Is Nikki Haley Channeling Rudolf Hess?
Is Nikki Haley channeling Rudolf Hess?
Today's odd news story being given wide play, (linked below) is that the Former UN Ambassador for the Trump Administration has "flown the coop", so to speak.
Sometimes when something politically incongruous happens, something unexpected, and a person of note does something which appears to be counterintuitive, it rings a bell with me.
That's why it's good to read some history. There are times when events in the present seem so out of sorts, confusing, difficult to process, that you can only make sense of the moment by going back in time to find patterns, analogs, parallels that shed light on what just happened.
This isn't because "history repeats itself", which is mainly a slogan which people run up the Flagpole as a way of shutting down a discussion or avoiding thinking about history at all. It means the same thing as "shit happens", and is mostly an expression of fatalism, the same as a shrug. So, don't say that. Please?
Rudolf Hess became infamous as the Deputy Führer of Nazi Germany, second in line behind Hitler as leader of the Nazi Party. After seeing no action in WW I, he studied at the University of Munich under Geopolitician Karl Haushofer, who was the leading proponent in his day of expanding the Germanic speaking Empire to incorporate more "Lebensraum", or living space for the genetically superior Aryan/Nordic race. This relatively little known Professor was one of the leading architects of Nazi Ideology, and also was a dominant figure in shaping the outlook of many well established Conservative leaders in Europe, (Especially England) who were not necessarily Nazi Party members.
Under Haushofer's influence, Hess joined Hitler's National Socialist German Workers Party in 1920, and was by Hitler's side during the Munich Putsch failed Coup in 1923. (Source Wikipedia) While serving his jail sentence for the failed Putsch, Hess assisted Hitler in the writing of "Mein Kampf" which became the "Bible" of the Nazi Party. It was Hess that organized the activity of Hitler's goon squads, the SA. (Stormtroopers)
Hess was appointed Hitler's successor as Deputy Führer and Cabinet Minister without portfolio in March of 1933. Only in wartime in 1939 was Hess surpassed in the Nazi hierarchy by Hermann Göring as Hitler's official successor.
In his position at Hitler's side from 1920 through 1941, Hess was a party to every policy, every decision, and the signing into Law of much of Nazi Germany's legislation, including the Nuremberg Laws on Race of 1935. He was also the only one other than Goebbels who was authorized to give speeches and make public appearances on Hitler's behalf.
The odd thing which happened, which to this day is still somewhat a mystery, is that on May 10, 1941, after getting a favorable Horoscope for travel, Hess stole an Airplane and flew to Scotland on a Solo flight, parachuting and landing with a broken ankle. He had hoped to begin "peace talks" with the Duke of Hamilton, a notorious pro-Nazi politician and opponent of war with Germany. Hess later during his captivity told an interrogator:
"Hess assured me in all seriousness that the idea had been inspired in him in a dream of supernatural forces", he said. "We will guarantee England her Empire: in return she will give us free hand in Europe". That was the message he took to England-- without managing to deliver it".
Hess never explained why his Astrologer advised him to fly to England on the same day that 500 German Bombers were carrying out their heaviest attack yet on London. When Churchill was informed of Hess' flight and capture, he didn't even want to deal with it or be involved! He said, "Hess or no Hess, I'm going to watch the Marx Brothers," and proceeded to his private theater. It all was very odd.
Hess was promptly arrested, held in custody until the war ended, and later returned to Germany to stand trial at Nuremberg along with the other leading war criminals. Throughout the trial, he claimed to be suffering amnesia and unable to remember his and others crimes.
He admitted years later that it was just a ruse. .
He was convicted of course, but due to British intervention was only sentenced to life in prison. There are many who believe Hess may have been a Double agent for England, and were fearful of his revealing secrets about his role in the rise of Nazism, British involvement, and specific cases of figures in the British Establishment complicit in enabling Hitler. There has been recent unearthing of documents indicating that Hitler knew of Hess'plans and his flight was coordinated, and that Hitler was secretly dealing with the Brits, using Hess as a backchannel. This we cannot verify as factual, as it is the view of only a few historians.
Whether true or not, the decision to spare Hess from the hangman set off outrage and consternation. He languished in the infamous Spandau Prison until he hanged himself in 1987.
According to accepted historical narratives, when Hess defected to Scotland, Hitler became apoplectic. However, Hess' former Adjudant named Plintsch claimed that Hitler, when informed about his flight took the news calmly, and said that he knew about it, and hoped at the very least that Hess' diplomacy could have an effect on neutralizing England and strengthening the pro-Hitler faction in Britain's leadership. It was known since the 20's that Hess was "England's Man" in the Nazi Hierarchy, who maintained diplomatic relations with the pro-German faction there.
So, you are wondering what this has to do with Nikki Haley and her "Flight" from Trump today. I don't know, actually. Maybe not much at all. I'll leave it to you folks to come up with some ideas on the matter. But, as I said, sometime things happen which remind me of something I read, and I just feel like writing about it. Any of you ever have that? Thought so.
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