The Hitler Family unveiled

2005-08-09 20:40

Hamburg - Adolf Hitler left no offspring when he died in his bunker in 1945. But despite his lifelong attempt to conceal his origins, he in fact had numerous relatives, some still living in America.

Aside from a sister called Paula, he had a half-brother named Alois who owned a bar in Berlin and he had a nephew, William Patrick "Willie" Hitler.

Willie grew up in England, moved to New York, fought against the Nazis, and had three sons who live under a different surname now.

The story of those Hitlers is told in a new documentary film aired nationally on German television on Tuesday.

The Hitler Family

Filmmakers Oliver Halmburger and Thomas Staehler have unearthed rare film interviews along with hitherto unseen genealogical records in their film "Die Familie Hitler" (The Hitler Family).

What evolves is a story of sibling rivalry, envy and even blackmail in a family who's name is synonymous with the worst war crimes ever committed.

The Nazi dictator went to great lengths to portray himself as having sprung from almost mythical origins on a lone path to greatness. In fact, he was a mischievous mama's boy who loved to frighten his mother by doing things he wasn't supposed to do.

Hitler youth

The film includes rare interview footage with his sister Paula Hitler, who in 1958 recalled how little Adolf had climbed up a tall ladder when he was just two years old, to the terror of their mother.

"She came running out of the house saying, 'Baby boy, come down here right this minute.' and he just stayed up there and giggled," Paula Hitler told the interviewer.

Paula's long-lost memoirs have also been found by the filmmakers. Thought lost for 40 years since she died in in poverty in Munich in 1960, the memoirs form much of the basis for the film, aired nationwide on ZDF public broadcasting network.

The film focuses in particular on Hitler's half-brother Alois, who owned a successful bar at Wittenberg Platz, a prime location in the heart of Berlin.

It was Alois' son William Patrick who ran off to England and married an Irish girl named Bridget Dowling. After Hitler rose to power, however, Willie was suddenly back in Berlin, hitting up his powerful uncle for money.

He allegedly claimed he could prove the family bloodline had been tainted with Jewish blood and demanded hush money from Uncle Adolf.

The filmmakers say no one knows precisely what was said. But it is known that Willie soon had enough money to emigrate to America in style, reportedly with a bankroll equivalent to a quarter of a million dollars in today's currency.

- SAPA