# Rudolf Hess > German Nazi leader and Reich Minister without Portfolio (1894–1987) **Wikidata**: [Q75866](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q75866) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Hess) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rudolf-hess ## Summary Rudolf Hess was a German Nazi leader and Reich Minister without Portfolio, serving as a high-ranking official in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1941. He was a close associate of Adolf Hitler and played a significant role in the Nazi Party before his controversial flight to Scotland in 1941, which led to his imprisonment and eventual conviction at the Nuremberg Trials. ## Biography - **Born**: April 26, 1894 - **Nationality**: German - **Education**: Studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München - **Known for**: Being a prominent Nazi leader and Reich Minister without Portfolio - **Employer(s)**: Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers' Party) - **Field(s)**: Politics, military service, activism ## Contributions Rudolf Hess contributed to the Nazi Party's rise to power and served as a key figure in its administration. He was involved in various political and military activities, including his role as a Reich Minister without Portfolio. Hess was also a member of the Thule Society, an occultist and nationalist group in Bavaria. His flight to Scotland in 1941, an attempt to negotiate peace with the British, is one of the most notable events of his career. ## FAQs **Who was Rudolf Hess?** Rudolf Hess was a high-ranking Nazi official and Reich Minister without Portfolio in Nazi Germany. He was a close associate of Adolf Hitler and played a significant role in the Nazi Party before his controversial flight to Scotland in 1941. **What was Rudolf Hess's role in the Nazi Party?** Hess served as a Reich Minister without Portfolio and was a key figure in the Nazi Party's administration. He was involved in various political and military activities and was a member of the Thule Society. **What awards did Rudolf Hess receive?** Hess received several awards, including the Golden Party Badge, the Iron Cross, the Blood Order, and the Nazi Party Long Service Award. **Where did Rudolf Hess study?** Hess studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, a public university in Munich, Germany. **What was the significance of Rudolf Hess's flight to Scotland?** Hess's flight to Scotland in 1941 was an attempt to negotiate peace with the British. This event led to his imprisonment and eventual conviction at the Nuremberg Trials. ## Why They Matter Rudolf Hess's role in the Nazi Party and his close association with Adolf Hitler made him a significant figure in the history of Nazi Germany. His actions, including his flight to Scotland, had a lasting impact on the course of World War II and the subsequent Nuremberg Trials. Hess's involvement in the Nazi Party and his contributions to its administration highlight the complexities and controversies of his political career. ## Notable For - Being a high-ranking Nazi official and Reich Minister without Portfolio - Serving as a close associate of Adolf Hitler - Being a member of the Thule Society - Receiving awards such as the Golden Party Badge, the Iron Cross, the Blood Order, and the Nazi Party Long Service Award - His controversial flight to Scotland in 1941 - His imprisonment and conviction at the Nuremberg Trials ## Body ### Early Life and Education Rudolf Hess was born on April 26, 1894. He studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, a prestigious public university in Munich, Germany. ### Military Service Hess served in the military during World War I. He participated in significant battles such as the First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Verdun. His military service earned him the Iron Cross, a prestigious military decoration. ### Political Career Hess became a prominent figure in the Nazi Party, serving as a Reich Minister without Portfolio from 1933 to 1941. He was a close associate of Adolf Hitler and played a key role in the party's administration. Hess was also a member of the Thule Society, an occultist and nationalist group in Bavaria. ### Awards and Recognition Throughout his career, Hess received several awards, including: - **Golden Party Badge**: A special Nazi Party award for the first 100,000 party members. - **Iron Cross**: A military decoration awarded for his service during World War I. - **Blood Order**: One of the most prestigious decorations in the Nazi Party. - **Nazi Party Long Service Award**: A medal for long service in the Nazi Party. ### Controversial Flight to Scotland In 1941, Hess undertook a controversial flight to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the British. This event led to his imprisonment and eventual conviction at the Nuremberg Trials. ### Legacy Rudolf Hess's role in the Nazi Party and his close association with Adolf Hitler made him a significant figure in the history of Nazi Germany. His actions, including his flight to Scotland, had a lasting impact on the course of World War II and the subsequent Nuremberg Trials. Hess's involvement in the Nazi Party and his contributions to its administration highlight the complexities and controversies of his political career. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978) 3. Nuremberg Trials Project 4. Catalog of the German National Library 5. Source 6. BnF authorities 7. Genealogics 8. [Source](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/aufgeloestes-rudolf-hess-grab-in-wunsiedel-drohbriefe-und-schmaehungen-1.1126088) 9. [Source](https://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE//1938/093/A01550-01551.pdf) 10. International Standard Name Identifier 11. Virtual International Authority File 12. CiNii Research 13. SNAC 14. Find a Grave 15. filmportal.de 16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 17. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia 18. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana 19. Proleksis Encyclopedia 20. Croatian Encyclopedia 21. Munzinger Personen 22. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 23. I was the Nuremberg jailer (1st American edition) 24. German National Library 25. BBC Things 26. Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Stand vom 1. Dezember 1936 27. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line 28. Quora 29. Enciclopedia Treccani 30. Nuremberg trials 31. LIBRIS. 2013 32. Dizionario di Storia 33. Golden 34. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands 35. Provenio 36. [Source](http://data.advn.be/id) 37. Catalogo of the National Library of India