Hitler's Best Friend? How Rudolf Hess became a Human Conspiracy Theory

In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, host James Crossland is joined by Paul Woodadge (WW2TV) to examine the strange and controversial life of Rudolf Hess, one of the most enigmatic figures of World War II.As Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler, Hess played a key role in the rise of Nazi Party. But in 1941, he shocked the world with his solo flight to Scotland - an extraordinary and desperate attempt to negotiate peace between Britain and Nazi Germany.This episode explores Hess’s early life, his fascination with the occult, and his unwavering ideology, while unpacking the mystery behind his actions. Why did Hess believe he could broker peace? Was he acting alone, or was there a deeper strategy at play involving important figures from Britain and Germany?From wartime diplomacy and Nazi leadership to enduring conspiracy theories, this deep dive into Hess’s story sheds light on one of the most bizarre incidents of the Second World War.Perfect for listeners interested in WWII history, Nazi Germany, political intrigue, and historical mysteries.Check out WW2TV – https://www.ww2tv.com/ Further ReadingPeter Padfield, Hess: Flight for the Fuhrer (1991)James Douglas-Hamilton, The Truth About Rudolf Hess (2018)Roy Connors-Nesbit & Georges van Acker, The Flight of Rudolf Hess: Myths & Reality (2007)James Leasor, Rudolf Hess: the Uninvited Envoy (2016)  Chapters00:00 Introduction to History's Devils00:27 Rudolf Hess: The Enigmatic Deputy Fuhrer04:09 Hess's Early Life and Influences11:19 Hess's Rise in the Nazi Party18:11 Hess's Role in Nazi Policies25:28 The Context of Hess's Flight31:56 The Fateful Flight to Scotland39:37 Hess's Capture and Aftermath43:51 Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Hess44:23 The Peace Party Theory46:45 The Lure Theory56:15 The Madman Theory01:02:41 Hess's Fate and LegacyThanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween"Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevilshttps://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/On Substackhttps://jamescrossland.substack.com/Follow JAMES CROSSLANDOn Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.socialTag HISTORY's DEVILS@historysdevils#HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #Podcast #History #DarkHistory #HistoricalBiography #TrueHistory #HistoryDocumentary #Deepdive #Storytelling History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures.History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of:Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce LockhartThe Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism...