The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Government & Party
Rudolf Hess (1894–1987): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 26 April 1894, Alexandria, Egypt |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 August 1987, Spandau prison, Berlin (suicide) |
| Key offices | Deputy Führer (21 April 1933); Reich Minister without Portfolio (1933) |
| Documents bearing his name | Party documents and appointments 1933–1941, correspondence; later prison-era material |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
As Deputy Führer, Rudolf Hess signed a great volume of party paperwork between 1933 and 1941. His flight to Scotland in May 1941 ended that career abruptly, which makes the dating of his documents unusually clear-cut. Material from his decades of imprisonment forms a second, very different group.
Who Was Rudolf Hess?
Hess was born in Alexandria in 1894, served in the First World War and ended it as a lieutenant with the fighter pilots. Imprisoned with Hitler at Landsberg after the 1923 putsch, he acted as his private secretary. On 21 April 1933 he was appointed Deputy Führer and later Reich Minister without Portfolio. On 10 May 1941 he flew secretly to Scotland, apparently to seek peace talks, and was interned. Hitler stripped him of all party offices.
What Documents Bear Hess’s Signature?
Original signatures from 1933–1941 appear on party correspondence, appointment papers and orders of the office of the Deputy Führer. After May 1941 he no longer held office, so any official document dated later in his name is a warning sign. Material connected with his imprisonment needs especially careful provenance. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Official documents must fall between April 1933 and May 1941.
- Distinguish ink signatures from typed “gez.” copies and facsimiles.
- Prison-era items require a fully documented chain of ownership.
Responsibility and Fate
On 1 October 1946 the International Military Tribunal sentenced Hess to life imprisonment for crimes against peace and conspiracy; he was acquitted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He served his sentence in Spandau prison, where he was the only prisoner from 1966, and took his own life there on 17 August 1987.
Collector’s Note
Hess is one of the few figures whose official signing career has a hard end date, 10 May 1941. That single fact rules out a surprising number of doubtful documents before any handwriting comparison is needed.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hess Deputy Führer?
From 21 April 1933 until his flight to Scotland on 10 May 1941.
What was Hess sentenced to at Nuremberg?
Life imprisonment, on 1 October 1946.
Who replaced Hess?
Martin Bormann took over his office, renamed the Party Chancellery, in May 1941.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Rudolf Heß 1894–1987 (G. Eikenberg; last updated 2015).