Wolf Rudiger Hess
Encyclopedia
Wolf Rüdiger Hess was the son of Rudolf Hess
, an admirer of his godfather Adolf Hitler
, an architect and a fixture of the post-war German far-right. He was also an outspoken critic of the investigation into his father's death, which he believed was a cover-up. He maintained that the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)
had murdered his father in order to prevent his parole
which many thought was imminentbecause the British government were afraid that his father, if allowed to speak freely, would reveal embarrassing information about British actions during World War II
. In 2007, however, documents demonstrating British support for Hess' release on humanitarian grounds and their campaign against steadfast Soviet
opposition to his release were published.
Hess was deeply embittered by his father's long solitary imprisonment
.
When Hess was born, every Nazi Gauleiter
(regional leader) was instructed to send a small amount of earth from each Gau (region) to his parents. The earth was spread beneath a cradle so that Hess would symbolically begin his life on the whole of German
soil.
Hess wrote three books: My Father Rudolf Hess (1986), Who Murdered My Father, Rudolf Hess? (1989) and Rudolf Heß: Ich bereue nichts (Rudolf Hess: I do not repent anything) (1994/1998).
Hess was head of the "Rudolf-Heß-Gesellschaft e.V." until his death. He left behind a widow and three children.
Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
, an admirer of his godfather Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, an architect and a fixture of the post-war German far-right. He was also an outspoken critic of the investigation into his father's death, which he believed was a cover-up. He maintained that the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
had murdered his father in order to prevent his parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
which many thought was imminentbecause the British government were afraid that his father, if allowed to speak freely, would reveal embarrassing information about British actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 2007, however, documents demonstrating British support for Hess' release on humanitarian grounds and their campaign against steadfast Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
opposition to his release were published.
Hess was deeply embittered by his father's long solitary imprisonment
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
.
When Hess was born, every Nazi Gauleiter
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
(regional leader) was instructed to send a small amount of earth from each Gau (region) to his parents. The earth was spread beneath a cradle so that Hess would symbolically begin his life on the whole of German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
soil.
Hess wrote three books: My Father Rudolf Hess (1986), Who Murdered My Father, Rudolf Hess? (1989) and Rudolf Heß: Ich bereue nichts (Rudolf Hess: I do not repent anything) (1994/1998).
Hess was head of the "Rudolf-Heß-Gesellschaft e.V." until his death. He left behind a widow and three children.