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Hess, Rudolf   Cerca

Definizione

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, on April 26, 1894, Rudolf Hess was a leading figure in the Nazi Party. During WWI, Hess served in the German infantry and then air force. He joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1920 and participated in Hitler's attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government in 1923. Hess was imprisoned in Landsberg and took the dictation for Hitler's book, Mein Kampf. After their release in 1925, Hess became Hitler's aide and secretary and influenced Hitler with the concept of Lebensraum gained from Hess' studies at the University of Munich. He was appointed deputy Führer of the NSDAP in April 1933 and Minister without portfolio in December which meant that all the new laws created by the Nazis had Hess' signature. During WWII, Hess did not hold influential positions, his power gradually eclipsed by Martin Bormann. To change this, Hess flew alone to England in May 1941 to negotiate a separate peace with the British in hopes they would join Germany in the upcoming invasion of the USSR. He was captured in Scotland and imprisoned. Suspecting that Hess may have leaked plans about the upcoming Soviet invasion to the British, Hitler repudiated his former secretary, declaring him insane. In 1945, Hess was taken back to Germany as one of the main defendants in the trials held by the International Military Tribunal held in Nuremberg. In October 1946, he was acquitted of crimes against humanity and war crimes but found guilty on charges of crimes against peace. Sentenced to life imprisonment, Hess remained in the Spandau prison in Berlin until his suicide in August 1987. It has not been determined whether Hess' flight to Scotland was the result of his individual decision or inspired by Hitler. (en-US)

Fonte

Wistrich, Robert S. Who's Who in Nazi Germany London ; New York: Routledge, 1995. pp. 105-106

Termini più generici

• Personale tedesco di NSDAP/SS/DS