The loneliest man in the world: The inside story of the 30-year imprisonment of Rudolf Hess

By Eugene K. Bird

Book Overview

Without doubt, the most bizarre and controversial event in the History of World War II was the parachute jump by Deputy F hrer Rudolf Hess into Scotland on May 10, 1941. Hess was supposedly on a peace... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0436042908
• ISBN13: 9780436042904
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Loss of Eugene K Bird

Having obtained the book from a second-hand store in London many years ago, I never thought I would meet Mr. Bird, who wrote an excellent account of Rudolf Hess at Spandau. At a book review last March in Berlin we met and a friendship developed. After visiting the graveside of the Hess family at Wunsiedel last July, I managed to meet Mr. Bird at his home in Berlin in August. I regret to report that Mr. Bird passed away in late October. His book will now be even more valuable. Gotthard Liebich, St. Albans, UK.

Rare and valuable addition to history

If you have read Speer's magnificent Spandau diaries, this book will fill in a lot of very interesting gaps. Authoritative, the author gives the rarest of insights into Hess' actual state during his imprisonment.

Rare and valuable historical piece

To the readers of Speers magnificent Spandau Diaries this authoritative book fills in many intriguing gaps, and illuminates many mysteries abour Hess' true state of mind. A valuable and wonderful book.

I had a signed copy!

While my husband and I were stationed in Berlin Germany, I actually met Mr Bird at the home of a friend. He signed my copy of the book! He talked to us about his time at Spandau Prison, which we drove past and took pictures of. I loaned to book to a friend, who has since divorced and have never seen the book again. I can hardly believe that anyone would not return a signed book!! Judy or Steve if you are out there, Please return my BOOK!!

RUDOLF HESS-THE LONELIEST MAN IN THE WORLD

I highly recommend this fascinating, interesting and revealing book written by one-time Director of Spandau Prison in Berlin Col Eugene Bird. However, before I continue with my review I think it is appropriate for me to quote what Rudolf Hess's son Wolf Rudiger Hess thought of the book. He says in his book 'My Father Rudolf Hess' written in the 1980's the following comments regarding the book: Bird was U.S Director at Spandau and maintains that he won my father's confidence over the period. My father allegedly gave him permission to use his Nuremberg notes in a publication.Although Bird's description sounds quite credible in many respects, as a source I consider the book to be of only limited reliability until such time as it's content is confirmed by Rudolf Hess.With the above in mind, I do not know if the book was ever confirmed as completely reliable by Rudolf Hess (probably not) but Bird's account of things certainly tie in with many facts concerning the 'Third Reich's' most tragic figure.It is written from the point of view of a humanitarian who wanted to really get to know Rudolf Hess and find out what he was really like. I believe that because of Eugene Bird's kind and compassionate manner, Hess felt able to talk to him and reveal a lot about himself and subjects and events that he had not had the chance to talk about to anyone eles in years of captivity. Eugene Bird states in the book that he believes he was the first person to get close to Hess since Hess's captivity in 1941 which is very probably the truth. Hence you have a very moving and at times very sad glimpse into the life and emotions of Rudolf Hess which would not have been revealed in such detail by other people in Spandau.The book features Hess's Nuremburg diary entries which make fascinating reading indeed. Also the book features the lives of the other Spandau prisoners up until their various release dates when only Rudolf Hess remained. Eugene Bird is able to tell us the reaction of Hess at that momentous time when he found himself completely alone without Albert Speer and Baldur Von-Shirach.The book covers Rudolf Hess's illness with a serious stomach ulcer which required hospital treatment. It was after this illness that Bird was able to persuade Rudolf Hess to receive a visit from his wife Ilse and son Wolf who he had not seen since he was 3 years old. The sensitive way in which Bird gently persuaded him to see his family after 28 years is a credit to his sensitivity as a Director and as a man. The book goes on to explain and detail that very first meeting and also later meetings between Hess and his family. Eugene Bird got to know Rudolf Hess in a very real way and he discovered that Hess was a sensitive, humourous and warm human being who had a sharp intellect and keen interest in things.A truly fascinating part of the book is devoted to the letters which pointed to the peace mission to Great Britain of Rudolf Hess in which he made an attempt to stop the war. He