Oh I'm fully aware of the many times Hess did feign insanity to make himself look pitiable. It was cowardly, but in his situation, he had lost everything except his life. It was all he had left, and even then, he put it in jeopardy several times.
The give away here, is the fact that he left his comfortable position as Deputy Leader to Hitler, in order to risk his life negotiating peace with the British. That was against orders, and the German Airforce was scrambled in an attempt to intercept and stop him from completing this personal mission of his.
Churchill himself, who had access to MI6/SIS interrogation records, wrote of Hess - he was merely acting out in "lunatic benevolence," while Stalin on the other hand, believed Hess made the flight on orders from the British. Some believed that Hitler was responsible for sending Hess, but the German reaction demonstrates everything but that.
Everybody from that era who was in the know is now dead. We won't know the full truth unless the evidence still exists and is declassified in entirety. Churchill regarded Hess as a 'nobody' after his capture. He was punished as an example - not as the right hand of Hitler that he was supposed to be.
I think Hess was a super clever guy with a savior complex. He didn't understand the dynamics of the "hidden hand" at work. He basically outlived everyone, albeit in solitary confinement for most of his adult life.
Oh I'm fully aware of the many times Hess did feign insanity to make himself look pitiable. It was cowardly, but in his situation, he had lost everything except his life. It was all he had left, and even then, he put it in jeopardy several times.
The give away here, is the fact that he left his comfortable position as Deputy Leader to Hitler, in order to risk his life negotiating peace with the British. That was against orders, and the German Airforce was scrambled in an attempt to intercept and stop him from completing this personal mission of his.
Churchill himself, who had access to MI6/SIS interrogation records, wrote of Hess - he was merely acting out in "lunatic benevolence," while Stalin on the other hand, believed Hess made the flight on orders from the British. Some believed that Hitler was responsible for sending Hess, but the German reaction demonstrates everything but that.
Everybody from that era who was in the know is now dead. We won't know the full truth unless the evidence still exists and is declassified in entirety. Churchill regarded Hess as a 'nobody' after his capture. He was punished as an example - not as the right hand of Hitler that he was supposed to be.
Exactly.
I think Hess was a super clever guy with a savior complex. He didn't understand the dynamics of the "hidden hand" at work. He basically outlived everyone, albeit in solitary confinement for most of his adult life.