was still involved in Hitler’s government, but in a secretive way. It is thought that Hess might have gone to Portugal for Hitler, in order to meet with a Swedish emissary and have peace talks with Britain. Hess was very involved in peace talks and would eventually go to England in order to work out a peace deal. However, this failed and it was denied that he was even sane when he undertook the mission. |
Adolf Eichmann
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