--- title: Rudolf Hess url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/rudolf-hess/ description: 5 verified quotes from Rudolf Hess, Deputy of the Führer, with sources. section: FRAME --- ![Illustration: an interwar radio-and-newsreel intelligence collage with a 1930s map of Europe and propaganda poster proofs.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-interwar.jpg) [Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · Germany # Rudolf Hess ![Rudolf Hess in 1935](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/images/nazi-germany/rudolf-hess.jpg) [Photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1987-0313-507,_Rudolf_Hess.jpg): Unknown (Bundesarchiv), CC BY-SA 3.0 de Deputy of the Führer · Germany On the regime page: [Nazi Germany](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/nazi-germany/#rudolf-hess) 5 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=rudolf-hess). 1. > “You take an oath to a man whom you know follows the laws of providence, which he obeys independently of the influence of earthly powers, who leads the German people rightly, and who will guide Germany’s fate. Through your oath you bind yourselves to a man who — that is our faith — was sent to us by higher powers. Do not seek Adolf Hitler with your mind. You will find him through the strength of your hearts! Adolf Hitler is Germany and Germany is Adolf Hitler. He who takes an oath to Hitler takes an oath to Germany!” — English: Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University. Original-language text not found. — February 25, 1934 · Broadcast · Germany (radio address to party officials) — Hess spoke to about a million political leaders, Labour Service and Hitler Youth leaders gathered at points across Germany to swear an oath to Hitler. The speech was broadcast to the nation. — 'Der Eid auf Adolf Hitler', radio speech of 25 February 1934, in Rudolf Hess, Reden (Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Munich, 1938), pp. 10-14; English translation by Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University [Source](https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/hess1.htm) 2. > “With pride we see: One remains free from all criticism — the Führer. That is because each feels and knows: He is always right, and he will always be right. Our National Socialism is anchored in absolute loyalty, in devotion to the Führer that does not question individual cases, in the silent execution of his orders. We believe that the Führer is obeying a higher call to form Germany’s fate! There can be no criticism of this faith.” — English: Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University. Original-language text not found. — June 25, 1934 · Speech · Essen, Gau party rally (broadcast) — Delivered five days before the killings of 30 June 1934, at a regional party rally, broadcast on German radio and later reprinted in Hess's collected speeches. In the same speech he told listeners that justified criticism should go through party channels and not be voiced in public. — 'Von der Revolution zum Aufbau', speech at the Gau Essen party rally, 25 June 1934, in Rudolf Hess, Reden (Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Munich, 1938), pp. 15-32; English translation by Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University [Source](https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/hess5.htm) 3. > “We front soldiers do not want incompetent diplomacy to lead us once again into catastrophe, whose chief victims would once again be front soldiers. We soldiers on all sides feel free of the responsibility for the last war. We want to fight together to prevent a new catastrophe. We want to join in building together what we together destroyed during the war.” — English: Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University. Original-language text not found. — July 8, 1934 · Speech · East Prussia, Gau party rally — Hess addressed First World War veterans in Germany and abroad, saying the leadership of Germany and Italy had known trench warfare and favoured peace. The speech was delivered to a party rally but was meant for an international audience. — 'An die Frontkämpfer der Welt', speech to the East Prussia Gau party rally, 8 July 1934, in Rudolf Hess, Reden (Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Munich, 1938), pp. 39-48; English translation by Randall Bytwerk, German Propaganda Archive, Calvin University [Source](https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/hess4.htm) 4. > “Henceforth my memory will again respond to the outside world. The reasons for simulating loss of memory were of a tactical nature. Only my ability to concentrate is, in fact, somewhat reduced. But my capacity to follow the trial, to defend myself, to put questions to witnesses, or to answer questions myself is not affected thereby.” — English: Official English translation, in the International Military Tribunal proceedings (Avalon Project text). Original-language text not found. — November 30, 1945 · Testimony · Nuremberg, International Military Tribunal — Hess made the statement at the end of a hearing on whether he was fit to plead, after Tribunal members had questioned medical reports on his claimed memory loss. He had been in British custody since flying to Scotland in May 1941. — Statement by the Defendant Hess in open court, 30 November 1945, in Trial of the Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal, vol. 2 (Nuremberg, 1947), p. 495 [Source](https://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/11-30-45.asp) 5. > “I was permitted to work for many years of my life under the greatest son whom my people has brought forth in its thousand year history. Even if I could, I would not want to erase this period of time from my existence. I am happy to know that I have done my duty, to my people, my duty as a German, as a National Socialist, as a loyal follower of my Fuehrer. I do not regret anything.” — English: Official English translation, in the International Military Tribunal proceedings (Avalon Project text). Original-language text not found. — August 31, 1946 · Testimony · Nuremberg, International Military Tribunal — Each defendant made a last statement before the Tribunal retired to consider judgment. Hess had earlier chosen not to testify and was limited to a short statement; the Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment on 30 September 1946. — Final statement of the Defendant Hess, 31 August 1946, in Trial of the Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal, vol. 22 (Nuremberg, 1948), p. 372 [Source](https://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/08-31-46.asp) ## Often attributed, not verified These words circulate under Rudolf Hess’s name but could not be traced to a source. They are listed so readers can check them, not as Rudolf Hess’s words. - > “National Socialism is nothing other than applied biology.” — Unverifiable Usually said to come from: Rudolf Hess, 1934 (Nationalsozialismus ist nichts anderes als angewandte Biologie). — Widely attributed to Hess as Deputy of the Führer in 1934, including in German secondary writing on Nazi medicine and biology, but no secondary source checked names the speech, date or page, and it is not in the Hess speeches published by Bytwerk's German Propaganda Archive. No primary text located.