Note 31
From Rudolf Hess by Joachim C. Fest— See further Notes

31 Quoted by Jacobsen,1939-1945. Halder's note of 15th May 1941 (see ibid.) also confirms that the flight came as a complete surprise. In the conference with the chiefs of the OKH the following were put forward as motives:

1. Hess's internal conflict due to his personal attitude toward England and his sorrow at the Germanic people tearing each other to pieces.
2. Internal conflict because he was prohibited from going to the front; repeated requests for assignment to the front turned down.
3. Mystical tendencies ("visions", prophecy aforesaid).
4. Aeronautical daring. Hence the long-standing ban on flying by the Fuhrer.

This and various other pieces of evidence have in the meantime made it entirely clear that Hess did this on his own responsibility and not, as J. R. Rees, Case of Rudolf Hess, evidently considers possible - basing himself on an unnamed German propaganda expert - with Hitler's knowledge and approval.