MAY I be allowed to contribute a few facts on Rudolph Hess? As a young officer in the Highland Light Infantry, based in Maryhill Barracks, I was the guard commander in charge of Rudolf Hess in Buchanan Castle Military Hospital on the night of May 11/12, 1941.
After a statement on the 9pm news that Hess was reported to have flown into the UK and was captured, I was convinced that Rudolf Hess was in fact my prisoner.
Until the arrival of Mr (later Sir) Ivone Kirkpatrick and the Duke of Hamilton about midnight, Hess and I had a very interesting and unique discussion, in English.
We quickly disposed of his claims to be Hauptman Alfred Horn and that he was on a reconnaissance flight. Subsequently he said he hoped to meet again the Duke of Hamilton whom he had met in Germany in 1936.
We discussed family matters initially and then proceeded to matters of substance including: why Germany invaded Poland; the social and economic benefits derived from the growth and control by the Nazi Party; the reported atrocities towards the Jews; and the forthcoming invasion of Russia by the German forces.
He said it was only a matter of time until they would defeat the Allied Armies. He persisted that it would be more sensible if Germany and Britain were to join forces against Russia and prevent the spread of Communism in the West.
This uninhibited and wide-ranging discussion continued until Ivone Kirkpatrick and the Duke of Hamilton arrived about midnight to conduct the first real interrogation of the prisoner. This lasted for nearly three hours.
By the use of my shaving mirror positioned above the door of the ward utility room, which was rigged up as a bedroom, I was able to witness the interrogation with Hess sitting up in bed and the others in chairs by his bedside.
At the conclusion of the interview Ivone Kirkpatrick asked me if I knew who the prisoner was. I said Rudolf Hess. He confirmed he was and told me to stay in the room beside Hess and not to let him out of my sight until I was relieved by a new guard commander in the morning and, further, on no account to allow myself to be interviewed by the press.
After doubling the guard in the room, the three of us adjourned to the officers' mess for a light meal. When I told the Duke about Hess's claim to have met him in 1936, he agreed he had met him, but once only, at the Olympic Games in Berlin.
The story moves on to 1946 and the Nuremberg Trials. By this time I was a major on the Army General Staff with First Army Corps in Germany. My responsibilities included the administration of about 200 Dutch interpreters, the most senior of whom was involved in interpreting at the trials. He had no doubt the man in court was Rudolph Hess and we agreed that the strange enigmatic behaviour of Hess could be consistent with privations suffered by him during his five years in captivity.
So, why did the Deputy Fuehrer come to Britain? In 1952 when I first wrote about Hess and what might have motivated him to come to Britain, I gave three possible reasons which I believe are just as valid today as they were then.
I offer them for your consideration:
First, having been deposed as Hitler's deputy by Martin Bormann, he was getting out before he was purged.
Secondly, he foresaw the eventual defeat of Germany and took the opportunity to get out in the hope of securing for himself an important position in the leadership of post-war Germany.
Thirdly, Hitler, having miscalculated the temperament of the British people, sent Hess as his ambassador to explore a possible alliance with Britain for a joint attack on Russia.
But who really knows why he came to Britain and will we ever be told?
Emeritus Professor Robert K Shaw,
49 Netherblane, Blanefield.
August 26.
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