Rudolf Hess

Rudolf Hess (1894-1987) 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 Goering.

He flew to Great Britain in May 1941 - bailing from his Messerschmitt Me-110 in Ayrshire, in a secret self-styled mission to negotiate peace with the Duke of Hamilton. He was immediately imprisoned by the British and his attempt was dismissed by Hitler. This journey is one of the odder events of World War II.

Hess was tried at Nuremberg after the war for crimes against peace and was given a life sentence. He died in 1987 under British imprisonment in Spandau, West Berlin, where he had been the sole prisoner since 1966.