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Rudolf Hess (Rudolf Heß in German) ( April 26, 1894 - August 17, 1987) was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany and was Adolf Hitler's deputy as Nazi Party leader. He edited Hitler's book Mein Kampf and later became Hitler's private secretary, eventually rising to deputy party leader and third in leadership of Germany, after Hitler and Hermann Göring.

Hess had a privileged position as Hitler's deputy in the early years of the Nazi movement, but became increasingly marginalized in the 1930's as Hitler concentrated more and more powers into his person; his position as deputy hence became quite meaningless. This trend only increased in the early years of the war as most of the attention and glory became focused on the generals, Hermann Göring, Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler. According to William Shirer, author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Hess might have flown to Britain in the hope that he could score a stunning diplomatic victory by sealing a peace between the Reich and Britain. He flew to Britain in May 1941 to meet the Duke of Hamilton , parachuting from his Messerschmitt Bf 110The Messerschmitt Bf110 (later Me110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. History Based around the concept of the long-range Zerstorer or "Destroyer Fighter" the Bf110 enjoyed some success in the Polish and over RenfrewshireRenfrewshire is one of 32 unitary authority regions in Scotland. It borders onto North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. The 1975-96 district of Renfrew covered a slightly larger area, and included the towns on May 10May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). There are 235 days remaining. Events 1291 Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England. 1497 Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cadiz for his first, and landing (breaking his ankle) at Floors Farm near Eaglesham , just south of GlasgowFor other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, located on the River Clyde in West Central Scotland. It is also one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, officially known as the City of Glasgow and, like many west of S.

Hess believed Hamilton to be an opponent of Winston ChurchillChurchill" redirects here. For other meanings, see Churchill (disambiguation). The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill KG, OM, CH, FRS ( November 30, 1874 January 24, 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the U and came to see him because, strangely, he did not want to negotiate directly with Churchill or his cabinet because he held them wholly responsible for the outbreak of the war. As such, he did not consider that Germany could negotiate a peace with them. His proposal for peace was identical to the bargain Hitler tried to make with Neville ChamberlainArthur Neville Chamberlain ( 18 March 1869 9 November, 1940) was a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 1940. Early life Chamberlain was the eldest son from Birmingham Mayor Joseph Chamberlain's second marriage and also ha prior to the invasion of PolandThe Republic of Poland a country in Central Europe, lies between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and Russia (in the form of the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) t: that Germany would help protect the British Empire as long as Britain did not oppose Germany in Europe.

Hess' strange behavior and unreasonable proposals totally discredited him as a serious negotiator, especially since it became quickly obvious that he did not officially represent the German government. He was imprisoned by the British (in the Tower of LondonThe Tower of London is officially Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London although the last ruler to reside in it as a palace was King James I ( 1566- 1625). The White Tower the square building with turrets on each corner that gave it its n). Hitler spread the word throughout Germany that Hess had become insane and acted of his own accord. Martin Bormann succeeded him as deputy.  Hess was tried at the Nuremberg Trials after the war for crimes against peace and was given a life sentence. For decades after, he was addressed simply as "prisoner number seven." Following the 1966 release of Baldur von Schirach and Albert Speer, he was the sole remaining inmate of Spandau Prison. He was said by the guards to have degenerated mentally and lost most of his memory.

In 1987, he died under Four Power imprisonment in the Spandau Prison in West Berlin. His death was ruled a suicide. His son Wolf Rüdiger Hess maintained until his own death that his father was murdered by the British SAS.

After Hess' death, neo-Nazis from Germany and the rest of Europe gathered in Wunsiedel, where Hess is buried, for a "memorial march." The demonstrations take place every year around the day of Hess' death. They were banned from 1991-2000, during which time the neo-Nazis tried to gather in other cities and even in other countries (such as the Netherlands and Denmark). Since 2001 the demonstrations in Wunsiedel are legal again and over 5000 neo-Nazis marched in 2003, and around 7000 in 2004. These were among the biggest neo-Nazi demonstrations in Germany since 1945.