The Wrangell sentinel., 1941-05-16
Hess Flight
MyStifieS
The World

broke this week when Rudolph Hess,
No. Nazi, 47-year-old leader of
the National Socialist party in Ger
many, landed by parachute from an
airplane in Scotland, leaving his
Messerschmidt fighting plane to
crash near GLASGOW
Berlin first announced that Hess
was missing on an unauthorized
flight from Berlin on Saturday.
Monday London announced he had
landed in Scotland and had been
taken prisoner after being definite
ly identified as Hess. He suffered
fractured ankle in landing. Ber-
lin Immediately announced he was
mentally H."
Though official London admits
Hess has been thoroughly ques-
toned nothing has been made pub
lie as to the actual purpose Of his
mission, which London implies was
a mission and not a wild flight as
Berlin contends.
Pre-COnoeived Plan
Prevailing theory of most obser-
Vers is that Hess left Germany with
the knowledge of Hitler in a pre-
conceived plan to make DEAF
with England. London denies any
information of that nature coming
from Hess. other theories are that
Hess. fearing a purge in German
political ranks, fled; that he per
sonally thought ne could bring an
understanding between Germany and
England; that there is thermal trou-
BILE in Germany and that Hess de-
cided to cast his lot with England
and desert his Nazis
None of these theories has con-
firming information. Meanwhile,
London is implying to the world that
Hess has given the British valuable
information. which Germany denies
he is in position to give.
Hess is one of the original Ma
zis. Away back in 1923, after the
famous abortiye beer-eellar putsch
in Munich, both Hess and his idol,
Adolf Hitler, were marked men
but they were captured and i'm
prisoned in almost adjoining cells
of the Landsberg fortress. Hess
served 7 p months. That, of course,
was ten years before Hitler came
to power.
It was in prison that Hitler die
tated his famed book, "Mein Kampf"
my Battle). The man he dictated
that time became known as Hit
ler's shadow title he contin-
ued to hold in the eyes of the world
until his dramatic disappearance
from Germany Saturday.
Hess had been designated by
Hitler on the opening day of the
war-September 1, 1939-as num-
Der nazi. Hitler said that should
anything happen to him, he would
want Goering to succeed him; and
should anything happen to Goer-
ing then he said Hess would be
der Fuehrer.
Storm Trooper
Hess was one of the first MEM
bers of the national socialist demo-
cratic party, (nazis) and was among
the first to join the famed storm
troops. In 1925 he became Hitler's
private secretary. Later he became
his adjutant. When he disappeared
Saturday he was still officially sec
ond only to Hitler in command of
Germany's one political party = he
was still head of the nazi party.
At party anniversaries, it was
Hess who often administered the
oath to new members:
81 swear to Adolf Hitler an un-
breakable fealty and unquestioned
obedience" Then he would add in
a grim voice: Woe to anyone
breaking this oath, for he shall be
cast out from society"
He often made important an
nouncements in Hitler's name. In
1888, at Christmas time, he an
nounced Hitler had established a
new decoration German moth
er's cross of honor for prolific
mothers