The remains of Nazi leader Rudolf Hess were exhumed from his grave in Germany after it became a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis.

On Wednesday, his body was taken from his grave in the northern Bavarian town of Wunsiedel and the headstone was removed, according to reports. It is slated to be cremated and his ashes scattered at sea.

Hess, who served as Adolf Hitler’s deputy and personal secretary, was buried in the same town where his parents are buried, at his request.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Hundreds of Nazis marched each year on Wunsiedel in honor of Hess on the anniversary of his death. The practice was banned in 2005. The Nazi visitors to his grave made the Nazi salute, according to reports.

Hess was put on trial at Nuremburg, where he was given a life sentence for crimes against peace and conspiracy to commit crimes. He was sent to the Spandau prison in Berlin and committed suicide there in 1987 at age 93.

On Wednesday, his body was taken from his grave in the northern Bavarian town of Wunsiedel and the headstone was removed, according to reports. It is slated to be cremated and his ashes scattered at sea.

Hess, who served as Adolf Hitler’s deputy and personal secretary, was buried in the same town where his parents are buried, at his request.

Hundreds of Nazis marched each year on Wunsiedel in honor of Hess on the anniversary of his death. The practice was banned in 2005. The Nazi visitors to his grave made the Nazi salute, according to reports.

Hess was put on trial at Nuremburg, where he was given a life sentence for crimes against peace and conspiracy to commit crimes. He was sent to the Spandau prison in Berlin and committed suicide there in 1987 at age 93.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount