7117 - Rudolf Hess Document Signed at Nuremberg, Challenging the Prosecution's 'Fifth Column' Charge

Rudolf Hess Document Signed at Nuremberg, Challenging the Prosecution's 'Fifth Column' Charge Partly-printed DS, in German, one page, 8 x 12.75, February 16, 1946. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Hess and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Bohle Ernst, Regional Leader of the Foreign (Auslands) Organization of the NSDAP," explaining: "The Auslands (Foreign) organization of the NSDAP, the Volks Bund for Germanism (Deutschtum) abroad (VDA) and the Bund German East (Bund Deutscher Osten) (BDO) had nothing to do with the activity of a fifth column (if such an organization ever existed)." Hess says this testimony will reveal the "contradiction of the statements in the Trial brief Rudolf Hess, Page 12." Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Rudolf Hess, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by lightweight cardstock and in fine condition, with uniform toning. Accompanied by a contemporary English translation. Hess’s application targets a specific prosecution claim: that the Nazi Party’s overseas organizations functioned as a clandestine “fifth column” capable of undermining foreign governments from within. To rebut that charge, Hess sought testimony from Ernst Wilhelm Bohle, head of the NSDAP’s Foreign Organization, who was then imprisoned at Nuremberg. The strategy achieved a rare measure of success. In its final judgment, the Tribunal specifically cited the testimony of Bohle, Karl Strölin, and Alfred Hess in finding that Rudolf Hess had instructed these organizations not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Although this point did little to alter the broader case against him—Hess was convicted of conspiracy and crimes against peace and sentenced to life imprisonment—it stands as one of the limited instances in which the Tribunal accepted a substantive element of his defense.