The indulgence normally accorded to a man's origins is out of place in the case of Adolf Hitler, who made documentary proof of Aryan ancestry a matter of life and death for millions of people but himself possessed no such document. He did not know who his grandfather was. Intensive research into his origins, accounts of which have been distorted by propagandist legends and which are in any case confused and murky, has failed so far to produce a clear picture. National Socialist versions skimmed over the facts and emphasized, for example, that the population of the so-called Waldviertel, from which Hitler came, had been 'tribally German since the Migration of the Peoples', or more generally, that Hitler had 'absorbed the powerful forces of this German granite landscape into his blood through his father'.

Alois is the only one of Hitler's ancestors, on either side, ever to advance his social position beyond that of peasant. It is with delicious irony--considering Hitler's eugenic beliefs--that critics, such as the noted historian Helmut Heiber²⁵, have pointed out, that the "aberrational quality of the Hitler family, beginning with the ambitious and enterprising father of Adolf, shows that other blood must have entered the Lower Waldviertel stock, which had been weakened by years of inbreeding."

The undersigned witnesses hereby confirm that Johann Georg Hiedler, who was well known to them, acknowledged paternity of the child Alois, son of Anna Schicklgruber, and they request that his name be entered in the baptismal record.

XXX Josef Romeder, Witness
XXX Johann Breitender, Witness
XXX Englebert Paukh, Witness.

Why, after being apparently contented with the Schicklgruber handle for 40 years, did Alois decide to change his name? August Kubizek, a mostly reliable primary source for Hitler's Vienna years, speculated that since old Johann Nepomuk had no male heirs, he therefore made a will, leaving part of his estate to Alois, on condition that he took the name.³⁴ Kubizek should have stuck with what he knew: a will to this effect has never been found;³⁵ and Alois, with a 50-year-old wife at the time, was not likely to sire any immediate heirs. It has often been suggested that Alois, who was of course literate, chose the spelling Hitler³⁶, not Huettler, as Johann Nepomuk preferred. The fact is that Johann Nepomuk may well have preferred neither spelling, or, being illiterate, he was perhaps ignorant of the distinction. It has also been noted that Nepomuk himself was baptized as 'Heidler' and married as 'Huettler.'

What's in a name? Adolf Hitler would describe this name change as the best thing his old man ever did. He once opined to Kubizek³⁸ that Schicklgruber was "...so uncouth, so boorish, apart from being so clumsy and unpractical... (Adolf) found Hiedler...too soft; but Hitler sounded nice and was easy to remember." It has been said so often that it has become a cliche,³⁹ but it is obvious that the faintly comical Heil Schicklgruber would certainly not have had much appeal to the masses.

Was Johann Georg Hiedler really Adolf Hitler's grandfather, as Hitler himself believed? That Johann Georg never acknowledged the fact is problematic. The strongest second choice would be Johann Georg's brother, Johann Nepomuk, the man who so readily took in the young Alois. Proof of paternity is lacking in each case, however. We will probably never know. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: that with the ambiguity in Hitler's family tree concerning the identity of his paternal grandfather, Adolf would not have been eligible to marry an "Aryan" maiden under his own eugenics laws.⁴⁰

Most Reverend Episcopate!

Those who with most humble devotion have appended their signatures below have decided upon marriage. But according to the enclosed family tree they are prevented by the canonical impediment of collateral affinity in the third degree touching the second. They therefore make the humble request that the Most Reverend Episcopate will graciously secure for them a dispensation on the following grounds:

The bridegroom has been a widower since August 10th of this year as can be observed from the enclosed death certificate, and he is the father of two minors, a boy of 2 1/2 years [Alois II] and a girl of 1 year and 2 months [Angela], and they both need the services of a nurse, all the more because [the bridegroom] is a customs official away from home all day and often at night, and therefore in no position to supervise the education and upbringing of his children. The bride has been caring for these children ever since their mother's death and they are very fond of her. Thus it may be justifiably assumed that they will be well brought up and the marriage will be a happy one. Moreover, the bride is without means and it is unlikely that she will ever have another opportunity to make a good marriage.

For these reasons the undersigned repeat their humble petition for a gracious procurement of dispensation from the impediment of affinity. -- Braunau am Inn, 10/27/1884. Alois Hitler, Bridegroom. Klara Poelzl, Bride.

Johanna Poelzl, Klara's younger, hunchbacked sister, is named as one of the godparents, along with Johann and Johanna Prinz, distant relatives living in Vienna.⁵⁹ "Bad-tempered" and "feeble-minded," she is nevertheless extremely fond of her little godchild. The Hitlers' servant girl, Rosalia Schchtl, described Johanna Poelzl as a "haughty, lazy, and not quite normal sister of Frau Klara." Haniaunt, as she is called, would live in the Hitler home for Adolf's entire childhood. Johanna was the second of her generation in the Poelzl family to have this genetically transmitted deformity. Hitler never had children, remarking that he was fearful that his offspring might be feeble-minded, as often happened to "great men" in history; he would then name examples. This relative was perhaps the personal basis of that fear.⁶⁰

Klara Hitler was quiet, loving, and an excellent housewife and mother. A girl, who later lived nearby, passed the Hitler house daily. She remarked⁶¹ that Klara would walk little Paula (Adolf's younger sister) "to the fence door and give her a kiss; I noticed that because that was not what typically happened to us farm girls, but I liked it a lot. I almost envied Paula a little."

Adolf was the fourth child of Klara Hitler, but the first of only two to survive to adulthood. Klara's first three losses made her extremely anxious about the small and frail child. It was more than just sibling rivalry that caused Alois II. to remark: "He was spoiled from early morning until late at night, and the stepchildren had to listen to endless stories about how wonderful Adolf was." By all accounts, although she was kind, loving, and indulgent to all the children in her care, Adolf was her special child. He could do no wrong in her eyes.

Psychologists and historians are wont to point out that Klara Hitler praised, rewarded, and protected the lad, whether his behavior was good or bad. However, she thereby failed to teach him the difference between the two. Perhaps.

While in no way denying the sensible principle of teaching a child values through punishment as well as reward, there is also something to be said for the security of unconditional love, unconditionally expressed. It is little wonder that Hitler would grow up to worship his mother as the finest woman he had ever known, keeping her picture always at his bedside.

The married life of my parents was a very happy one, in spite of their very unlike characters. My father, who was of great harshness in the education of his children and who only spoiled me as the pet of the family, was the absolute type of the old Austrian official, conservative and loyal to his emperor to the skin. My mother, however, was a very soft and tender person, the compensatory element between the almost too harsh father and the very lively children who perhaps were somewhat difficult to train. If there were ever quarrel or difference of opinion between my parents it was always on account of the children. It was especially my brother Adolf, who challenged my father to extreme harshness and who got his sound thrashing every day. He was a scrubby little rogue, and all attempts of his father to thrash him for his rudeness and to cause him to love the profession of an official of the estate were in vain. How often on the other hand did my mother caress him and try to obtain with her kindness, were the father could not succeed with harshness!⁶⁴

His father, Alois I on the other hand, showed little favoritism; he dominated, and made demands on everyone in the household, without exception.⁽⁶⁴⁾ As is usual with self-made men, he worshiped his creator. He had made his way in the world through the civil service, and naturally assumed that his sons would follow suit. When he was asked for advice as to a civil service career for his cousin's son, the Assistant Higher Customs Inspector gave this revealing reply:⁶⁵

Don't let him think that the Finanzwach (civil service) is a kind of game, because he will be quickly disillusioned. First, he has to show absolute obedience to his superiors at all levels. Second, there is a good deal to learn in this occupation, all the more so if he has little previous education. Topers, debtors, card players, and others who lead immoral lives cannot last. Finally, one has to go out on duty in all weathers, day or night.

One can only assume that Alois is referring to public immorality, such as corruption, and not the private variety. To be fair, illegitimacy and "common-law" relations bordering on bigamy were not at all unusual in the time and place in question,⁶⁶ or in any other time and place. This fact alone does not, however, make the behavior moral, or in any way alleviate the consequences of convoluted family structures on the affected children.

Testimony of a neighbor⁶⁷ of the Hitlers:

Old Alois demanded absolute obedience. Frequently he put two fingers in his mouth, let out a piercing whistle; and Adolf, no matter where he may have been, would quickly rush to his father...[Alois] often berated him, and Adolf suffered greatly from his father's harshness.

Psychologists/historians are wont to point out that Alois Hitler, by beating, berating, and belittling the lad whether his behavior was good or bad, thereby failed to teach him the difference between the two. Perhaps.

While in no way denying the sensible principle of not indiscriminately beating your kid, I think it is fair to say that the "Hitler was an abused child" theory only goes so far. Alois was not unlike many fathers, then and now (This was certainly true of Frederick the Great, Hitler's hero, who was very brutally treated by his father.), most of whose sons did not grow up to become vilified by the world as the epitome of evil.

Outwardly, his love for his mother was his most striking feature. While he was not a "mother's boy" in the usual sense, I have never witnessed a closer attachment. Some insist that this love verged on the pathological. As a former intimate of the family, I do not believe this is true. Klara Hitler adored her son, the youngest of the family. She allowed him his own way wherever possible. .... She did her best to raise her boy well. She saw that he was neat, clean, and as well fed as her purse would permit. Whenever he came to my consultation room this strange boy would sit among the other patients, awaiting his turn. There was never anything seriously wrong.⁶³

The German of my youth was the dialect of Lower Bavaria; I could neither forget it nor learn the Viennese jargon.

Hitler's "youth" was only up to the age of 6, when his family returned to Austria proper. He should have been able to absorb more than one dialect. It is much more likely that it stemmed from 1913 onwards, when he went over to Munich, served in a Bavarian regiment, and made Munich his base until 1933. It has also been pointed out that there is here a subjective distinction between a German dialect and the "jargon" of the great Viennese capital. Whether there is much distinction between two south-German dialects is debatable. If it is true that he could not learn it, it was because he was not good at languages.⁷⁰

[That I had] much romping in the open air, [a] long walk to school, and the companionship of unusually robust boys, caused my mother grievous suffering; but this did not prevent me from becoming the opposite of a stay-at-home. And although at that time I had scarcely any thought about my future career, I had decidedly no sympathy for the course my father's career had taken. I believe that even then my talent for making speeches was being developed, in the more or less violent arguments with my schoolfellows. I had become a little ringleader, and at school learned easily and well, but was otherwise rather difficult to handle.

In April of 1895 the upwardly mobile Hitler family moves to the hamlet of Hafeld, Austria, some thirty miles southwest of Linz, the provincial capital.¹ Consisting of a dozen houses set on a high ridge, surrounded and half-hidden by orchards, Hafeld is a small village with a population of around one hundred. With the intention of working the land during his impending retirement, Alois, with nearly forty years in the customs service, purchases a beautiful nine-acre farm within sight of the mountains of the Salzkammergut.²

Though retiring early to devote his remaining years to the (what might be presumed) idyllic existence of a peasant farmer, Alois is nevertheless firmly convinced that his sons, especially the under-achieving eldest, Alois II, could do no better in life than to follow in their father's footsteps by entering the civil service. After devoting the major part of his adult life to furthering his career, the previously much absent father now has the time to become involved in the lives of his children.

Quiet and unassuming, with a temperament similar to her mother's, Paula will remain Adolf's closest family link throughout his life. Adolf and Paula are the only offspring of both Klara and Alois to survive childhood, and neither will have children. She will die in obscurity in 1960.

Paula Hitler:

I liked my brother (Adolf) best of all my brothers and sisters in spite of the difference in age. .... Since I was so much younger than my brother he never considered me a playmate. He played a leading role among his early companions. His favorite game was cops and robbers, and that sort of thing. He had a lot of companions. I could not say what took place in their games, as I was never present. Adolf as a child always came home too late. He got a spanking every night for not coming home on time. ....

When my brother became more and more active (in politics) and the name "Hitler" was known in Vienna, I had difficulties to such an extent, that I was at last dismissed from my position. At that time I changed my name to "Wolf". I went to Munich and described my difficult position of life to my brother. With full understanding he assured me that he would provide for me in future. He did so until his death and at first transferred the sum of 250 Mk, (and) later on since 1938 the sum of 500 Mk to me. Moreover I got a present of 3000 Mk every Christmas. ....

The personal fate of my brother affected me very much. He was still my brother, no matter what happened. His end brought unspeakable sorrow to me, as his sister.

32 years later, in a 1948 interview, Alois II will still feel much resentment:

He (Adolf) was imperious and quick to anger from childhood onward and would not listen to anyone. My stepmother always took his part. He would get the craziest notions and get away with it. If he didn't get his way he got very angry. .... He had no friends, took to no one, and could be very heartless. He could fly into a rage over any triviality.⁷

Alois II will go on to lead an eventful life, including being jailed at least three times, twice for theft, once for bigamy. Hitler biographer Robert Payne, in The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, says of Alois II:

Although Alois Jr. was the black sheep , he was probably the happiest member of the family. He had an earthy robust character, charmed women, and lived by his wits. He was always inventing schemes for getting rich quickly, and most of them came to grief. Neither prison nor poverty soured him. He was unfailingly good-humored and polite, even when he was about to be sentenced by a judge or when he was abandoning his latest wife. He was one of those who enjoy life to the full."⁷

Adolf now becomes the oldest male child in the household, to whom all the relevant paternal attention applies.

To make matters worse for the frustrated retired customs official during this period, it becomes obvious that the soil on the farm is non-productive. When Alois had first set eyes on the Hafeld farm, he had been struck by the serene beauty of the property. However, when the cold autumn rains--intensified by the nearby mountains--swept the place, he began to have second thoughts. Nevertheless, he will persevere as long as possible.⁸ The peasant life agrees with Alois, who is especially passionate about bee-keeping. Hitler will later recall:

It was the most normal thing in the world to be stung by bees. My mother would pull out as many as forty-five or fifty stings [Note: A characteristic exaggeration by Hitler] from the old gentleman when he returned from clearing the hives. He never protected himself in any way except by smoking all the time. In other words it was a good excuse for another cigar!⁹

Scorecard: The Hitler household at this point -- Alois, Klara, Angela, Adolf, Edmund, Paula, and Johanna (Haniaunt) Poelzl, Klara's younger spinster sister.¹⁰

Lambach is rich in medieval history and architecture, including the unique triangular-shaped Paura Church. The Hitlers' initial location at the intersection of Linzerstrasse and Kirchengasse¹² overlooks the Lambach Abbey, a great Benedictine monastery founded in the eleventh century and adorned, curiously enough, by a half a dozen swastikas amidst the Byzantine frescoes.

The explanation for the presence of the swastikas lies in the delight in puns of a former abbot, Theodorich von Hagen. The German word for swastika is Hakenkreuz. Hagen -- Haken. It is as simple as that.¹³

Enrolled in the monastery's choir--under choir director Padre Bernhard Groener--and school, Adolf continues to do well, achieving the Austrian equivalent of straight A's. Frau Helene Hafstaengl, the wife of a future crony, will testify that Adolf once told her that "as a small boy it was his most ardent wish to become a priest. He often borrowed the large kitchen apron of the maid, draped it about his shoulders in vestment fashion, climbed on a kitchen chair and delivered long and fervent sermons."¹⁴ Hitler himself will later recall:

Since, in my free time, I received singing lessons in the cloister at Lambach, I had excellent opportunity to intoxicate myself with the solemn splendor of the brilliant church festivals. It seemed to me perfectly natural to regard the abbot as the highest and most desirable ideal, just as my father regarded the village priest as his ideal.

Adolfs attitude becomes sullen and he begins to receive less than exemplary marks in school, including an "erratic" in diligence with failing marks in natural history and math. He will have to repeat this first class altogether the following year.

The move from Gymnasium--which taught a more classical education, with such subjects as Latin--to the Realschule, with its more technical curriculum, is often thought curious because it was not a traditional path to the civil service, which is the path old Alois desired Adolf to take. However, Alois himself did not take the traditional path either, making the choice perhaps somewhat less curious.

Adolf’s fellow classmate, Josef Keplinger: "He (Hitler) had 'guts.' He wasn't a hothead but really more amenable than a good many. He exhibited two extremes of character which are not often seen in unison, he was a quiet fanatic."

One of Adolf's teachers at Linz Realschule, a Professor Theodor Gissinger, would say: "I remember that he used to hold conversations with the wind-blown trees."¹⁸

The recent death of his brother Edmund, to whom he was attached, may be a factor in the boy's academic decline. Even more pertinent, perhaps, is the fact that the Realschule is a new experience for Adolf, much larger than any school he had ever attended, and therefore with much more competition. Dimensions reverse unfavorably for him, as he is no longer a big fish in a small pond. Then there is the growing struggle with old Alois. The concentration of parental energies on Adolf's education is having (typically) the opposite effect from that intended: The boy rebels.¹⁹

But now, to be sure, there was a new conflict to be fought out. As long as my father's intention of making me a civil servant encountered only my theoretical distaste for the profession, the conflict was bearable. Thus far, I had to some extent been able to keep my private opinions to myself; I did not always have to contradict him immediately. My own firm determination never to become a civil servant sufficed to give me complete inner peace. And this decision in me was immutable.

The problem became more difficult when I developed a plan of my own in opposition to my father's. And this occurred at the early age of twelve. How it happened, I myself do not know, but one day it became clear to me that I would become a painter, an artist. There was no doubt as to my talent for drawing; it had been one of my father's reasons for sending me to the Realschule, but never in all the world would it have occurred to him to give me professional training in this direction. On the contrary. When for the first time, after once again rejecting my father's favorite notion, I was asked what I myself wanted to be, and I rather abruptly blurted out the decision I had meanwhile made, my father for the moment was struck speechless. "Painter ... Artist?"

He doubted my sanity, or perhaps he thought he had misheard or misunderstood me. But when he was clear on the subject, and particularly after he felt the seriousness of my intention, he opposed it with all the determination of his nature. His decision was extremely simple, for any consideration of what abilities I might really have was simply out of the question. "Artist, no, never as long as I live!" But since his son, among various other qualities, had apparently inherited his father's stubbornness, the same answer came back at him. Except, of course, that it was in the opposite sense. And thus the situation remained on both sides. My father did not depart from his "Never!" And I intensified my "Oh, yes!" The consequences, indeed, were none too pleasant.

The old man grew embittered, and, much as I loved him, so did I. My father forbade me to nourish the slightest hope of ever being allowed to study art. I went one step further and declared that if that was the case I would stop studying altogether. As a result of such "pronouncements" of course, I drew the short end; the old man began the relentless enforcement of his authority. In the future, therefore, I was silent, but transformed my threat into reality. I thought that once my father saw how little progress I was making at the Realschule, he would let me devote myself to my dream, whether he liked it or not. I do not know whether this calculation was correct. For the moment only one thing was certain: my obvious lack of success at school.

Some Hitler biographers have gone out of their way to cast doubt upon this assertion by Hitler, propagating a contrary explanation: that the poor marks themselves initiate the struggle, with Hitler blaming his embarrassing decline in performance upon a cynical conscious calculation. Either way, relations between father and son remain less than idyllic at this point in time. Ian Kershaw:

Whether the young Adolf, allegedly at the age of twelve, so plainly stipulated he wanted to be an artist may be doubted. But that there was a conflict with his father arising from his unwillingness to follow a career in the civil service, and that his father found fault with his son's indolent and purposeless existence, in which drawing seemed to be his main interest, seems certain.²⁰

Rummaging through my father's library, I had come across various books of a military nature, among them a popular edition of the Franco-German War of 1870-7I. It consisted of two issues of an illustrated periodical from those years, which now became my favorite reading matter. It was not long before the great heroic struggle had become my greatest inner experience. From then on I became more and more enthusiastic about everything that was in any way connected with war or, for that matter, with soldiering.

Josef Keplinger, one of Adolfs classmates: "Bismarck was for us a national hero. The Bismarck song and lots more German hymns and songs of the same character, were forbidden to be sung." Note: "Austrian and Germans anthems had the same music by Haydin and the Pan-Germans would rebelliously sing the lyrics of 'Deutschland ueber Alles.' They would also greet each other in secret with the German 'Heil.'"²¹

I never had any particularly artistic interests. I could draw rather well and learned easily. My brother was very good in some subjects and very weak in others. He was the weakest in mathematics and, as far as I can remember, in physics, also his failure in mathematics worried my mother. He loved music. He preferred Wagner even then. Wagner was always his favorite.²²

The provincial capital of Upper Austria had at that time a theater which was, relatively speaking, not bad. Pretty much of everything was produced. At the age of twelve I saw [presumably the play] Wilhelm Tell for the first time, and a few months later my first opera, Lohengrin. I was captivated at once. My youthful enthusiasm for the master of Bayreuth knew no bounds. Again and again I was drawn to his works, and it still seems to me especially fortunate that the modest provincial performance left me open to an intensified experience later on. All this, particularly after I had outgrown my adolescence (which in my case was an especially painful process), reinforced my profound distaste for the profession which my father had chosen for me. My conviction grew stronger and stronger that I would never be happy as a civil servant. The fact that by this time my gift for drawing had been recognized at the Realschule made my determination all the firmer.

When I was thirteen my father died suddenly. The old gentleman, who was always so robust and healthy, suffered an apoplectic stroke, and thus painlessly ended his wanderings on earth, plunging us all into the depths of despair. His most ardent desire had been to help his son forge his career, thus preserving him from his own bitter experience. In this, to all appearances, he had not succeeded. But, though unwittingly, he had sown the seed for a future which at that time neither he nor I would have comprehended.

We have buried a good man: this we can rightly say about Alois Hitler, Higher Official of the Imperial Customs, retired, who was carried to his final resting place today. On the third of this month his life came to a sudden end as a result of an apoplectic stroke in the Gasthaus Stiefler, where he had gone because he was feeling unwell, hoping to revive himself with a glass of wine.
Alois Hitler was in his 65th year, and had experienced a full measure of joy and sorrow. Having only an elementary school education, he had first learned the trade of a cobbler, but later taught himself the knowledge needed for a civil service career, which he served with distinction, and in addition he achieved success in husbandry. Salzburg, Braunau, Simbach, Linz, were among the places where he saw service.

Alois Hitler was a progressively minded man through and through, and as such he was a warm friend of free education. In company he was always cheerful, not to say boisterous. The harsh words that sometimes fell from his lips could not belie the warm heart that beat under the rough exterior. He was always an energetic champion of law and order. Well-informed on all kinds of matters, he could always be counted on to pronounce authoritatively on any subject. Fond of singing, he was never happier than when in a joyful company of fellow enthusiasts. In the sphere of bee-keeping he was an authority.

Not the least of his characteristics was his great frugality and sense of economy and thrift. All in all Hitler's passing has left a great gap, not only in his family: he leaves a widow and four children not well provided for; but also in the circle of his friends and acquaintances who will preserve pleasant memories of him.

As a very well respected pillar of the community (Honoratioren), nearly the entire village, as well as former colleagues from the custom service and relatives from Spital, attend Alois's funeral. Alois's best friend, primary drinking buddy and fellow customs man Karl Wessely, as well as Josef Mayrhofer, the Mayor of Leonding, are among Alois's pallbearers.²⁷ By the terms of Alois's will, Mayor Mayrhofer is made the guardian of the minor Hitler children.²⁸ Adolf assumes the role of the family's eldest male.

Subsequent scholarship has determined that the "not well provided for" line in the obituary is not factual. Alois's pension and assets are substantial, and the family's lifestyle barely alters.²⁹ In fact, Adolf will now be able to board with five or six other boys in the home of Frau Sekira near the Linz Realschule, thus avoiding the long daily walk. Adolf carries himself with reserve, always using the formal 'Sie' with landlady and peers alike. Frau Sekiras only complaint seems to have been that Adolf, already developing the habit of staying up quite late working on some project or another, would go through an inordinate number of candles. Finding him--in the middle of the night--bent over a map that he was decorating with colored pencils, she asked him: "Why Adolf, what on earth do you suppose you are doing?" "Studying maps," he curtly replied.³⁰

Even though Klara does her best to motivate the boy, trying as well as she can to enforce Alois's posthumous wishes for Adolf's education, he continues to post failing marks.

I well remember the gaunt, pale-faced boy who shuttled backwards and forwards between Linz and Leonding. Hitler was certainly gifted, although only for particular subjects. He lacked self-control and, to say the least, he was considered argumentative, autocratic, self-opinionated and bad-tempered, and unable to submit to school discipline. Nor was he industrious; otherwise he would have achieved much better results, gifted as he was. He reacted with ill-concealed hostility whenever a teacher reproved him or gave him some advice. At the same time, he demanded the unqualified subservience of his fellow-pupils, fancying himself in the role of a leader, and of course playing many small harmless pranks, which is not unusual among immature youngsters. He seemed to be infected with the stories of Karl May and the Redskins.

Hitler finds in Karl May a favorite author who will entertain and inspire him till his dying day; a full collection of May's novels will be found in the Fuehrer Bunker. So important is Hitler's discovery of May that forty years later he will remember with clarity the day that fellow schoolmate Fritz Seidl, upon encountering young Hitler reading The Last of the Mohicans declares, "Fennimore Cooper is nothing, you must read Karl May." Hitler:

I owe to Karl May my first ideas about geography, and the fact that he opened my eyes to the world.

An ex-convict and avowed pacifist from Saxony, May authored numerous popular adventure stories set in the American Wild West, while never personally setting foot outside the continent of Europe. May's books are all the rage in these times, and Hitler and his peers follow, with devotion, the gratuitous butchery perpetrated by the white American hero, Old Shatterhand, as he decimates the ranks of the evil Ogellallah Indians with clever brutality.

On occasion during his war, Hitler, the perpetual adolescent, will sometimes refer to the Russians as Redskins, and even present some of his less-motivated generals with copies of certain May works to provide them inspiration.³² (One imagines Churchill giving a Hardy Boys volume to Chamberlain.)

Of my other brothers and sisters I especially remember my stepsister Angela as a beautiful girl. Also she was watched by my father very harshly. He was examining every wooer with the strict demand that only a civil servant was allowed to marry her. Really in 1903 she married the Revenue officer Leo Raubal in Linz, who died very young in 1910. After his death my sister with her 3 children went on to live in Linz for a short time. Then she removed to Vienna. Later on she married the university professor Hammitzsch in Dresden. They had no children.

The later German Fuehrer's childhood anecdotes, in the marginally reliable "Hitler's Table Talk," as with much of Hitler's written and spoken words, are to be taken with many selective grains of salt.³⁷ With this in mind, the following paraphrased excerpts are presented:

Father Franz Sales Schwartz, Adolf's religion teacher at Linz Realschule, is described as short, fat, ugly, and no match for the wit and wisdom of the precocious youth. When Schwartz asks him if he takes care to pray at least three times a day, he has himself replying, "No sir, I never say my prayers. Why should God be interested in the prayers of a schoolboy?"

While Klara Hitler is at the school conferring with Father Schwartz about Adolf's poor marks, the priest turns to him and says, "You poor, unhappy boy." "I'm not unhappy at all," Adolf declares. "Yes you are," insists Schwarz, "and you'll realize how unhappy you are when you enter the next world." Hitler responds, "I have heard about scientists who doubt whether there is a next world." The startled priest now makes a strategic error and addresses the lad with the familiar 'Du,' "What do you mean?" Taking full advantage of this breach of etiquette, Adolf answers in tones of outrage and formal dignity, "I must inform you, sir, that you are addressing me with the familiar 'Du.'" Schwartz: "Well, you won't go to heaven." The adult dictator will still take satisfaction nearly forty years later from his rhetorical argument-ending triumph, "Not even if I buy an indulgence?"

Hitler: A bright youngster of thirteen or fourteen can always get the better of a professor dulled by the grind of years of teaching.

Hitler: Our teachers were absolute tyrants. They had no sympathy with youth; their one object was to stuff our brains and turn us into erudite apes like themselves. If any pupil showed the slightest trace of originality, they persecuted him relentlessly, and the only model pupils whom I ever got to know have all been failures in after-life.

  



 
 


 



 
 

































Subscribe to Hitler_Studies 

 
 

Powered by groups.yahoo.com