HESS, Rudolf Walter Richard
(1894 - 1987)
Reichsminister/SS-Obergruppenführer/M.d.R.:
Born: 26. Apr. 1894 in Alexandria, Egypt, son of a German importer.
Suicide: 17. Aug. 1987 in Spandau Prison, Berlin
(apparently hanged himself with an electrical cord).
NSDAP-Nr.: 16 (Joined, Jan. 1920)/SS-Nr.:
(None; granted the title & privileges of an honorary
SS-Obergruppenführer)
Assignments:
Mitglied des Ministerrates für die Reichsverteidigung (Member of Ministerial Council for Reich Defense): 30. Aug. 1939 - 10. May 1941.
Mitglied des Geheimen Kabinettrates (Member of Secret Cabinet Council): 4. Feb. 1938 - 10. May 1941.
Mitglied des Reichstages: 1933-10. May 1941.
Reichsminister ohne Geschäftsbereich (Reich Minister without Portfolio): 2. Dec. 1933 - 10. May 1941.
Stellvertreter des Führers (StdF): 21. Apr. 1933 - 10. May 1941.
Vorsitzender der Politischen Zentralkommission der NSDAP: 1932-
Gau SS-Führer Oberbayern (later Oberführerbereich "Süd"): 1929 - 31. Oct. 1930.
Hitler's Private Secretary: 1925 - 1932.
Imprisoned for 7 months at fortress of Landsberg am Lech, Bayern, along with Hitler and other Munich Putschitsts:
Battalion commander in Munich Putsch (afterwards, escaped to Austria, but returned to Bavaria to serve a prison sentence along with Hitler): 8./9. Nov. 1923.
World War I & Freikorps Service:
Joined Army, 1914, serving first as a shock troop (Stoßtrupp) leader, later transferring to the Air Service as a lieutenant. Twice wounded, once at Verdun in 1916. After WW I, joined the Thule Gesellschaft and the Freikorps "Epp" in 1919.
Postwar Prosecution:
Tried by International Military Tribunal, Nuremberg, 20. Nov. 1945 - 1. Oct. 1946; Sentenced to life imprisonment.
Notes:
Summed up his personality in Jun. 1934 with: "The National Socialism of all of us is anchored in uncritical loyalty, in the surrender to the Führer that does not ask for the why in individual cases, in the silent execution of orders." Described Hitler as "pure reason in human form."
On 10. May 1941 Hess, an accomplished pilot, flew a Messerschmitt Bf-110 from Augsburg to Scotland, parachuting 12 miles from the home of the Duke of Hamilton. His intention was to make peace with the "fellow-Nordics" of Great Britain, but the British were unimpressed, and locked Hess up in the Tower of London for the duration of the war. Hitler's reward to the faithful Hess was to publicly declare him insane.
Decorations & Awards:
1914 EK I/II; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer; Goldenes Parteiabzeichen; Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold; Ehrendegen des RF SS/Totenkopfring der SS.
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