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Politics & World • Nazi Germany

Rudolf Hess

Rudolf Hess was a German Nazi politician and a close aide to Adolf Hitler who served as Deputy Führer of the Nazi Party until 1941.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rudolf Hess was a German Nazi politician and a close aide to Adolf Hitler who served as Deputy Führer of the Nazi Party until 1941. In May 1941, he flew alone to Scotland in an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate peace with the United Kingdom. He was later convicted at the Nuremberg Trials and spent the rest of his life imprisoned in Spandau.

Early life and rise in the Nazi movement

Hess was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1894 and later became involved with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the early 1920s. He rose to become one of the regime’s most important officials.

Deputy Führer

From 1933 to 1941, Hess served as Deputy Führer of the Nazi Party and held a central but limited policymaking role within the Nazi leadership. He was widely regarded as one of the regime’s top figures during this period.

Flight to Scotland

In May 1941, Hess flew solo to Scotland in an unauthorized mission that he believed could open peace talks with Britain. The effort failed, and he was immediately detained.

Nuremberg trial and imprisonment

After World War II, Hess was tried at Nuremberg and convicted of conspiracy and crimes against peace. He received a life sentence and remained imprisoned in Spandau until his death.

Key facts

  • He was a leading member of the Nazi Party and one of Hitler’s closest political associates.
  • On 10 May 1941, he flew to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with Britain.
  • He was convicted at the Nuremberg Trials of conspiracy and crimes against peace and sentenced to life imprisonment.
  • He remained in Spandau Prison for the rest of his life and died in 1987 at age 93.
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Canadian context

Rudolf Hess is relevant to Canadian readers as a major figure in Nazi Germany and the Second World War, both of which shaped Canada’s wartime military, diplomatic, and Holocaust-era history.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Rudolf Hess?
He was a German Nazi politician and Adolf Hitler’s deputy party leader until 1941.
Why did Rudolf Hess fly to Scotland?
He flew there in 1941 in an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate peace between Germany and Britain.
What happened to Rudolf Hess after the war?
He was tried at the Nuremberg Trials, convicted of conspiracy and crimes against peace, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Where did Rudolf Hess die?
He died in West Berlin, West Germany, while imprisoned in Spandau.
What was Rudolf Hess’s role in the Nazi Party?
He was the Deputy Führer, one of the highest-ranking positions in the Nazi Party.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rudolf-Hess
    Supports: Birth, role as Hitler’s deputy, and flight to Great Britain
  2. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/rudolf-hess
    Supports: Deputy party leader role, flight to Scotland, Nuremberg conviction, imprisonment, and death
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Hess
    Supports: Basic biographical details, Nazi Party role, and dates
  4. The History Place — https://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/biographies/hess-biography.htm
    Supports: Brief overview of Hess’s position and flight to Scotland