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In May 1941, in the middle of the Second World War, a German plane flew alone to England. At the controls was Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler's deputy. What was behind his mission? Was it an act of madness or a serious attempt to bring about peace? The case raises many questions. Hess had been at Hitler's side since the early 1920s, was unconditionally devoted to him and was a fanatical National Socialist who sworn the party to Hitler and kept it on course. In this way, he made himself seemingly irreplaceable to the dictator. But since Hitler went on a war course, Hess became increasingly politically marginalized. When England continued the fight after the German victory over France, Hitler turned to the Soviet Union. Hess feared a two-front war, an alliance between the Soviet Union and England against Germany and its allies. But Hess believed that Germany had a natural friendship with England. Peace with the kingdom was probably his great hope when he set off for England in a converted twin-engine fighter plane. Once he got there, nobody was interested in his suggestions and he remained in prison until after the war, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Nuremberg trials for his involvement in the crimes of the Nazi regime. Hess died in the war criminals prison in Spandau in 1987 after more than 40 years in prison. Officially, it is said that he strangled himself with a cable. Others speculate that it was murder. 00:00 Intro 00:30 The riddles surrounding Rudolf Hess 01:23 The fanatical National Socialist 02:32 Hess becomes politically marginalized 06:00 Hess and the flight to England 08:44 Hess lands in England 09:49 Hess is declared insane 11:32 The mysterious death Author: Jörg Müllner Editor: Bernhard Schulder This video is a ZDF production in cooperation with History Media. #TerraX #SecondWorldWar #Biographies Subscribe? Just click here – / @terraxhistory All films and information about Terra X can be found here – https://terra-x.zdf.de/#xtor=CS3-82 Terra X on Facebook – / zdfterrax Terra X on Instagram – / terrax