Why Did They Keep Rudolf Hess in Prison? Was He Accused of War Crimes?

From 1943, Britain harbored peace-seeking sentiments towards Germany, the early signs of which are evident even at Dungavel Castle in South Glasgow. Here, plans for peace were being discussed in private. Rudolf Hess, the deputy Führer of Germany, attempted to make peace by defiantly parachuting into Scotland, a feat in itself as he managed to land just a few miles from the castle. He was then captured, his ankle injured, and kept in prison for the rest of the war. Hess's attempted peace mission is a curious footnote in history, as he was sent to Nuremberg for trial and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Prison Conditions and Red Cross Involvement

Spandau Prison, located in the British sector of Berlin, was the site of Hess's incarceration. This prison housed seven inmates during Hess's imprisonment, with a four-month rotation of guards from the USA, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Of these, Hess was the only prisoner remaining until his death under suspicious circumstances. The Red Cross, which had inspected other Nazi war criminals and found them fit to leave Spandau, eventually declared Hess unfit for release, suggesting a deeper concern beyond mere health reasons.

Hex of the Blockade and the Prisoner's Fate

The Soviet Union vetoed Hess's release, despite the other powers agreeing. When the Soviets finally agreed, Britain vetoed his release. Hess, aged 93 and known for his mental issues, was found dead in a summerhouse in the prison grounds. The official cause was suicide, but there are grave doubts about this. For example, his lawyer and his son insisted that MI6, Britain's intelligence agency, had orchestrated his death to prevent him from revealing information about British wartime misconduct.

Theorizing the True Cause of Death

Police found a window latch that could have been used for hanging, leading to the suicide theory. However, Hess's lawyer argued that at his age and state of health, hanging himself was an unlikely feat. Conversely, the bed made and Hess's meticulous planning of his final meal support the idea of suicide. Yet, questions linger: why would the British, who held him captive for 47 years, feel the need to silence him, especially given his little credibility due to his known mental health issues?

Post-Incarceration and Release

Spandau prison housed Rudolf Hess, Konstantin von Neurath, Erich Raeder, Karl D?nitz, Walther Funk, Baldur von Schirach, and Albert Speer, in order of their release dates. The lives of these men, under constant scrutiny of different powers, were marked by suspicion and secrecy. The Germans who managed to escape from Spandau remained shrouded in mystery, and Hess's incomplete sentence and eventual death served as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of post-war justice.

Conclusion: A Man of Shadows and Secrets

Rudolf Hess's story is a tale of intrigue and secrecy. Was he truly a man seeking peace, or someone with a sinister agenda? His imprisonment and the conditions leading to his death remain subjects of debate to this day. Theories of suicide and murder coexist, leaving historians and conspiracy theorists to ponder the true nature of his final days and the motives behind his captivity.