G6o\J ^tler ftraunauVI 6heu*ib G£n«i Adolf Hitler’s Family Tree Metier 4 aioii Sutler JRariaGima & v . * , , . t SciucXl^ruber JClara Joehtl ^4*1* ^**oiuif>$»tUr J Jttartui $itler ■ JRorioGnna ^ (InnaJTtaria paabner«A Goschl ^ J(lara5o«lzl )oh.ann3oehrl | ■ ,f.u! . i»«r. i "4 * Qlo\s<$itler f Johanna j)itler f 'ft##* ftrureazToelzl fft Hit . • DulianclDallj | 4 ii Jbbann 5*•!« „ Th«r*« k&fermiUltr *»b *H' r* >»! %1 ID. * 6#it ncr. Adolf Hitler’s Family Tree The Untold Story of the Hitler Family by Alfred Konder About the Author A lfred Konder has worked as a professional genealogist for the past twenty-five years. His research has taken him to most American States, Canada, the British Isles and throughout Western Europe. Born in Kentucky in 1953, Alfred Konder is descended from Hans Georg Konder, who emigrated from the German Rheinland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 27 September 1737, and a number of well-known historical figures, including King Edward III of England and Friedrich „Barbarossa“ of Hohenstaufen, the twelfth century German Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Alfred Konder is the author of numerous books and articles on Christian church history and currently resides in Washington state. Copyright ©1999, 2000 by Alfred Konder, Salt Lake City, Utah. All rights reserved. - 2 - Preface to the First Edition A bout seventeen hundred years ago an ecclesiastical historian by the name of Eusebius presented a startling discovery to the Christian world - he had found some original letters written by Jesus Christ to a man named Abgar. What should have been one of the greatest discoveries in Christian history was marred by one little problem - the letters turned out to be forgeries. More than this, it turned out that Eusebius was the culprit! One might reasonably expect that such a revelation would cast serious doubt on Eusebius’ entire career. Not so! His works are still widely quoted as authoritative source material in Christian church history. Back in the eleventh century Pope Gregory VII occasionally found himself fettered by the lack of documentation for his papal decrees. Whether he took a hint from Eusebius’ career isn’t known, but like Eusebius we do know that Pope Gregory solved his problem by forgery. In his controversial book, Vicars of Christ, Peter De Rosa writes that Pope Gregory „had a whole school of forgers under his very nose, turning out document after document, with the papal seal of approval, to cater for his every need. 44 De Rosa comments: „This instant method of inventing history was marvelously successful/ 4 Gratian, the famous twelfth century Benedictine monk, is remembered in Christian church history for writing the Decretum, or Code of Canon Law. There was only one problem with the work: it was, as Peter De Rosa notes, „peppered with three centuries of forgeries and conclusions drawn from them, with his own fictional additions. Of the 324 passages he quotes from popes of the first four centuries, only eleven are genuine.“ Unfortunately the above cases are not isolated examples. Lies and history are a fact of history! Indeed, even those honest historians who genuinely seek to record the truth seldom succeed. This is because the average historian is first and foremost the servant of public opinion. In his book, A History of the Hittites, C. W. Ceram explains: „Chronicles, reports, deeds, charters, letters, traditions of all sorts are subjected to careful scrutiny. Scientific methods are used to determine the origin, genuineness, and value of the available material. But the selection of sources still rests upon the discretion of the individual historian. What he chooses as relevant depends upon his conception of the period he is studying. In this the historian is limited by his own temperament and guided by the spirit of his age.“ In other words, it is the historian, prejudices and all, who chooses what is relevant and what is to be discarded when plying his trade - and all material is judged by contemporary standards of political and social correctness, or, as C. W. Ceram termed it, „the spirit 44 of the age. In no other historical instance does the spirit of the age play a bigger role than in the study of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism. When we add to this fact the other flaws in recorded history - prejudice and the deliberate falsification of records - we uncover the foundation for virtually all publications and films dealing with Hitler and National Socialism, and we find the reason why each succeeding generation of writers, film makers and broadcasters try to outdo one another in vilifying both. This being the case, I know that I cannot hope to correct the monumental wrongs done to the memory of the late German Fiihrer by the subservient historians of the past seventy years. I must leave this problem to more able men and women, who, thank God, are making significant inroads in that direction. However, as a professional genealogist I feel that there is an area in which I can offer some long- overdue correction. What follows is that contribution. Alfred Konder Salt Lake City, Utah, 1999 - 3 - The Hitler Family History „ What we must fight for is to safeguard the existence and reproduction of our Race and our people, the sustenance of our children and the purity of our blood, the freedom and independence of the Fatherland, so that our people may mature for the fulfillment of the mission cdlotted it by the Creator of the Universe. “ - Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf The name „Hitler“ simply means smallholder,“ which refers to the land holdings of a peasant farmer. So the use of Hitler as a family name is by no means unique to a particular geographical location or to one family. As to the ancestors of Adolf Hitler, they are first recorded in the early fifteenth century in a region of Austria known as the Waldviertel (or „wooded quarter“), which lies in the district of Weitra. There we find a deed drawn up by the Abbot of the Herzogenburg monastery dated 12 May 1435 granting Harms and Anna Hydler some property in Raabs on the Thaya river, for which they paid forty pounds in the currency of Vienna. This record is followed by another in 1457 for a Hans Hytler who was a resident of Refing. In the following generations the „Hitler“ name appears in various records: Peter and Agnes Hydler in 1465; Matheus Huetler (or Hietler, Huetler), living in Rothfahrn in 1568; Simon and Matheus Hietler (or Huetler, Huttler), living in Lempach in 1571; Baldin Hiiettler, living in Engelstein in 1585; Beit and Barbara Huetler, who were living in Schofberg in the late 1590’s; and Stephan Hiedler (or Huetler, Hietler), who was living in GroB-Wolfgers in 1627. The first thing one will notice in the above is the different spellings of the Hitler surname. Contrary to the suggestions of some, there is nothing odd about this. Anyone who has undertaken genealogical research in Europe, the British Isles or America will know that until recent times the spelling of both personal and family names was not fixed. So researching any family name over several generations will usually yield a variety of spellings. This is why throughout the Hitler „family tree“ one will find various spellings for the surname, although the pronunciation in each case is almost indistinguishable from that of the „Hitler“ spelling. The first proven ancestor of Adolf Hitler’s paternal family is Matheus Hiiettler (whose surname is found variously spelled), a peasant farmer living in Rothfahrn, Austria in 1571. His son was Hannz Hiiettler who lived in Englestein in 1585. One of his two sons was Stephan Hietler, who was a peasant farmer living in Grofi-Wolfgers, and he was the ancestor of Martin Hiedler, another peasant farmer who was the great-grandfather of Adolf Hitler. This information backs an observation made by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf, and that is that his ancestors were mainly farmers. Speaking of his father, Alois Hitler, the Fiihrer wrote: „Near the Upper Austrian market village of Lambach he bought a farm, which he worked himself, and thus, in the circuit of a long and industrious life, returned to the origins of his forefathers.“ Within the humble surroundings of a farmer’s life the ancestors and kinfolk of Adolf Hitler continued for centuries. Indeed, the only Hitler family event of historical interest occurred in the first half of the nineteenth century and involved two of Martin and Anna Maria Hiedler’s six sons - Johann Georg Hiedler, who was Adolf Hitler’s paternal grandfather, and Johann Nepomuk Hiedler, who was Adolf Hitler’s maternal great¬ grandfather. - 4 - If he had followed the prevailing custom, before his death Martin Hiedler would have signed over his land holdings to his eldest son and retired on his former property. This would mean that Georg Hiedler, who was the third-bom son of Martin and Anna Maria Hiedler, could only expect to be provided with a somewhat simple education (if any) and the skills of a trade. Apparently this is exactly what he received lot Georg Hiedler worked throughout his life as a miller. As for the family property, which included the Hiedler family home at number 16 in the village of Spital, for some reason it passed by a contract dated 13 May 1824 from Martin Hiedler to his fifth-bom son, Laurenz, who in turn sold the holdings to the youngest son, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler in 1829. Therefore the two youngest of the six Hiedler sons benefitted from their father’s estate while the older Georg Hiedler apparently received little more than training for his trade. As with virtually all peasants living in nineteenth century Imperial Austria, Georg Hiedler, aside from the fact that he was born, worked at his trade in several different villages (Durnthal, Hohensich and Strones among them), married twice and died, left little other surviving information about his life. Although his residence in various villages has been used by anti-Hitler historians to accuse Georg Hiedler of being „shiftless“ they more than anyone should know that earning a living in the time and in the part of the world in which he lived was very hard, and often impossible. This situation easily accounts for both Georg Hiedler’s leaving home at an early age and his moving about. There is one thing that the lack of records do tell us about Georg Hiedler, and that is that he must have been an honest, hard-working man. We can know this because there is no record that he was ever arrested for any type of crime, nor is there any indication that he ever failed to pay a debt (the reader should remember that in Georg Hiedler’s day people could be and were often imprisoned for failing to pay their debts). In other words, Georg Hiedler earned what he consumed, which is a good recommendation for any man! It is reasonable to assume that work brought Georg Hiedler to the tiny farming village of Strones sometime before the fall of 1836, for it was at that time he met and began a relationship with Maria Anna Schickelgruber - something that wasn’t too difficult since he likely was living with her father, Johann Schickelgruber, at number 22 in Strones where the unmarried Maria Anna also resided. Shortly after this Maria Anna conceived a baby by Georg Hiedler, which at once turns our attention towards her father. What kind of man was Johann Schickelgruber that he didn’t immediately demand that his pregnant daughter and Georg Hiedler marry? The truth is that he was typical of the peasant Austrians who lived in that time and place, which means that when Georg Hiedler and Maria Anna Schickelgruber decided to bypass a church wedding and live together in a common-law marriage, their decision likely would have had the approval of Johann Schickelgruber. Although certainly not approved by the Catholic Church, common- law marriages were a regular feature in both Germany and Austria (lining the nineteenth century, which is demonstrated by the fact that in some areas of Southern Germany and Austria (including the Waldviertel) almost half of all children were bom out of „holy“ wedlock. So common was this situation that a special mark ( ) was invented by parish priests and placed by a baby’s name in the parish register to indicate that its mother wasn’t married. Therefore what happened in the Schickelgruber household was not unusual, and it would have been of little concern to Johann Schickelgruber or to his neighbors. -5 - Perhaps this would be a good place to point out that illegitimacy was by no means confined to the so-called lower, or peasant classes. The most „respectable“ families of the „bluest blood“ throughout Europe, the British Isles and America have one thing in common with Georg Hiedler and Maria Anna Schickelgruber - illegitimacy in the family! For instance, those who know English history will remember the circumstances that brought about the birth of Queen Victoria. Although King George III had fifteen legitimate children, most of his sons were so busy bed-hopping and fathering offspring that they neglected to marry the women of their desires - which wasn’t good since the British crown could be only set upon the head of a legitimate heir. Near the end of King George’s life only the Prince Regent (later King George IV) had produced a living legitimate heir, Princess Charlotte, who died (along with her infant) in childbirth. After her premature death Parliament sprung into action and offered a sizable reward to the „royal“ prince who could provide England with an heir - boy or girl, as long as it was legitimate - to fill the soon-to-be vacant English throne. Prince Edward Augustus, the Duke of Kent, won the prize when his new wife. Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, produced Princess Victoria, the future Queen of England, who succeeded her uncle, King William IV, and bypassed his ten illegitimate children! Indeed, the circumstances surrounding the conception and birth of Maria Anna Schickelgruber’s baby was a beginning shared with some of history’s greatest figures, like Robert, the 6th Duke of Normandy, whose passion for a young peasant girl produced an illegitimate son in 1023 whom they named Guillaume. He grew up to become the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, the „illustrious“ ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II and, by the way, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Robert de Caen, the illegitimate son of King Henry I and his mistress, is a prominent ancestor in every „great“ family of England, including those of England’s World War Two king, George VI, and his war-time prime minister, Winston Churchill. The same can be said for Rosamund (Fair Rosamund) de Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II of England. Their son, William de Longespee, was created Earl of Salisbury and is the ancestor of virtually all the „great“ fa mi lies of England which again includes those of King George VI and Churchill. This example can be further extended to Queen Elizabeth I, who was conceived out of wedlock (her father, King Henry VIII, divorced himself from his queen and married his mistress, Anne Boleyn, just before the future Queen of England was bom). And then there are King Charles II’s illegitimate descendants, who, among millions throughout the world, include Lady Diana Spencer, the late Princess of Wales. The point is that there is little cause for anyone to look down upon Maria Anna Schickelgruber and Georg Hiedler because they had a son out of wedlock since the pedigrees of virtually any person will eventually produce an illegitimate ancestor or two! The only thing we know about Maria Anna Schickelgruber’s pregnancy is that it must have been particularly difficult. We can be certain of this because she was forty-two years of age and giving birth for the first time, and because she was staying with friends in the last weeks of her pregnancy. On 7 June 1837 Maria Anna Schickelgruber gave birth to a baby boy in the home of Johanna Trummelschlager and her husband, Johann, who lived at house number 13 in Strones. This apparent kindness was undoubtedly why Maria Anna asked the Trummelschlagers to act as godparents to her new-bom son, Alois, which they did. Shortly after giving birth Maria Anna Schickelgruber moved back to the home of her father and to her - 6 - common-law husband, Georg Hiedler. The fact is that the circumstances surrounding the birth of Georg and Maria Anna’s new baby boy would have been long forgotten if he had not grown up and fathered the second most famous man in all human history. When Adolf Hitler and National Socialism emerged in post-World War One Germany as a political threat to the aims of international Marxism, the enemies of the future Reichskanzler sought to poison his reputation by any means possible. And so when it was discovered that Adolf Hitler’s father had been born out of wedlock, these enemies recalled the names and reputations of Adolf Hitler’s long-dead grandparents and tossed them into the muck and mire of a whispering campaign launched in the cafes of Munich. These slanders were, in turn, picked up and printed in the local press which then fed the international press corps. Thereafter the anti-Hitler forces from London to New York began libeling the reputations of Georg and Maria Anna Hiedler in repeated stabs at their now-famous grandson. But the poison pens of the international press didn’t stop with tossing about the word illegitimate.“ In Europe at least this charge was hardly shocking enough to cause any real concern. So a slander more damaging was invented - the charge that Alois Hitler was the son of one other than Georg Hiedler. Once this charge had been planted the international press had a free hand to speculate on the paternity of Alois Hitler. One of the most outrageous of their libels was the charge that Alois Hitler was the illegitimate son of Baron Anselm Salomon de Rothschild of Vienna. The reason behind the Rothschild slur was obvious since National Socialist policy called for ridding Germany of its Jewish-Marxist menace, Rothschild was a well-known, womanizing Viennese Jew and the international press was largely controlled by Jewish interests. How better to belittle Adolf Hitler than to first call into question the identity of his grandfather and then invent a Jew for the role? However, the selection of Baron de Rothschild was a bit too far-fetched, even in the fertile imaginations of anti-Hitler Marxists. Over the years the more serious-minded hatched more convincing lies. They stuck with the Jewish theme but selected more plausible candidates. The most serious of these candidates was put forward after World War Two by Hans Frank, the former National Socialist Governor General of Poland, who, desperate in the face of the hangman at Niimberg, produced numerous absurdities for his captors. One of these was the allegation that Maria Anna Schickelgruber had given birth to Alois while working as a cook in the home of a Jewish family in Graz, Austria. The problem was that post-World War Two historians, eager to capitalize on any degradation of Adolf Hitler, went on a witch-hunt to prove the details of the Frank story. To their bitter disappointment they discovered that it was nothing more than a tissue of lies hatched in the brain of a man stripped of his honor. The unintended side effect was that the anti-Hitler forces helped vindicate the real evidence, which proves beyond doubt that Georg Hiedler was the father of Alois Hitler! What is that evidence? For one thing there is the well-documented love and attention showered upon Georg Hiedler’s son, Alois, by the Hiedler family. When one reads of the readiness with which they accepted little Alois into their home and the financial responsibility they assumed in his upbringing, it is hard to imagine that the Hiedler’s would have done this if there had been any doubt about Alois’ ancestry. In addition, and more importantly, there are official eye-witness mounts to the events surrounding Alois’ birth. This fact is tied up with the next important event in the life of Georg Hiedler. -7 - As mentioned, nineteenth century official Austria took little notice of its peasantry. One exception to this rule was marriage. And so one of the few historical references to Georg Hiedler occurred when he married his common-law wife, Maria Anna Schickelgruber, on 10 May 1842 at the parish church in nearby Dollersheim. At the time of the marriage Georg Hiedler was fifty, Maria Anna Schickelgruber was forty-seven and their son, Alois Schickelgruber, was five years old. All three were still residing in the rented home of Maria Anna’s elderly father, Johann Schickelgruber. But soon after their marriage things began to rapidly change for the worse. It is said that when Johann Georg and Maria Anna married they were so poor that Georg made their wedding bed out of an old cattle trough. Indeed, poverty may well have been the reason for Georg and Maria Anna Hiedler’s delayed marriage in the first place since a marriage ceremony was not a free service of the church. Poverty undoubtedly played a major role in Georg and Maria Anna Hiedler’s decision to send their young son to Spital to live with Georg’s younger brother, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler. (A contributing factor in the decision was likely Maria Anna Hiedler’s declining health, as she was suffering with tuberculosis.) At any rate, at some point little Alois left his father, mother and grandfather in Strones for the Hiedler family home in Spital. Regarding this move, it is reasonable to assume that uncle Nepomuk Hiedler was known to Alois prior to his departure for Spital. As a man of some means Nepomuk Hiedler certainly could have taken the time to occasionally visit his elder brother over in Strones. What is more, considering his demonstrations of fondness for his nephew in later years, it is likely that on one of these visits uncle Nepomuk suggested that little Alois come to live with his own family. This speculation becomes even more likely when one considers that only three of Nepomuk Hiedler’s eleven children had survived infancy - and these were girls. In other words, there were no boys in Nepomuk Hiedler’s household, which would have made his young nephew a very welcome addition. We can also keep in mind another angle and that is that, as the youngest son of Martin and Anna Maria Hiedler, Nepomuk Hiedler might have felt an obligation to his older brother since by custom it can be convincingly argued that Georg Hiedler should have received their deceased father’s holdings in Spital. Whatever the circumstances we can know that the middle-aged Georg and Maria Anna Hiedler’s decision to send their only child away must have been particularly hard. (This observation should be easily understood by anyone with children.) We can therefore assume that Alois’ situation was intended to be a temporary fix, awaiting only the time when life would improve for his parents. But it was not to be. Georg and Maria Anna Hiedler, along with the elderly Johann Schickelgruber, moved to the nearby village of Klein Motten where on 7 January 1847 in house number 4 Maria Anna Hiedler died. Ten months later in the same village her elderly father, Johann Schickelgruber, also died. All at once Georg Hiedler was quite alone in the world. At the, point all historians admit that they don’t know what happened to Georg Hiedler. However, this fact does not stop the anti-Hitler crowd from going on to paint the unflattering theory that Georg Hiedler took the toad and lived the life of a vagabond. But what history tells us spells out the opposite conclusion. Following his wife’s death in Klein Molten the next time official history notices Georg Hiedler is in 1857 when he died at house number 49 in Spital. In other words before his death Georg Hiedler was living in his native village where his mother, brothers and sisters, and, most importantly, his young son were living. Armed with this information any reasonable genealogist might safely assume that the likely - 8 - whereabouts of the widower Georg Hiedler in the ten years between his wife’s death and his own, was with his family in Spital. As we soon shall see, this con- »In ion is quite important to later events. Alois Schickelgruber Becomes Alois Hitler In the household of his uncle Johann Nepomuk Hiedler, little Alois Schickelgruber prospered. His widowed paternal grandmother, the 77-year-old Anna Maria Goschl Hiedler, also lived in the house and it is clear from both surviving records and family tradition that she took a great liking to her grandson. As previously mentioned, this affection was also shared by Alois’ uncle Nepomuk Hiedler. Following the course that a man of the time and place would have undertaken to provide for a younger son, uncle Nepomuk paid for Alois’ schooling and, in time, made him an apprentice to a shoemaker, a Herr Ledermuller of Spital. So, like his father before him, Alois Schickelgruber received some schooling, an apprenticeship, and then set off on his own. The place he chose to pursue his new trade was Vienna, the capital city of Imperial Austria. In Mein Kampf Adolf Hitler writes of this event: „Before he was even thirteen, the little boy laced his tiny knapsack and ran away from his home in the Waldviertel. Despite the attempts of ‘experienced’ villagers to dissuade him, he made his way to Vienna, there to learn a trade.“ From Adolf Hitler’s words „ran away from his home“ and the added notation that experienced villagers tried to dissuade him, we can reasonably speculate that Alois’ decision to leave Spital for Vienna wasn’t well received by the Hiedler family - especially at such a young age. However Alois Schickelgruber’s decision was vindicated when he abandoned his trade in Vienna, joined the Austrian Imperial Civil Service, and prospered in a long successful career. But let us skip over the mundane details of his career and focus on the next important event in Alois Schickelgruber’s life, and indeed a significant event in the history of the entire world. Let us move on to the summer of 1876. On 6 June 1876 Alois Schickelgruber and three witnesses - all of whom were either related or were otherwise closely connected to the Family - appeared before a notary in Weitra, and the next day before the parish priest, Father Josef Zahnschirm, in Dollersheim, and on both occasions swore that Johann Georg Hiedler was Alois’ father and had expressed the desire during his lifetime to legitimize Alois as his son. This information and the witnesses were acceptable and in the vacant spot in the parish register where the father of Alois Schickelgruber should have been named, Father Zahnschirm made the notation „Georg Hitler“ (Hitler being but a variant spelling of Hiedler). It was this act that changed Alois’ surname from Schickelgruber to Hitler. Despite the condemning, puritanical Victorian attitudes of nineteenth and early twentieth century America and Britain, as previously noted during the last century a large portion of Austrian and German society attached little stigmatism to illegitimacy. This is illustrated by the fact that Alois Schickelgruber openly admitted that he was of illegitimate birth - even after he was legitimized as Alois Hitler - and still prospered in Austrian society. The question then is why, at age 39, did Alois suddenly change his surname from Schickelgruber to Hitler? - 9 - I his one question has provided the anti-Hitler forces with occasion for numerous and conflicting speculations - most of them, of course, being slanderous. The most popular suggestion is that Alois Schickelgruber changed his family name to please his uncle Nepomuk and become his heir. This speculation is based on the fact that Alois Hitler purchased a small farm for the sizable sum of 4 000 - 5 000 gulden six months after his uncle Nepomuk’s death in 1888. In other words, anti- Hitler historians claim that Alois Schickelgruber had himself legitimized for monetary gain. But let us look at the facts, which indeed tell the real story. First there is the question of uncle Nepomuk’s behavior from the time he brought Alois to live in his home up to the time of the legitimization process. In the first place, if there had been any doubt about Alois’ ancestry why would Nepomuk Hiedler have wasted his time, efforts and money to rear a boy who otherwise would have been nothing more than the product of an unrelated, promiscuous peasant woman’s passions? And why would he be asking Alois to adopt the Hiedler name, after which we are supposed to believe he was prepared to hand over a very large sum of money? Another problem with assigning monetary reasons to Alois’ name change is the participation of the three witnesses in the legitimization process. One of the three was Josef Romeder, uncle Johann Nepomuk Hiedler’s son-in-law, and Alois’ cousin by marriage. If anyone was in the position to know the truth of Alois’ ancestry it would have been Josef Romeder since he lived in the home of both Nepomuk Hiedler and his widowed mother, and therefore would have known Georg Hiedler for years prior to his death. Much the same can be said for the other two witnesses, Johann Breitender and Engelbert Paukh, who were neighbors and friends of the family. (Anyone who has ever lived in a small town readily understands that everyone knows their neighbor’s business, which means that if Alois Schickelgruber had not been the son of Georg Hiedler then someone surely would have „whispered“ the facts to a „friend“ and the tale would have become public knowledge.) But the real point here is that if Georg Hiedler had not been the father of Alois Schickelgruber, then why would Josef Romeder have sworn to the lie since, we are asked to believe, his father-in-law was about to leave all his money to Alois? Romeder’s participation in the legitimization process would mean that Johann Nepomuk Hiedler’s three daughters, one of whom was Romeder’s wife, would lose a very large sum of money. This being the case, and if money was indeed at the root of the legitimization process, it is unbelievable that Josef Komeder would have been a party to the actions of 6 June 1876 if there was the slightest question about Alois’ father. Actually, by making the 4,000-5,000 gulden the reason for Alois Hitler’s legitimization the anti-Hitler forces do not seem to understand that they are offering further evidence that Georg Hiedler was indeed the father of Alois Hitler! At any rate, the more probable explanation about the 4 000 - 5 000 gulden is that Alois Hitler, who was financially secure all his adult life, and whose first wife was financially well off, acquired the money on his own - and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise! So again, why did the 39-year-old Alois Schickelgruber decide to change his name to Hitler in 1876? Let us here consider the probable reason. First, we need to understand that there is no evidence to suggest that Georg Hiedler had ever been absent from Alois’ life from the time of his birth until the time he left to live with his uncle in Spital. Further, living in a small village like Spital, where his father almost certainly came to live after the death of Maria Anna in 1847, it would have been impossible - 10 - for the young Alois not to have seen his father on a daily basis. This is even more likely since Alois was living in the home of Georg Hiedler’s elderly mother. The point is that, as he grew, the young Alois would have had ample opportunity to remain close to his father and thus to have known his true feelings. By 1876 Alois Schickelgruber had reached that point in life when most people look upon things with a seasoned maturity. Why then is it difficult to believe that during the many lonely days and nights, while working at his station in the customs office, Alois Schickelgruber took the time to reflect on his father? Could he not have looked at his own success and prosperity and then remembered the pitiful life and dire poverty of his own father? On those occasions when he relaxed at the tavern did he remember the times his own father didn’t have the price of a beer, or the many times his father had gone hungry to feed his family? Maybe it was on a cold, late evening working alone in the customs office that Alois Schickelgruber remembered his father promising to one day legitimize him. Maybe he heard his father’s voice through the years saying that all he had to leave him was his name. Why is it hard to believe that a mature 39-year-old son finally decided to honor his father’s memory? That these are the circumstances surrounding Alois Schickelgruber’s name change is backed by four independent witnesses, all of whom knew Georg Hiedler, and none of whom had anything to gain by being dishonest. To collaborate the above we may add a letter written by Alois Hitler to Frau Josefa Veit, a Schickelgruber cousin, explaining his name change. In this letter Alois Hitler stated that his father had acknowledged his paternity and had wanted to legitimize him before his death - words which would have been rather nonsensical if there was any question of Georg Hiedler’s paternity. (If Georg Hiedler had not been Alois’ real father, Josefa Veit, who was Maria Anna Schickelgruber’s niece, surely would have known the truth from family gossip and recognized the whole thing to be a sham.) Given the facts as recorded by four witnesses, the story behind Alois Hitler’s legitimization is that when Maria Anna Hiedler died Johann Georg Hiedler had no reason to remain apart from his son, so he moved to Spital where he spent the remainder of his life. This is how Georg Hiedler’s nephew by marriage, Josef Romeder, was in the position to know that his uncle had acknowledged Alois as his son and had wanted him legitimized. It was also how the other witnesses became privy to the same fact and how Alois Hitler could honestly swear to his father’s wishes. The truth is that if it were any other than Adolf Hitler’s family there would be no question about Alois Hitler’s father. Indeed, the refusal of most historians to accept the clearly recorded facts of the Hitler ancestry proves that they write with nothing more than a blind hatred for Adolf Hitler and not in a quest for historical truth. (We shall cover yet one more piece of evidence for Johann Georg Hiedler’s paternity in the discussion of Klara Hitler.) As to Alois Hitler’s later life, after his long and successful career he ended his days in a comfortable retirement in Leonding, Austria, where he was able to indulge his passion for bee keeping. Adolf Hitler once recalled: „To be stung by a bee in our family was an ordinary, everyday occurrence. My mother often pulled out as many as forty-five or fifty stings from the old gentleman when he returned from clearing the hives. He never protected himself in any way; all he did was to smoke all the time - in other words, a good excuse for another cigar!“ - 11 - On the morning of 3 January 1903, after taking care of some business Alois Hitler felt unwell and went to the Gasthaus Stiefler, his favourite tavern in Leonding, and had just taken a glass of wine when he collapsed, apparently of a stroke. He was moved to a back room while a doctor was called, but he died almost immediately. On Monday January 1903 at ten o’clock in the morning, the Hitler family buried their patriarch in Leonding in the presence of a large gathering of town’s folk (one of Alois Hitler’s pallbearers was Josef Mayrhofer, a close personal friend and the mayor of Leonding, who would become the legal guardian of Paula and Adolf Hitler following their mother’s death). Gone quite suddenly was the father of Germany’s future Fiihrer. What was Adolf Hitler’s feelings for his father, to whom he habitually referred to as „the old gentleman“ in his speech and writings? Did he love him? He said so at one point in Mein Kampf. But we should understand this remark with the knowledge that Alois Hitler was one of those typical nineteenth century authoritarian figures who commanded respect wherever he went. Because of his high office and regal, imperial air, local villagers showed him great respect and so did his family. In the home his very presence was usually sufficient to quell any difficulty. Indeed, August Kubizek, Adolf Hitler’s boyhood friend, remembered that after Alois Hitler’s death his presence still dominated the family home. In the kitchen his pipes still rested in their lack on a shelf, and when his widow wanted to give her words added weight, she would gesture towards the pipes as if to invoke „the old gentleman’s“ authority! We can temper this picture by Josef Mayerhofer who remembered of Alois Hitler that „his bark was worse than his bite“ and that, beyond scolding, he doubted that Herr Hitler ever laid a hand on his children. Be this as it may, Alois Hitler’s overall disposition might be summed up by a former co¬ worker who described him as „unsympathetic,“ „inaccessible“ and „hard to work with,“ which is an assessment backed by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf. When a young Adolf Hitler first told his father he wanted to be an artist the „old gentleman“ shouted: ,,‘Artist, no, never as long as I live!‘“ The Fiihrer comments: „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.“ Neither father nor son gave in, and as Adolf Hitler explains, „The consequences, indeed, were none too pleasant. The old man grew embittered, and, much as I loved him, so did I.“ Perhaps Adolf Hitler’s true feelings for his father are summed up in Mein Kampf when he writes about the death of his mother: „It was the conclusion of a long and painful illness which from the beginning left little hope of recovery. Yet it was a dreadful blow, particularly for me. I had honored my father, but my mother I had loved.“ In fairness we should augment this observation with Adolf Hitler’s added reflection in Mein Kampf on the death of his father: „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/ 4 In this statement one senses a degree of genuine affection from a son who has realized too late that his father had loved him and only wanted what was best. Undoubtedly this explains why 14-years old Adolf Hitler broke down in uncontrollable sobs beside his father’s coffin during Alois Hitler’s funeral. Perhaps it is best said that Adolf Hitler did love his father insofar as love and respect are one and the same. But, as Adolf Hitler said on many occasions, he truly loved his mother. - 12 - Klara Hitler Most children hold a special and lasting place in their heart for their mother. No matter how many miles one covers in the course of life, no matter the experiences, no one ever takes her place. There is no better example of a boy’s love for his mother than that of Adolf Hitler. Throughout his life he spoke of her in reverend tones, and always, no matter the time or place, carried her portrait. It was with him during the hard times in Vienna; it was with him in prison; it was with him during the years he rebuilt Germany into an international power; it was with him through the victories of war and it was with him when he retired to his study beneath the burning ruins of Berlin for the last time. Adolf Hitler had once written of his mother that she had given „all her being to the household, and was devoted above all to us children in eternal, loving care.“ Until the last this devoted son had given all his love and respect to that woman. Who was the woman that would one day bear the second most famous man of all human history? Klara Polzl was christened in Spital, Austria on 12 August 1860, the daughter of Johann Baptist Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler, who was the daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital (who, as we have noted, was the uncle of Alois Hitler). This meant that Klara Polzl was a first cousin, once removed (or a second cousin) to her husband, Alois Hitler. How their marriage came about was through a series of related events. In 1873 Alois Schickelgruber (he had not yet been legitimized), who was then living in Braunau am Inn, married a widow named Anna Glassl-Horer, who was fourteen years his senior. As was common in the nineteenth century, the marriage was likely one of social and/or political convenience (her father was well-placed in the Imperial Civil Service). This is not to imply that Alois Hitler lacked genuine affection or was unkind to his wife. His true feelings are evident by the words he wrote to a relative during the time his wife became ill: „Unfortunately she has suffered from a chest ailment for a long time and requires very close care. Were it not for the excellent climate here [in Braunau] she would never be well. It is only my position, thank God, that permits me to make her life free from suffering.“ To help with his ailing wife, Alois Hitler sent to Spital for his 20-years old cousin, Klara Polzl, who moved into the Hitler household. It was about this time that Alois met a young maid, Franziska (Fanni) Matzelberger, who worked in the Gasthaus Streif, the inn where he lived with his wife. Alois Hitler’s obvious affection for Fanni Matzelberger prompted Anna Hitler to legally separate from her husband in 1880. Shortly afterward Alois Hitler set up housekeeping with Fanni, and Klara Polzl returned to Spital. The living arrangement between Alois Hitler and Fanni Matzelberger is another one of those circumstances that has been used to insult the memory of his son, Adolf Hitler. That Alois Hitler lived with Fanni Matzelberger instead of marrying her is simply due to the fact that Austria was guided by Catholic Church law, and that forbade divorce in most all cases. (This is why Anna Hitler obtained a legal separation instead of a divorce.) This, however, did not stop the headstrong Alois Hitler, who was in love and who had little use for religion in the first place, from taking the only course open to him given the circumstances - he simply moved the girl of his affections into his home, which, as we have noted elsewhere, was by no means unusual in Austria and Germany at that time. By the time Anna Hitler died in 1883 Fanni Matzelberger had already borne Alois a son, who was christened Alois Matzelberger but legitimized as Alois Hitler, Jr. as soon as his parents married, which occurred six weeks - 13 - after Anna Hitler’s death. Sometime later Fanni gave birth to a second child, a daughter, whom she named Angela. In 1884 23-years old Fanni Hitler developed tuberculosis, a fatal ailment that plagued much of Europe during that period. From the outset Alois Hitler spared no expense to care for his ailing wife. At once he sent her outside Braunau to the „country air“ of Ranshofen for recuperation, which was a popular „cure“ during those days. With the ailing Fanni went her mother, Maria Matzelberger, who had been living in the Hitler household and caring for the two infant Hitler children. This move necessitated the return of Klara Polzl. On 10 August 1884 Fanni Hitler died, and shortly thereafter Alois Hitler asked his cousin, Klara Polzl, to become his third wife. The question is whether or not their marriage was a love match? Certainly by all accounts Klara Hitler was a devoted wife, and (despite the speculations of hostile Hitler biographers) there is no evidence that Alois was ever unkind during their marriage. Further, as he had done for his two previous wives, Alois Hitler certainly provided well enough for Klara over the years. But from the surviving accounts of their marriage Klara Hitler’s feelings for her husband seem to be echoed in the words of her son, which were quoted above: „I had honored my father, but my mother I had loved.“ What can truthfully be said about Klara Hitler’s family relationships is that she honored her husband and deeply loved her children. Perhaps this can be better explained by mentioning Klara Polzl Hitler’s background. She had grown up in a household where Alois Hitler was something of a celebrity. He was her mother’s cousin who had left Spital a penniless boy and returned a highly respected Imperial civil servant - the first real success story in their family’s history. So, like the rest of her family, Klara Polzl Hitler looked upon her relative with a certain awe, and hence in this situation we find more than a hint her true feelings for Alois Hitler. As to Alois Hitler’s feelings, there is no escaping the fact that he married Klara Polzl partly out of convenience. Barring a miracle he knew full well that Fanni would not recover from her illness, and knowing that in the meantime he needed someone to mother his children, Alois Hitler obviously traveled to Spital to bring Klara back to the family home in Braunau. Moreover, because we know that Alois Hitler was a man devoted to logic and duty above all else, it is safe to speculate that while visiting the Polzl family home he arranged with Klara’s parents for a future marriage - a step that would have been the proper thing to do in that age, even if the timing was awkward. According to the Hitler family, Johann and Johanna Polzl were certainly in favor of the union; after all, Alois Hitler was an extremely good catch for a rural peasant girl. Approval also came from Alois Hitler’s elderly uncle, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler, Klara’s grandfather, who was still very much alive at the time as the family patriarch. At any rate, Klara returned to the Hitler household in Braunau am Inn where she re¬ established her close friendship with both Fanni and her mother, Maria Matzelberger (Maria Matzelberger would later serve as a godparent for two of Klara’s children). Thereafter she frequently visited the dying Fanni in Ranshofen, which was just outside of Braunau, and spent considerable time helping nurse her. Whatever feelings she may have had to the contrary, shortly after Fanni died Klara gave in to the wishes of Alois Hitler and set up housekeeping with him as a common-law wife. The reason they did not immediately marry can again be laid at the feet of Austrian law, which, as - 14 - already noted, was essentially Catholic Church law: it was illegal for first and second cousins to marry in Austria without a dispensation. Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl’s common ancestry has provided the anti-Hitler crowd with yet another excuse, to attack Adolf Hitler through his family. Because they were cousins one frequently reads the word „incest“ in connection to Alois and Klara Hitler’s relationship. As any professional genealogist will affirm, for countless centuries marriages between cousins were commonplace throughout the Western world. This is especially so of rural families where social contact was often limited to relatives living on nearby farms. Moreover, this practice was not confined to the so-called peasantry. Throughout the „finest old families 14 of America, the British Isles and Europe we find instances of people selecting their mates from the ranks of their own kin (this is especially true within the nobility). For instance, any genealogist who has spent time researching the „great“ families of England can attest to the tangle of pedigrees that are liberally sprinkled with matrimonial cousins. One consistently finds the names de Clare, Clifford, Mowbray, Percy, Segrave, Beauchamp, Tal-bot, Spencer, Marshall, Lacy, Conyers, Stafford, Audley, etc., repeated in the fine old pedigrees of England’s nobility. The same is true throughout Europe, especially in France and Germany. This is why, for example, the royal Hohenstaufen family of Germany figures into the pedigrees of all the „great“ families of Western Europe and the British Isles. Indeed, it is the height of hypocrisy for the anti-Hitler forces to use the blood relation of Alois and Klara Hitler as a means for attacking their son when the „darling“ of twentieth century historians, meaning Franklin D. Roosevelt, married his cousin Eleanor Roosevelt! When Alois Hitler went to the parish priest of Braunau for permission to marry his cousin he ran into the first of several bureaucratic obstacles. The priest, Father Kostler, decided that he had to refer the matter to the bishop, Matthaeus Joseph. After some consideration the bishop decided that he couldn’t grant the marriage request and referred the matter to the See of Rome. Here we shall spend a few moments examining the application for a papal dispensation because it provides additional evidence that Georg Hiedler was indeed Alois Hitler’s father. Let us carefully notice the wording of the application: „Most Reverend Episcopate! Those who with most humble devotion have appended their signatures below have decide 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 two and a half years (Alois) and a girl of one year and two months (Angela), and they both need the services of a nurse, all the more because he 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. - 15 - For these reasons the undersigned repeat their humble petition for a gracious procurement of dispensation for the impediment of affinity. „Braunau am Inn, 27 October 1884 „Alois Hitler, Bridegroom „Klara Polzl, Bride“ In the above document the essentials of the Hitler family pedigree, showing the relation of Alois Hitler to Georg Hiedler and Johann Nepomuk Hiedler, and hence to Klara Polzl, were laid out for the consideration of church officials. Both Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl swore to the truthfulness of the information, which is quite important in Klara Polzl’s case since all historians agree that she was a very devout Catholic, meaning that her subscription to a lie directed to the See of Rome would have been unconscionable. What this means is that historians have more documentation to add to the already-presented evidence that Alois Hitler was indeed the son of Georg Hiedler - a sworn statement made by Georg Hiedler’s devout grandniece to Pope Leo XIII! It was not until late December, 1884 that a papal dispensation was finally granted for Alois Hitler to marry his cousin. By the time of her marriage on 7 January 1885 Klara Hitler was already pregnant with a son, Gustav. After his birth she produced a daughter, whom she named Ida, and thereafter another son, named Otto. But by January, 1888 all three of Klara Hitler’s children had died. (Otto died within a few days of his birth, and Gustav and Ida contracted diphtheria and, despite Klara Hitler’s frantic efforts to nurse them, died within a month of each other.) Only a parent can truly understand the pain this mother suffered during the loss of three children, which goes a long way to explain the close bond between Klara Hitler and her next bom child, Adolf, who entered the world at half past six on Saturday evening, the 20th day of April 1889, in the family home in the Gasthof zum Pommer, Vorstadt, number 219, in Braunau am Inn, Austria. Klara Hitler was described as a simple, modest woman, tall with dark brown hair, which she kept neatly plaited. As noted above, she is remembered as being a devout Catholic all her life, which all agree was the source of her inner strength. It is said that the most memorable part of her attractive, kind face was her beautifully expressive blue eyes. All those who knew her, loved her - including her step children, whom she reared as her own. The plain truth is that Klara Hitler was the kind of woman that any person would be proud to call their mother, which is why 19-years old Adolf Hitler was so grief stricken when he was given the news that his mother had terminal breast cancer. Frau Hitler’s doctor, Eduard Bloch, who was Jewish (a man whom Adolf Hitler described as „an honorable Jew“ and would later allow to emigrate to America), wrote of that time: „[Adolf Hitler’s] reaction to this news was touching. His long, sallow face was contorted. Tears flowed from his eyes. ‘Did his mother,’ he asked, ‘have no chance?’ Only then did I realize the magnitude of the attachment that existed between mother and son.“ Dr. Bloch sent Klara Hitler to a surgeon, Dr. Karl Urban, chief of surgery at the Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy on the Herrenstrasse, for treatment. But despite an operation her condition worsened, and she drew near her death. Dr. Bloch explained the situation to the family and years later recalled the reaction of young Adolf Hitler: „He listened until I had finished speaking. He has but one question. In a choked voice he asked: ‘Does my mother suffer? 1 “ - 16 - During the final days of his mother’s illness, the young Adolf Hitler did all he could to help around the house. His boyhood friend, August Kubizek, remembered that he once came over and found Adolf Hitler wearing a blue apron and on his hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. Dr. Bloch relates that the future Reichskanzler remained by his mother’s side until the end: „He slept in the tiny bedroom adjoining that of his mother so that he could be summoned at any time during the night. During the day he hovered about the large bed in which she lay... Adolf, his face showing the weariness of a sleepless night, sat beside his mother. In order to preserve a last impression, he had sketched her as she lay on her deathbed.“ In the small village of Urfahr on 20 December 1907 a priest was called to administer last Sacraments; at 2 a.m. on 21 December, in her bed and „in the glow of a lighted Christmas tree,“ forty-seven-year-old Klara Hitler died. On the morning of 23 December a procession of family and friends left the family home at number 9 Blutengasse in Urfahr for a nearby church: here the funeral Mass was celebrated and the procession left for nearby Leonding where Klara Hitler was laid to rest beside her husband. The young Adolf Hitler was devastated by the event, as Dr. Bloch remembers: „[at the funeral] Adolf remained behind; unable to tear himself away from the freshly filled grave.... In all my career, I have never seen anyone so prostrate with grief as Adolf Hitler. “ Despite the documented affection shown by Adolf Hitler toward his mother, backed by no less than the Hitler family’s Jewish doctor, anti-Hitler historians continually twist the truth of the matter. A prime example of their petty insults can be found in a book entitled Adolf Hitler, which purports to be a pictorial history of the Third Reich. Under a photo of Reichskanzler Hitler standing somberly before the grave of his parents, which was taken shortly after the Anschluss (i.e., the union of Germany with Austria) is this caption: „Hitler in a pensive moment at his parents’ grave. It has been suggested that this was his first visit in decades, but it was politically useful to make a display of filial piety after Anschluss.“ Who made this hateful „suggestion“ goes unmentioned. But if indeed it had been some time since Adolf Hitler had visited his parent’s grave, the above slur conveniently overlooks the fact that he was quite preoccupied establishing the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei in neighboring Germany, serving time in prison for his struggle against Marxism, bringing his party to power in national elections, establishing a workable government to fix the horrendous mess of the corrupt, inept Weimar regime, fighting the Communists and international Jewry who threatened to bring Germany to the brink of civil war with their international boycott and political intrigues, and overseeing the unification between Austria and the German Reich! One might reasonably ask when Adolf Hitler could have taken the luxury to motor down to Austria to visit his parents’ grave? Indeed, until Anschluss the politically-outlawed National Socialist leader would have been arrested if he had set foot on Austrian soil! What honest person, despite what they might personally feel about Adolf Hitler and National Socialism, can help but feel a young Adolf Hitler’s pain when reading the account of his mother’s fatal illness? Only a completely devoted, loving son would have stayed by his dying mother’s side day after day, night after night, holding her hand, reading to her and praying for her soul. Standing there alone two days before Christmas, looking at the fresh earth of his mother’s grave through tear-filled eyes, can any person really doubt the genuine grief tearing at the heart of a 19-years old boy who had just lost his mother and his best friend? Such love is the legacy of Klara Hitler! - 17 - Adolf Hitler The motivation behind the unfounded suggestion that Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler visited his parents’ grave merely for propaganda purposes is undoubtedly the same reason why most historians paint him as a selfish, uncaring man who treated his family and friends shabbily both before and after achieving fame. (Numerous examples of Adolf Hitler’s kindness toward his friends are found in the remembrances of his boyhood friend, August Kubizek, in his book The Young Hitler I Knew.) The true extent of Adolf Hitler’s feelings for his family is seen in the countless small acts of kindness performed both before and during the years he was leading Germany. For instance, we know that while he himself was living in near poverty in Vienna, Adolf Hitler transferred his small orphan’s pension to his sisters, which he augmented with extra money from time to time by selling his art in Vienna. When his sister Paula wrote that their aunt Theresia Schmidt had died and her children could not afford the funeral, a caring nephew, now Reichskanzler of Germany, paid the expense. (Aunt Theresia had once helped her sister, Klara Hitler, nurse a young Adolf Hitler when he was recovering from a serious illness in her home.) Historians grudgingly admit that Adolf Hitler regularly communicated with his sisters, Angela and Paula, invited them on vacations or to the opera and sent them gifts (such as, on one occasion, hams which he had received from a Spanish admirer - although he took the added precaution to warn them about cooking the meat thoroughly before eating it!). Indeed, in his will of 2 May 1938 Adolf Hitler bequeathed to both his sisters a yearly income of 12 000 marks, which then was a sizable sum. He even bequeathed 30 000 marks to be divided among various relations living in Spital. True, Adolf Hitler had never been close to certain relations. One was his brother-in-law, Leo Raubal, a rather obnoxious, narrow minded civil servant who imposed himself on the Hitler household after the death of Alois Hitler. Another was his older half-brother, Alois Hitler, Jr., who might be called the family’s „black sheep“ (nevertheless, Adolf Hitler left his half-brother a bequest of 60 000 marks in the above mentioned will). The dislike for Alois Hitler, Jr. extended to his son, William Patrick Hitler, who moved to Germany from England in the 1930s so that he could live off his famous uncle’s reputation. When he was spurned by the Fiihrer William Patrick left Germany for France and finally America where he continually slandered his uncle in public speeches, and libeled him in several widely circulated articles. Indeed, during World War Two William Patrick Hitler, by then living in America, joined the U.S. Navy and fought against National Socialism. He told a reporter: „I expect shortly to enter the United States Navy. As a member of the armed forces I hope to take an active part in the liquidation of this man, my uncle, who has unleashed such misery upon the world.“ That statement completely vindicates „uncle Adolf’s“ opinion of his nephew! There is one Hitler family member who has received a tremendous amount of negative coverage over the years - a fact which necessitates a special mention here - and that is Adolf Hitler’s niece, Angela Maria „Geli“ Raubal, the daughter of his half-sister Angela Hitler Raubal. We shall not here recount the abundant slanders and libels produced about Geli Raubal’s relationship with her uncle Adolf except to note that most historians, after they have finished their attacks, grudgingly admit that there is no evidence other than rumormongering to back their allegations. - 18 - The simple facts about Geli Raubal are that in 1927 Adolf Hitler invited his widowed half-sister, Angela Hitler Raubal, to serve as his housekeeper in his home in the Obersalzberg. This employment brought both of Angela Raubal’s teenage daughters, Geli and Elfriede, into their uncle Adolf’s home, and provided him with an instant family. In September, 1929 Adolf Hitler took an additional residence in Munich on Prinzregentenplatz where an emotionally unbalanced Geli Raubal committed suicide three years later. Rumor aside, the facts supports nothing more than that Adolf Hitler grew to love his niece as his own daughter and that he was overprotective, which is arguably an attribute of any caring father. When Geli Raubal committed suicide, all who knew him admit that Adolf Hitler was devastated and carried the scar of her death for the rest of his life. At any rate it is to his credit that once he attained his high office Adolf Hitler didn’t follow the old aristocratic custom of installing an endless parade of undeserving relatives in positions of responsibility, or allow them to acquire undeserved wealth at the expense of the German people. The Hitler kin, like all other Germans, pursued their occupations, no matter how menial, for the greater good of the Reich. An example of this was his sister Paula, who, during the war, used the name „Frau Wolf’ so that she could work incognita as a secretary for doctors in a military hospital. In Adolf Hitler’s Nationalist Socialist Germany there was no such thing as right of birth or a free ride! The fact is that Adolf Hitler’s relationship with his family reflects his own simplistic life style. Despite his wealth, which he largely earned from book sales, and despite his exalted position as Reichskanzler of Germany, Adolf Hitler seldom strayed from his peasant roots. He could have mingled with European royalty (many of whom clamored for the honor), built or occupied a lavish palace and furnished it with priceless works of art, but the most famous man of the twentieth century shunned the aristocracy and their life style. He left the glitz of Berlin social life for the Obersalzberg and there rebuilt a country home located above Berchtesgaden, Bavaria complete with traditional Bavarian country furnishings. It was at this home, the Berghof, surrounded by nature that Adolf Hitler was at home with Eva Braun, the woman who would one day become his wife; it was here that local peasants were invited to tea, or the neighborhood children came to play; here is where he walked and played with his dogs or fed any local animal that happened through his garden. In Bavaria was to be found the blood and soil that Adolf Hitler preached to his beloved Volk. What crossed his mind as he sat in the garden of the Berghof and gazed out over the peaceful countryside, or watched the sun set over this sacred soil? Those who truly understand the man know. Always the Fiihrer thought of Deutschland: Ein Volk, Ein Reich! But the peace and serenity of the Berghof were not to be his. Before Adolf Hitler and the German Volk most of the Continent of Europe had paid tribute. In the open, with honor and valor they had waged a righteous war against their enemies to regain what had been plundered from their nation and to stop the plague of Bolshevism from engulfing the world. And yet by July, 1944 their beloved Fatherland was in the first throes of total defeat - not because the Fuhrer and the Germans Volk lacked courage and honor and the resources to win their struggle, but because they had been betrayed from within. This knowledge was the burden Adolf Hitler carried when he left his beloved Berghof for the last time in July, 1944. How could he know that he was leaving to experience a betrayal the likes of which few humans ever know. - 19 - At 12:30 p.m. on the 20th of July a bomb exploded at Adolf Hitler’s feet in a conference room at the Wolfsschanze (the Wolfs Lair), his headquarters in Rastenberg on the Eastern Front. Amidst death and carnage the Fiihrer was saved by what many have declared as divine intervention. But not so some of his most-trusted advisors and friends, who met a horrible end in the rubble of that demolished room or died later in great agony. What did the Fiihrer inwardly feel when he learned the names of those who had betrayed him and their nation? Included in the list were men whom he had raised in the ranks by his own hand, who sat at his table, ate his food and had accepted his favors. Now they had plunged a dagger both into their nation and the memory of millions of fallen soldiers. Reviewing this sad episode one can only hope that Adolf Hitler took some comfort in the great outpouring of love from his people, such as the mother who sent a lock of hair and a photograph of her only son along with this letter: „Hatred - a deep, indelible hatred - fills me against these wretched creatures! Did nothing happen to you, really? Mein Fiihrer - you are all that is left to me in this world. I had a child, but he died in action in Russia at Mayevka. He had passed his examinations and had a place waiting at technical college. I had been saving up for this, now he’ll never return, my darling child!“ Reading such a letter, Adolf Hitler, who was known to weep over the misfortune of others, could not have been unmoved, and it surely made it all the more harder for him to face the conclusion that his monumental struggle for the Aryan race was ending in failure. The Fiihrer wrote these words to Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: „My people and Wehrmacht have given their all in this long hard struggle. The sacrifice has been immense. Many people have abused my trust in them. Disloyalty and betrayal have undermined our resistance throughout this war. This was why it was not granted to me to lead my people to victory? 4 Arriving back in Berlin in January, 1945 Adolf Hitler prepared to fight his last battle and make the ultimate sacrifice for his people. When the end was finally at hand the Fiihrer called his secretary, Traudl (Getraud) Junge, and dictated his political testament. It read, in part: „From the sacrifice of our soldiers and my own comradeship with them unto death, we have sown a seed which one day in Germany’s history will blossom forth into a glorious rebirth of the National Socialist movement and thus bring about a truly united nation. 44 With this task behind him the Fiihrer turned to a very personal matter. Adolf Hitler had once said: „How very much I too would like to have a family [and] children... you know how much I love children, those creatures who as yet have no knowledge of good and evil, who are always ready to give and to take all at the same time, in whom laughter and tears are as close as sunshine and rain in the spring. What can be more beautiful than the beaming eyes of a child who has been made happy by some insignificant little gift, a seashell, a block of wood, a pebble! And how happy parents become through such happiness! But I have to deny myself this happiness. I have another bride - Germany! I am married: to the German Volk, to its destiny! I see the Volk suffering, tormented by the accursed provisions of the Versailles Treaty, tyrannized by enemy occupation and by foreign rule in the east and the west. I see how it is despised, defamed, and depraved, this good, sturdy Volk, these honest and industrious people, these heirs to a proud past who are undemanding and willing to make endless sacrifices! This is the Volk to whom I have given my heart, all my thinking and planning, my work, myself! Many a time I have stared at the Gospels and, reading, muttered to myself, who are my sisters, who are my brothers? No, I cannot marry, I may not. 44 - 20 - But now that his life and work were over, the Fiihrer dictated these words to his secretary: „During my years of struggle I believed I ought not to engage in marriage; but now that my mortal span is at its end I have resolved to take as my wife the woman who came to this city when it was already virtually under siege, after long years of true friendship, to link her fate with my own. It is her wish to go with me to her death, as my wife. This will make up for all I could not give her because of my work on behalf of my people.“ On 29 April 1945 in his bunker beneath the ruined Reich Chancellery, Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun, and so honored one of the very few who had remained loyal to the end. Adolf Hitler and his wife decided to die on 30 April 1945. For the man who had won two Iron Crosses for bravery in the Great War, there was no problem in making the decision. The question was how? Although he would have preferred to die on the battlefield, at this late stage that was out of the question. For one thing, Adolf Hitler’s health was so poor (especially after the assassination attempt) that he could never have held a rifle steady enough to fire it; and for another the very real risk of falling alive into the hands of the Russians was one that never could have been taken. He knew how Mussolini’s body had been desecrated by a Communist mob in a public square, and God only knows what the mass murderer Joseph Stalin, or his puppets Winston Churchill and Harry Truman, would have done to a living Adolf Hitler had he been taken prisoner. The decided upon method was a bullet to the brain for himself and poison for his wife. The Fiihrer set the time for their deaths at 3 p.m. On the morning of 30th April the Adolf Hitler shaved and dressed in his uniform as he had done for the past six years. His wife dressed in his favorite dress „the black one with pink roses at either side of a low square neckline“ which she set off with her favorite gold bracelet „the one with a green jewel which meant a lot“ to her. Eva Hitler’s thoughts on that morning are revealed in a last letter written to her sister Gretl: „I must write you these words so that you will not feel sad over our end here in the shelter. It is rather we who are filled with sorrow because it is your fate to live on into the chaos that will follow. For myself I am glad to die here; glad to die at the side of the Fiihrer; but most of all glad that the horror now to come is spared me. What could life still give me? It has already been perfect. It has already given me its best and its fullest. Why should I go on living? This is the time to die; the right time. With the Fiihrer I have had everything. To die now, beside him, completes my happiness. Five on as well and as happily as you can. Shed no tears nor be regretful over our deaths. It is the perfect and proper ending. None of us would change it now. It is the right end for a German woman.“ After a simple last meal, the Fiihrer walked through the bu nk er for the last time, pausing to shake hands with his remaining staff. At 3:30 p.m., slightly behind schedule, he and his wife withdrew into his small study and closed the sound-proof double doors behind them. What words did Adolf and Eva Hitler speak to one another in that room? What were their last actions? Most likely there was a loving embrace, a kiss, a few tears and some last words of comfort. What ever happened will forever remain the secret of Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Hitler. What we do know is that the two sat down together on the room’s blue sofa where Eva Hitler kicked off her shoes and pulled her legs under her body. One of them unscrewed a brass casing containing a glass phial of cyanide (prussic acid). Perhaps her husband held her hand while with the other Eva Hitler put the phial into her mouth and bit hard. Her life was over in an instant as her head slumped over to rest gently on her husband’s shoulder. -21 - Sitting under the portrait of his inspirational hero, Friedrich the Great, with the youthful portrait of his beloved mother to his right and his now-dead wife resting beside him, the Fiihrer held his 7.65-millimeter Walther to his right temple. As he closed his eyes for the final event of his life perhaps he heard voices from the past whisper his epitaph: „None, save myself opposed the Gods’ will. I dared; and boldly pleading saved my people from destruction, saved them from sinking to the realms of night. For this offense I bend beneath these pains, dreadful to suffer, piteous to behold: For mercy to mankind I am not deem’d worthy of mercy; but with ruthless hate in this uncouth appointment am fix’d here a spectacle dishonorable to [the Gods].“ Whatever his last thoughts, Adolf Hitler, Griinder der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, Fiihrer und Reichskanzler des Deutschen Reiches, squeezed a bullet into his temple. At last the suffering of his earthly journey was over. Die Ahnentafel des Fiihrers Preface After the defeat of National Socialist Germany in 1945 virtually all records pertaining to Adolf Hitler, personal and otherwise, were confiscated by the Allied nations and some were literally scattered around the world. Unfortunately for the genealogist these confiscated records include a number of genealogical documents, many of which have never surfaced. For the present-day researcher this situation renders the thorough documentation of the Hitler family history impossible, while at the same time allowing anti-Hitler historians to make outrageous, unverifiable claims against the Hitler pedigree - one example being the allegation by Franz Jetzinger et. al. that the Hitler family is of Czech origin. (See Appendix I.) Fortunately Rudolf Koppensteiner, a noted German scholar, genealogist and distant cousin to Adolf Hitler, long ago researched the ancient parish church books of the Waldviertel, the Austrian state archives and various other Hitler family records and, with the permission of the Fiihrer himself, published his findings in a 1937 book entitled Die Ahnentafel des Fiihrers. (This fact is in itself quite significant since numerous Hitler biographers have insisted that Adolf Hitler went to great lengths to keep his family history secret.) In the absence of readily available documentation Koppensteiner’s 1937 pedigree of the Hitler family stands as the primary source of genealogical information for the present-day historian. Of course this fact does present a problem for the professional genealogist who rightly demands external documentation before accepting a published pedigree as fact. However, in my view (and the view of many others) Koppensteiner’s work can be accepted without ethical conflict if one places the whole matter into a historical perspective, which is to say that one should consider the disappearance of so many Hitler family records and the fact that Koppensteiner’s work was published during a time when his sources were still available for scholarly inspection, especially the parish church books of the Waldviertel, which are the main reference sources cited on page 11 of his book. Moreover, when Koppensteiner’s research was released it was immediately scrutinized by legions of anti-Hitler reporters eager to find some problem and publicize it world-wide. Undoubtedly this prospect is why the National-Socialist Party carefully, and officially scrutinized Koppensteiner’s work before its 1937 publication. - 22 - Koppensteiner’s pedigree withstood the close scrutiny, which means that the present- day researcher need not have concern about accepting Rudolf Koppensteiner’s pedigree of the Hitler family at face value. Indeed, one will find that virtually all Hitler biographers of note use Koppensteiner’s pedigree as their authority for the early Hitler family history, which, by the way, includes Franz Jetzinger, Koppensteiner’s chief critic! The real problem with Die Ahnentafel Des Fiihrers is that it is a rare, hard to locate book and its complicated layout is difficult to understand for the unpracticed researcher (this is especially so since Koppensteiner documents the often large families of Adolf Hitler’s second, third, fourth and fifth cousins). Using Herr Koppensteiner’s pedigree as a guide, over the past ten years I have traveled to California, Washington, D.C., London, Austria and Germany seeking the available Hitler family records. I have checked those I located against Koppensteiner’s findings and have placed the results in a more comprehensible format - eliminating information about distant family relations. In addition, I have updated the Hitler pedigree after 1937 using contemporary sources. The known surviving records (at least those available for the average researcher) are mostly contained in the enormous genealogical collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University, the National Archives, the Library of Congress (German Materials), various German State Archives and various Austrian State Archives. In locating the relevant Hitler records in these libraries and archives I am indebted to the source references published in Bradley F. Smith’s book, Adolf Hitler, His Family, Childhood and Youth, and Werner Maser’s collective books, Hitler Legend, Myth & Reality and Hitler’s Letters and Notes. All told, I think it fitting and right that I dedicate this new edition of the Hitler family pedigree to the memory of Rudolf Koppensteiner and thereby acknowledge his important contribution to the history of Adolf Hitler. Alfred Konder - 23 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From Mattheus HUETTLER Note: Underlined names are the ancestors of Adolf Hitler. The charts begin with the earliest known ancestor and follow in succession from father to son, or from father to daughter. The children of each ancestor are numbered. Chr., b., mar., d., are abbreviations for christened, born, married and died. Nr. followed by a numeral indicates the house number of a Hitler ancestor. The correct German spellings are used throughout (Osterreich for Austria, Wien for Vienna, etc.) as are letters from the German alphabet, such as B for ss. It should also be mentioned here that without exception all of Adolf Hitler’s ancestors were Roman Catholic, so the parish churches listed in the following pedigrees are all Roman Catholic. Mattheus Hiiettler, who was a peasant fanner living in Rothsam, Osterreich in 1571; his brother was Simon Hietler, a peasant living in Lempack in 1571. Hannz Huettler, who was a peasant farmer living in Engelstein, Osterreich in 1585; two known sons were Georg, who d. before 1660 (his children were Justina, who mar. in Grol3- Schonau 24 Feb. 1658 to Andreas Schuech; and Philipp, a peasant of Harruck who mar. in Grofi-Schonau 26 Jan 1660 to Catharine Poliak) and: Stephan (or Stefan) Hiedler (or Hietler), a peasant farmer living in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, who d. before 1635; three known children were: 1. Wilhelm, living in 1635 in Worn harts. 2. Stephan, mar. Eva and living in 1630 in Grofi-Wolsgers (his son was Laurentius who d. in Schweiggers on 4 Aug. 1648). 3. Georg Hiedler (see below). Georg Hiedler, a peasant farmer living in Harmannstein in 1640- 1652, d. in Stierberg and buried in Langschlag 19 Jan. 1678; he mar. Maria, who d. in 1675. Their children were: 1. Georg, a farmer and judge (or mayor) in Brudemdorf am Bartllehen, b. ca. 1641, d. in Brudemdorf on 16 March 1729, mar. in GroB-Gerungs 7 May 1675 the widow Magdalean Schwarzinger; mar. 2nd Veronisa Fux on 21 Feb. 1683; mar. 3rd Eva; mar. 4th Christina Edlauer on 1 Feb. 1701 (his children were Maria, Magdalena, Catharina, Elizabeth, Laurentius, Maria, Agnes, Susanna, Juliana, Joseph and Maria Elizabeth); 2. Jacob. 3. Johannes (see below). Johannes Huettler, a peasant fanner and judge (or mayor) living in Stierberg, Osterreich, was bom in Stierberg in 1644, d. in Stierberg, and was buried in Grofi-Gerungs 3 July 1703; he mar. Elizabeth of Stierberg (b. 1659, d. in Stierberg 9 June 1703 one month after her husband). Their children (all born in Stierberg and christened in Langschlag as recorded in the parish book at GroB-Gerungs) were 1. Stephan (see below) 2. Catharina, b. chr. 14 Nov. 1677. 3. Maria, chr. 22 Dec. 1679. 4. Magdalena, chr. 15 May 1681. 5. Elisabeth, chr. 14 Nov. 1683. 6. Maria, chr. 15 March 1686. 7. Martin (Martinus), chr. 14 Oct. 1688, d. ca. 1769, mar. 1st in GroB-Gerungs 22 July 1715 the widow Susanna Zah of Langschlag, mar. 2nd in GroB-Gerungs 23 April 1731 Rosina Pachner (his children were, Maria Anna, 1732 - 1789; Anna Maria, 1734-? mar. in 1771 to Martin Milleder; Franz X., 1735-?; Joseph, 1737- 1781, mar. Magdalena Neunteussel; Hans Georg, 1740-?; Juliana, 1742-mar. in 1766 Joseph Weinkopf; Johann Michael, 1745-?; Hanss Michael, 1747-?) 8. Susanna, chr. 14 March 1691. 9. Matthias, chr. 21 Aug. 1693. 10. Regina, chr. in April 1696. - 24 - Stephan Hiietler (or Hietler) bom in Stierberg, Osterreich; chr. in Langschlag, Osterreich 13 Nov. 1675 (infonnation recorded in the parish church at GroB-Gemngs), d. in Walterschlag, buried in Grofi- Schonau 23 Nov. 1757; mar. in GroB-Gerungs on 25 Nov. 1698 to Agnes Capeller, or Kapeller. Their children were: 1. Maria, mar. 23 Jan. 1725 Johann Erdl in GroB-Schonau. 2. Jacob, b. 1700, d. in Stierberg 9 April 1774, mar. Magdalena Grassauer on 31 May 1729. 3. Joseph, chr. 13 March 1703 in GroB-Schonau. 4. Philipp, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 29 April 1705, d. in Walterschlag, buried in GroB- Schonau 23 June 1705. 5. Magdalena, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 5 May 1707 6. Barbara, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 30 Oct. 1709 7. Juliana, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 7 Feb. 1712, d. in Walterschlag, buried in GroB- Schonau 4 March 1779. 8. Anna Rosina, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 1 Oct. 1714, buried in GroB-Schonau 8 April 1719. 9. Michael, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 22 Aug. 1716. 10. Georg, a peasant farmer in Walterschlag; b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 12 April 1719, d. in Walterschlag, buried in GroB-Schonau 8 Aug. 1760; mar. in GroB- Schonau 29 July 1743 to Catharina Loderer; mar. 2nd in St. Wolfgang on 21 Jan. 1766 the widow of Johann Pollack in Walterschlag. 11. Justina, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB- Schonau 24 May 1721, mar. in GroB-Schonau 8 Oct. 1746 to Matthias Koppensteiner of Bierlings. 12. Johannes, a peasant farmer, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 18 May 1725, d. in Walterschlag 11 Nov. 1803, buried in St. Wolfgang, mar. a girl named Anna Maria. Johannes Hiedler, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich, 18 May 1725, d. in Walterschlag at Nr. 1, 11 October 1803, buried at St. Wolfgang; mar. Anna Maria (buried in St. Wolfgang 3 March 1810, age 85 years. Note: some historians give her maiden name as Maria Anna Neugeschwandter without any evidence. Rudolf Koppensteiner records only her given name, Anna Maria); their children were: 1. Anna Maria, b. in Walterschlag, chr. 27 March 1752 in GroB-Schonau, mar. in St. Wolfgang 27 Oct. 1789 to Anton Baur of Weitra; 2. Philipp b. in Walterschlag, chr. on 1 May 1754 in GroB-Schonau, d. in Thail 15 Jan. 1820, mar. Catharina Vogl on 26 Feb. 1781, mar. 2nd 12 June 1787 Anna Maria Fabian; 3. Mathaeus, chr. in GroB-Schonau on 21 Aug. 1757, d. in Walterschlag 25 July 1828, mar. 25 Nov. 1788 in Walterschlag to Anna Maria Anderl; 4. Johann Georg, b. in Walterschlag, chr. 14 April 1760 in GroB-Schonau; 5. Martin (see below) 6. Joseph, b. in Walterschlag, chr. in GroB-Schonau 13 March 1765, d. in Walterschlag 15 Aug. 1787. Martin Hiedler, b. in Walterschlag, Osterreich chr. 17 November 1762 in GroB- Schonau; d. in Spital 10 January 1829 in Nr. 36, buried in Spital 12 Jan 1829. A peasant farmer living in Spital he mar. Anna Maria Goschl (b. in Nr. 15 in Spital, chr. in Spital 2 December 1767, d. in Spital 7 December 1854 and buried in Spital 10 Dec.), the daughter of Faurenz Goschl of Nr. 15 Spital. (This is all the information known about Faurenz Goschl, except that he left his family holdings to his daughter, including house Nr. 36 in Spital to Anna Maria, from whom they passed to the Hiedler family.) The children of Martin and Anna Maria Hiedler (all born in Spital) were: 1. Theresia, b. 2 April 1787, mar. Martin Prinz (their son, Johann Prinz of Wien, served as a godfather to several of Alois Hitler’s children). 2. Joseph, b. 10 Feb. 1789 (there is no further mention of this son in any known records). 3. Johann, b. 6 July 1790 (there is no further mention of this son in any known records). 4 Johann Georg (see below). 5. Martin, b. 12 Oct. 1794 (there is no further mention of this son in any known records). 6. Theresia, b. 11 Feb. 1798. 7. Faurenz, b. 6 July 1800, d. in Spital 19 April 1861 in Nr. 37; he was serving in the military when he mar. 1 July 1844 in Spital to Antonia Markhard (the dau. of Franz Marchhard and Theresia Winter of Miihlbach) the 2nd widow of Faurenz Polzl who was the grandfather of the below, Klara Polzl. They lived in - 25 - house Nr. 37, which was the home of the late Laurenz Polzl, and had one son, Michael Hiedler, who was chr. on 1 Sept 1845, and died on 19 Sept. 1845. Laurenz received the family holdings in Spital from his father on 13 May 1824 after which he sold them to his younger brother, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler by a contract dated 18 July 1829. 8. Maria Ann, b. 12 Oct. 1802. 9. Johann Nepomuk, b. 19 March 1807, d. 17 Sept. 1888 (he mar. Eva Decker and they are the ancestors of Adolf Hitler through Klara Polzl; see The Hitler Family, chart two). 10. Barbara, b. 26 Oct. 1809, mar. Johann Georg Rohrenbacher on 28 Feb. 1832 in Spital. Johann Georg Hiedler, born in Spital, in the district of Weitra, Osterreich, on 28 February 1792; employed as a mill worker; d. of a stroke in Spital at Nr. 49 on 9 February 1857. In Hoheneich on 23 November 1823 he married a 23-year-old peasant girl named Anna Maria Bauer, the dau. of Johann and Susanna Bauer of Hoheneich (no known children from this union). On 10 May 1842 in Dollersheim the parish priest, Johann Oppolzer, married Johann Georg Hiedler to his second wife, Maria Anna Schickelgruber (chr. 15 April 1795 in Strones, d. Klein-Motten 7 January 1847), the daughter of Johann Schickelgruber of peasant holding Nr. 1 in Strones, Osterreich. Alois Hitler, born in Strones, Osterreich, north-west of Vienna in the administrative district of Zwettl, in peasant holding Nr. 13 (the Trummelschlager home) by the midwife Maria Waldhausl of Klein-Motten, on 7 June 1837 at 11:30 a.m. He was christened in Dollersheim on 7 June 1837 as Aloys Schickelgruber by Father Ignaz Rufikefer, with Johann and Josepha Trummelschlager acting as godparents. On 6 June 1876 in Dollersheim Alois Schickelgruber was legitimized as Alois Hitler. Although he was initially trained as a shoemaker in Spital, Alois Hitler’s career changed when he joined the ranks of the frontier guards of the Austrian Finance Ministry in Wien. By 1875 Alios Hitler had risen to the rank of a full inspector of customs. He mar. 1st the widow Anna Glassl-Horer (believed to have occurred on 31 Oct. 1873) who was bom in 1823 in Theresienfeld and d. in Braunau am Inn on 6 April 1883. He mar. 2nd in Braunau am Inn on 22 May 1883, Franziska Matzelberger (or Matzelsberger), who was chr. 24 Jan. 1861 in Weng (a town midway between Finz and Graz) and d. at Ranshofen on 10 Aug 1884 of tuberculosis. On 7 Jan. 1885, after a papal dispensation (the application is dated 27 October 1884 and granted in January, 1885), Alois Hitler mar. as his third wife at Braunau am Inn (at 6 a.m. on the top floor of Nr. 219, which was an inn ran by Josef Pommer) his first cousin once removed, Klara Polzl, the daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler, who was Alois Hitler’s first cousin. The witnesses were Fudwig Hoezl and Edgar Dimhofer, custom officials who worked with Alois Hitler. On Sunday morning 3 January 1903 Alois Hitler went into the countryside of Feonding, the village in which he had retired, to see a farmer about buying some apples when he suddenly felt unwell. He decided to go to his favorite tavern in Feonding, the Gasthaus Stiefler, for a glass of wine. There he collapsed, apparently the victim of a stroke. He was moved to a back room while a doctor was called, but he died almost immediately. Alois Hitler’s death notice reads: Bowed in deepest grief, we on our own behalf and on behalf of all the relatives announce the passing of our dear and unforgettable husband, father, brother-in-law, uncle, Alois Hitler Higher Official of Royal and Imperial Customs, retired, who on - 26 - Sunday, January 3, 1903, at 10 o’clock in the morning, in his 65th year, suddenly fell peacefully asleep in the Lord. The burial will take place on Monday, January 5, 1903, at ten o’clock in the morning. Leonding, January 3, 1903. KLARA HITLER wife ANGELA HITLER PAULA HITLER daughters ALOIS HITLER ADOLF HITLER sons Alois Hitler’s funeral Mass was held at the parish church in Leonding and was attended by most of the village and his relations from Spital. He was buried in Leonding, Osterreich, where one of his pallbearers was an old family friend, Emmanuel Lugert (who was also the sponsor of young Adolf Hitler for his confirmation at the Linz Cathedral); two others were Josef Mayrhofer (the mayor of Leonding who became the legal guardian of Paula and Adolf Hitler following the death of their mother), and Karl Wessely. Two days after his death the Linz Tagespost printed this obituary: „Leonding, January 5. We have buried a good man - this we can rightly say about Alois Hitler. Higher Official of the Imperial Customs, retired, who was borne here 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 this 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 beekeeping 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 mostly dependent children - but also in the circle of his friends and acquaintances who will preserve pleasant memories of him.“ Alois Hitler’s tombstone reads: Here rests in God Alois Hitler, Higher Customs Officer and Householder. Died 3 January 1903, in his 65th year. („Heir ruhet in Gott Herr Alois Hitler k.k. Zollamts- Oberoffizial i.P. und Hausbesitzer, gest. 3. Janner 1903, um 65. Lebensjahre. Dessen Gattin Frau Klara Hitler gest. 21 Dez. 1907. i. 47. Lebj.“). - 27 - By Franziska Matzelberger, Alois Hitler fathered: 1. Alois Hitler, Jr., born 13 Jan. 1882. He lived for a time in Paris, France, where he worked as a waiter. In 1909 he moved to Dublin, Ireland where he also worked as a waiter in the Shelbourne Hotel. In Dublin he met an Irish girl named Brigid (Bridget) Elizabeth Dowling (b. 7 March 1891), the daughter of a carpenter named William Dowling (from Kilnamanagh) and Bridget Reynolds (from Ballymount). They eloped on 3 June 1910 in London and had one son, a.) William Patrick Hitler (b. 12 March 1911 in Liverpool. At age 18 William Patrick Hitler moved to Germany where he tried and failed to capitalize on his famous uncle’s high office. The Fiihrer’s reply to his request for money and position was: „I regret that I cannot accord you any privileges.“ William Patrick Hitler eventually moved to the United States where he served in the U.S. Navy during World War Two [1944- 1947], William Patrick Hitler married an American, Phyllis Jean-Jacques, in 1949 and had four sons, all born in New York state: 1.) Alexander Adolf Hitler, born 1949; 2.) Louis Hitler, born 1951; 3.) Brian Hitler, born 1965; 4.) Howard Hitler, born 1957 and killed in an auto accident in New York in 1989. Since 1949 the William Patrick Hitler family has lived in Long Island, New York under an assumed family name. William Patrick Hitler died of a bronchial infection on 14 July 1987 in Long Island, New York; his mother, Brigid Hitler, died on 18 Nov. 1969 also in Long Island, New York. In October, 1998 his wife and sons were reported as still living in New York state.) Alois Hitler, Jr. left his Irish wife in England and returned to Germany where, during the Chancellorship of his brother, he opened a restaurant called the Cafe Alois in Miinchen. By a subsequent marriage to a German lady named Hedwig Heidemann (Maimee) Alois Hitler, Jr. also fathered a son named Heinz Hitler (bom in 1921, who was killed on the Russian front while serving in the 23rd Potsdam Artillery Regiment. As a result of this second marriage Alois Hitler, Jr. was formally charged with bigamy on 7 March 1924 in the provincial court in Hamburg because he had failed to divorce his first wife back in England. He was sentenced to six months in prison, but the sentence was suspended when Bridget Hitler failed to help the prosecution. (There are claims of other children and other marriages for Alois Hitler, Jr.) After 1945 Alois Hitler, Jr. changed his name to Hans Hiller and died in 1956 in Germany. 2. Angela Franzska Johanna Hitler, born in Wien, Osterreich 28 July 1883, died in Dresden 30 October 1949, aged 66; mar. at Linz on 14 Sept. 1903 to Leo Raubal, an assistant tax collector (he was chr. in Ried 11 June 1879 and d. in Linz on 10 Aug. 1910); mar. 2nd in Berlin on 18 Leb. 1936 to Martin Heinrich Hammitsch, Professor of Architecture, Director of the Staatsbauschule in Dresden. Of Angela Hitler it was remembered that she called her little brother, Adolf, „Adi“ and used to hold his hand when they walked to school. Throughout her life she remained devoted to her brother and is last remembered contacting him after the Allies’ murderous fire-bombing of Dresden, giving him the details and reassuring him that she was safe. Her children by Leo Raubal were: a) Leo Rudolf Raubal, chr. in Linz 2 Oct. 1906. (He is known to have mar. a Lrench woman named Anne and to have fathered two children. Contrary to reports in some Hitler biographies the relation between Leo Raubal and his uncle Adolf was always warm. The Christmas after his Geli’s death Adolf Hitler sent his nephew the following note along with a gift: „Dear Leo, My most affectionate greetings to you and Aunt Marie [i.e. Lranziska Matzelberger’s mother] at this sad Christmastide... Your Uncle, Adolf Hitler.“ Also contrary to reports Leo Raubal did not in any way hold his uncle responsible for his sister’s death, which he restated in his last known interview. On 31 Jan. - 28 - 1943 Luftwaffe Lt. Leo Raubal was taken prisoner near Stalingrad and later tried for „war crimes“ and sentenced to death. His sentence read: „Defendant Raubal, being a relative of the main War criminal. Hitler, supported his aggressive policy, took part in the sessions of the Reichstag and in the atrocities perpetrated on the territory of Ukraine, Orel, Smolensk, Bobruisk regions and in Stalingrad. 27 December 1949.“. This sentence was commuted and he was kept in prison at hard labor until 28 September 1955. A suggestion was made to the Fiihrer that a prisoner exchange be negotiated to free his nephew from Soviet captivity, but his uncle refused on the grounds that it would be grossly unfair to the hundreds of thousands left behind - a decision fully understood by Leo Raubal. Leo Raubal was still living in Austria in 1970, which was the time of his last interview.) b) Angela Maria (Geli) Raubal, chr. in Linz on 4 Jan. 1908, d. by suicide in Miinchen on 18 Sept. 1931, buried in the Central Cemetery of Wien; her gravestone reads: „Here Sleeps Our Beloved Child Geli She was Our Ray of Sunshine Bom 4 June 1908 - died 18 September 1931 The Raubal Family 44 ; c) Elfriede Maria Raubal, chr. in Linz 10 Jan. 1910, married a Herr Hochegger, last reported as living in 1960. By Klara Polzl, Alois Hitler fathered: 3. Gustav Hitler, chr. 17 May 1885, d. of diphtheria on 8 December 1887, buried at Braunau am Inn; his godparents were Alois Hitler’s cousin and his wife, Johann and Johanna Prinz (Johann Prinz was the son of Theresia Hiedler Prinz, Alois Hitler’s aunt), who lived in Wien, and Maria Matzelberger, who was the mother of Alois Hitler’s late wife, and a close friend to Klara Hitler. 4. Ida Hitler, chr. 25 September 1886 (her godmother was Maria Matzelberger), d. of diphtheria on 2 January 1888, buried at Braunau am Inn. 5. Otto Hitler, bom in 1887, died within a few days of birth. 6. Edmund Hitler, b. 24 March 1894, d. 29 Feb. 1900 in Leonding age almost six years. Edmund Hitler was very close to his older brother, Adolf, who deeply mourned his passing. 7. Adolf Hitler (see below). 8. Paula Hitler, b. in Hafeld, Osterreich, chr. in Lambach on 21 Jan. 1896 and d. 1 June 1960 in Schonau near Berchtesgaden. During her last visit with her brother in March 1941, Paula Hitler (who was using the name „Frau Wolf 4 ) told him: „Sometimes when I am in the mountains and I see a little chapel I go in and pray for you. 44 Adolf Hitler was deeply moved and replied: „Do you know it is my absolute conviction that the Lord is holding his protecting hand above me? 44 Paula Hitler was arrested on 26 May 1945 by the American occupational forces, intensely interrogated and later released. By court order dated 17 February 1960, two- thirds of Adolf Hitler’s estate was assigned to Paula Hitler. After her death it was assigned to her next of kin - the children of her half-sister Angela Hitler. (By Order VI 108/60 of the Berchtesgaden District Court, case dated 25 October I960.) Adolf Hitler, Griinder der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, Fiihrer und Reichskanzler des Deutschen Reiches. „Today it seems to me providential that Fate should have chosen Braunau on the Inn as my birthplace. 44 Those were the opening words in the autobiographical section of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf. He was delivered into the world by Franziska Pointecker, a midwife, and his maternal aunt Johanna Polzl at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday the 20th day of April, 1889 in the Pommer Inn (Gasthof zum Pommer, Vorstadt Nr. - 29 - 219) at Braunau am Inn (or Braunau on the river Inn, which was the waterway that formed the border between Osterreich and Deutschland) in the Salzburger Vorstadt (or Salzburger suburb), Osterreich, a village of about 3,500 people which is situated about seventy-eight miles from Miinchen. Adolf Hitler was christened as Adolphus Hitler at the Catholic parish church in Braunau am Inn on 22 April 1889 at 3:15 p. m. by Father Ignaz Probst. His godparents were Johann Prinz (his father’s paternal first cousin) and Johanna, his wife, both living at Nr. 28 Lowengasse in Wien, and his maternal aunt, Johanna Polzl. After Adolf Hitler’s birth the family moved to a residence on Linzerstrasse, where they remained until the late summer of 1892, when they left Braunau for Passau. In April, 1894 the family moved to Linz. After Alois Hitler’s retirement he moved the family to Lambach and finally in November, 1898 to Leonding, which is on the outskirts of Linz. Here he purchased a one-story country house on a half-acre lot adjacent to the cemetery wall on which local villagers remembered a young Adolf Hitler would sit in the evening gazing up at the stars. It was in Linz that Adolf Hitler spent the formative years of his youth. He loved the city and had great plans for it after the war. His secretary recalled: „Even in March of 1945, I have seen Hitler stand for endless periods in front of a wood model... [of] Linz. In such moments Hitler forgot the war; he lost the marks of tiredness, and for hours he told us of the detailed changes that he planned to make in his home city.“ At the outbreak of World War One Adolf Hitler, as an Austrian citizen, sent a letter to King Ludwig III of Bayern (dated 3 August 1914) requesting permission to enlist in the army. This was granted and he was enrolled as a private in 1st Company, 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry, known by the name of its original commander, Oberst List, as the List Regiment. He was number 148 in the company, living in the Oberwiesenfeld Barracks. On 8 October 1914 he took the oath of allegiance to King Ludwig III at Lechfeld, after which he left for the battle front of the Great War. During his service Adolf Hitler was proposed for the Iron Cross second class by Lt. Colonel Engelhardt, his regimental commander. This was awarded on 2 December 1914, and was due to his bravery for standing in front of machine gun fire to protect his commanding officer. In August, 1918 he received the Iron Cross, first class, the citation being dated 31 July 1918. He was awarded this for volunteering to carry a message through a gauntlet of heavy British machine gun fire, which was considered a suicide mission. The citation was signed by Baron von Godin, the regimental commander, which reads as follows: „As a dispatch runner, he has shown cold-blooded courage and exemplary boldness both in positional warfare and in the war of movement, and he has always volunteered to carry messages in the most difficult situations and at the risk of his life. Under conditions of great peril, when all the communications lines were cut, the untiring and fearless activity of Hitler made it possible for important messages to go through/ 4 Adolf Hitler also received the Military Cross, 3rd class with swords on 17 Sept. 1917; the Regimentsdiplom (Regimental diploma) on 9 May 1918 for outstanding bravery; the Verwundeterabrechnen (Medal for Wounded) on 18 May 1918; and the Dienstauszeichnung (Service Medal) 3rd class on 25 Aug. 1918. On numerous occasions during the war Adolf Hitler miraculously escaped death. He related one of these experiences to an English correspondent, Ward Price, years later: „I was eating my dinner in a trench with several comrades. Suddenly a voice seemed to be saying to me, ‘Get up and go over there.’ It was so clear and insistent that I obeyed mechanically, as if it had been a military order. I rose at once to my feet and walked twenty yards along the trench, carrying my dinner in its tin-can with me. Then I sat down to go on eating, my mind - 30 - being once more at rest. Hardly had I done so when a flash and deafening report came from the part of the trench I had just left. A stray shell had burst over the group in which I had been sitting, and every member of it was killed.“ Adolf Hitler was twice wounded, the first time in early October, 1916 and the second time on 7 October 1916. This last wound was serious enough for him to be sent to a hospital back in Germany where he witnessed first-hand the defeatism that Germany’s internal enemies had inflicted on the nation. And thus began the process that would forge a front line soldier into a national political leader. Fully recovered from his wounds Adolf Hitler was released back to his regiment in Flanders on 1 March 1917. On the night of 13 October 1918 in a trench near Werwick, just south of Ypres, Adolf Hitler was overcome with chlorine gas which was exploded by the British over the German lines - for him the war was over. Back in Munchen Adolf Hitler would later join a ragtag group of German patriots calling themselves the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, which was later renamed the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. In short order he became its undisputed leader and guided the party, and ultimately the nation as its Fiihrer, to heights previously unknown in European history. Adolf Hitler’s first will, dated 2 May 1938, reads: „My Testament: Upon my death, it is my wish that 1.) My body be taken to Munchen where it is to lie in state in the Feldherrnhalle and then buried in the right temple of the Eternal Watch (that is, the temple next to the Fiihrer Building). My coffin is to be similar to all the rest. 2.) I leave my entire estate to the Party. This will not affect what contracts I have signed with the Party publishers. All outstanding and future proceeds from my writings are to go to the Party. 3.) The Party is to pay the following annuities: a.) To Fraulein Eva Braun, of Munchen, the sum of 1 000 marks per month, i.e., 12 000 marks per year for life, b.) To my sister Angela of Dresden, 1,000 marks per month, i.e., 12 000 marks per year for life, partly for the support of her daughter Trial, c.) To my sister Paula of Vienna, 1 000 marks per month, i.e., 12 000 marks per year for life, d.) To my step-brother Alois Hitler the lump sum of 60 000 marks, e.) To my housekeeper, Frau Winter of Munchen, 150 marks per month for life, f.) To my old friend Julius Schaub the lump sum of 10 000 marks and 500 marks per month for life, g.) To my valets Linge and Junge a lump sum of 3 000 marks each, i.) To my relatives in Spital, Lower Austria, a lump sum of 30 000 marks to be shared out among them by my sister Paula Hitler, Vienna, at her discretion. 4.) The contents of the room in my Munchen apartment once occupied by my niece Geli Raubal, are to be forwarded to my sister Angela. 5.) My books and letters are to be inspected by Party Comrade Julius Schaub, and those of a personal and private nature either to be destroyed or to be handed over to my sister Paula, at Party Comrade Julius Schaub’s personal discretion. 6.) My other valuables, my house in Obersalzberg, my furniture, objets d’art, paintings etc. are to go to the Party, and to be administered by the Party Treasurer. Which of these objects are in my rooms in the Reichs Chancellery is to be determined by Party Comrade Schaub. 7.) The Party Treasurer is entitled to hand over smaller objects to my sisters Angela and Paula as keepsakes. 8.) It is my wish that the Party make generous provision for my adjutants Bruckner and Weidemann throughout their lives, and also for Herr and Frau Kannenberg. 9.) I appoint Party Comrade Franz X. Schwarz, the Party Treasurer, as my executor. In the case of his death or any other impediment, I appoint Party Comrade and Reichsleiter Martin Bormann in his stead. Berlin, 2 May 1938 Adolf Hitler.“ Adolf Hitler married Eva Anna Paula Braun (born on 6 Feb. 1910 on Wasserburgerstrasse Nr. 8, in Munchen; the second of three daughters born to Friedrich -31 - „Fritz“ Braun, a Miinchen schoolteacher, and his wife, Franciska Katharina Kranburger) on 29 May 1945 in the Fiihrerbunker in Berlin. A Berlin justice of the peace, Walter Wagner, who had performed Josef and Magda Goebbels’ civil wedding, performed the ceremony. The marriage was witnessed by Dr. Josef Goebbels and Martin Bormann. The English translation of the marriage ceremony reads thus: „Der Oberburgermeister der Reichshauptstadt... Before Councillor Walter Wagner acting as city registrar on behalf of the Oberburgermeister, there appeared for the immediate solemnization of their marriage 1. Adolf Hitler, born 20 April, 1889 in Braunau, resident in: the Reichs Chancellery, Berlin. 2. Fraulein Eva Braun, born in Miinchen, Wassaburgerstrasse 12. Father: Friedrich Braun Mother Franziska Braun, nee Kranburger. Identified by: special pass [by] the Head of the German Police. 3. As Witness: Reichs Minister Dr. Goebbels, Joseph born 28 October 1897 in Rheydt, resident in: Berlin, Hermann Goring str. 20, identified by [illegible] 4. As witness: Reichs Leader Martin Bormann, bom 17 June 1900 resident in: Obersalzberg, identified by: [illegible] Those listed under 1. and 2. declare that they are of pure Aryan descent and that there are no hereditary impediments to their marriage. Because of extraordinary circumstances caused by the war they apply for a war marriage and further request that publication of the banns be dispensed with and that there be no other legal delays. These requests are hereby granted. Their verbal statements have been examined and been found to be correct. I now come to the solemn act of marriage. In the presence of the witnesses named above under 3. and 4. I ask you, Mein Fiihrer Adolf Hitler whether you are willing to enter into marriage with Fraulein Eva Braun in which case I must ask you to say ‘yes.’ I now ask you, Fraulein Eva Braun, whether you are willing to enter into marriage with Mein Fiihrer, Adolf Hitler in which case I must ask you to say ‘yes.’ Both parties having signified that they wish to enter into marriage, I declare them legally man and wife. Berlin, 29 April, 1945. 1. Husband Adolf Hitler 2. Wife Eva B [crossed out] Hitler nee Braun 3. Witness for 1: Dr. Joseph Goebbels 4. Witness for 2: Bormann 5. Wagner, Registrar. 44 With the Russians literally at his doorstep, Adolf Hitler composed his last testament. The last paragraph contained this statement reads: „My wife and I choose death to avoid the disgrace of defeat or capitulation. It is our wish to be cremated immediately in the place where I have done the greatest part of my work during the course of my twelve years’ service for my people.“ Eva Hitler died with the Fiihrer, her husband, at her own request at approximately 3:30 on the afternoon of 30 April 1945 in the Fiihrer- bunker beneath the Reichskanzlei in Berlin. With her head resting on his shoulder, Adolf Hitler took his own life a few minutes later. According to the Fiihrer’s will, and ancient Teutonic custom, in the presence of some of the remaining Bunker staff, who raised their arm in a final National Socialist salute to their fallen Leader, SS Adjutant Otto Giinsche cremated the mortal remains of Adolf and Eva Hitler in the garden of the ruined Reich Chancellery shortly after their deaths. The announcement of Adolf Hitler’s death was broadcast to the nation over North German Radio by GroBadmiral Karl Donitz, the new President of the German Reich: „German men and women, soldiers of the Gennan Wehnnacht. Our Fiihrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen. The German nation bows its head in deepest sorrow and reverence. He recognized the dangers of Bolshevism early on and dedicated his existence to this struggle. The end of his fight and his unwaveringly straight road through life is marked by a hero’s death in the capital of the Reich. His whole life was but to serve Germany. Above and beyond that, his dedication - 32 - to the struggle against the Bolshevist tidal wave was meant to serve all of Europe and the whole of the civilized world. On 25 October 1956, eleven years after his death, the Berchtesgaden District Court formally declared Adolf Hitler dead. In the parish church book (number XIX) of Braunau am Inn Father Johann Ludwig made this entry under the name of Adolf Hitler: „Declared dead, in fid. publ.,... 11 January 1957. Johann Ludwig.“ THE HITLER FAMILY Chart Two Mattheus Huetler, who was a peasant living in Rothsarn, Osterreich in 1571. Hannz Huettler, who was a peasant living in Engelstein, Osterreich in 1585. Stephan Hiedler, who was a peasant living in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, d. in 1635. Georg Hiedler, who was a peasant living in Harmannstein, d. in Stierberg, buried in Langschlag 19 Jan. 1678; mar. Maria, who d. in 1675. Johannes Hiittler, who was a peasant living in Gtierberg, Osterreich, b. in Stierberg in 1644, d. in Stierberg, buried in GroB-Gerungs 3 July 1703; mar. Elizabeth of Stierberg. Stephan Huetler, b. in Stierberg, Osterreich; chr. in Langschlag, Osterreich 13 Nov. 1675, d. Walterschlag, buried in GroB-Schonau 23 Nov. 1757; mar. in GroB-Gerungs, 25 Nov. 1698 to Agnes Capeller. Johannes Hiedler, chr. in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich 18 May 1725, d. in Walterschlag 11 October 1803, mar. Anna Maria. Martin Hiedler, chr. 17 November 1762 in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich; d. in Spital 10 January 1829; living in peasant holding Nr. 36 in Spital, he mar. Anna Maria Goschl, the daughter of Laurenz Goschl of Spital. Martin Hiedler is also the father of Johann Georg Hiedler in the proceeding chart, who mar. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, the parents of Alois Hitler, who mar. Klara Potzl, the granddaughter of the below, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler and Eva Decker. Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Hiittler), b. in Nr. 36 in Spital 19 March 1807, d. in Nr. 36 in Spital on 17 Sept. 1888, buried 19 Sept. 1888; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Eva Maria Decker, who bore him eleven children, of whom only three daughters survived: 1. Johanna (see below); 2. Walburga. b. 1 1 April 1832, mar. in Spital on 25 Jan. 1853 to Josef Romeder of Ober-Windhag, son of Jakob Romeder and his wife, Barbara Polzl (Josef Romeder was the witness on the legitimization of Alois Hitler; his mother, Barbara Polzl, was a relative of the below, Johann Baptist Polzl, making Josef Romeder a cousin to Adolf Hitler.); 3. Josepha, b. 15 Jan. 1834, mar. in Spital 1 March 1859 to Leopold Sailer, son of Michael Sailer and his wife, Anna Polzl of Spital (another relative of Johann Baptist Polzl). On 18 July 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler purchased the family holdings from his brother, Laurenz Hiedler, which - 33 - included the house at Nr. 36 in Spital; in January 1853 he passed it to his son-in-law, Josef Romeder, and thus the Hitler family holdings passed from the family’s hands. Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, b. in Nr. 36 in Spital, Osterreich, 19 Jan. 1830, d. in Nr. 24 in Spital at 1:45 p.m. on 8 Feb. 1906 of a cerebral hemorrhage; buried at the cemetery in Spital on 10 Feb. age „76 Jahre und 18 Tage“; mar. in on Spital 5 Sept 1848 Johann Baptist Polzl (Poelzl, or Polzel) of Spital. After their marriage they received house Nr. 37, which was Johann’s inheritance from his father, Laurenz Polzl, and which had been occupied by his step mother, Antonia, and her second husband, Laurenz Hiedler, the brother of the above, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler. It was in this home, where Theresia Hiedler Schmidt and her husband, Anton, lived (they took possession of the property after Johann Polzl suffered numerous financial difficulties) that Klara Hitler took her children, including young Adolf, for a long vacation in the summer of 1903 after the death of her husband, Alois Hitler. (This was a regular vacation spot for the widow Klara Hitler thereafter.) This fact means that Adolf Hitler must have been well acquainted with his maternal grandparents and the Hitler relatives in Spital (the Polzl household Nr. 37 was next door to the Hitler family home at Nr. 36). Johann and Johanna Hiedler Polzl had eleven children, all of whom were born and died in Spital, unless otherwise noted: 1. Johann, chr. 14 Oct. 1849, d. 11 Nov. 1849. 2. Maria, chr. 16 Sept. 1851, d. 10 Oct. 1855. 3. Barbara, chr. 9 Nov. 1853, d. 7 Sept. 1855. 4. Franz, chr. 24 July 1855, and d. in Wien. 5. Josef, chr. 3 Feb. 1857, d. 21 April 1878. 6. Anton, chr. 12 June 1858, d. 20 April 1863. 7. Klara (see below). 8. Johanna, chr. 31 March 1863, d. in Spital 29 March 1911 (she never mar. and later lived with the family of Alois and Klara Hitler, where she showed great attention to her nephew, Adolf Hitler, who called her „Hanitante“); 9. Karl, chr. 19 Oct. 1864, d. 22 Jan. 1865. 10. Maria, chr. 29 April 1867, d. 20 May 1867. 11. Theresia, chr. 5 Sept. 1868, d. in Spital 1 Aug. 1935 (her funeral expenses were paid for by her nephew, Adolf Hitler, who was then Reichskanzler of Deutschland); she mar. Anton Schmidt on 19 June 1894 (they had three known sons, Anton, Eduard and Johann Schmidt, who wrote favorably about his cousin, Adolf Hitler, and a daughter named Maria Schmidt who married Ignaz Koppensteiner, who, because he was from Langfeld near Weitra, was undoubtedly descended from the Koppensteiner family from whom Adolf Hitler also descended. Maria Schmidt Koppensteiner, along with her husband and her two brothers, Eduard and Johann, was arrested by the Russians in May, 1945 and sent to the worst of the Soviet prison camps - in the Upper Urals, near Chelyabinsk - where she was tortured, abused and finally, on 6 August 1953, murdered. Her only „crime“ being that she was a near relative to Adolf Hitler. Eduard Schmidt died 1951 of tuberculosis at Verkhneuralsk prison camp in the Urals.) Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, mar. her 1st cousin once removed, Alois Hitler, in Braunau am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885. Adolf Hitler, Grunder der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, Fiihrer und Reichskanzler. - 34 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the SCHICKELGRUBER Family Johannes Schickelgrueber, born in Strones, Osterreich in circa 1606, d. in Strones, buried in Dollersheim 26 Dec. 1696, mar. in circa 1644 to Susanna, who d. in Strones in circa 1656. Jacob Schickelgrueber, born in Strones, Osterreich, in 1644, buried in Dollersheim 22 June 1720; mar. in Dollersheim 15 Feb. 1678 to Elisabeth Kherler of Strones. (She was b. in Dollersheim on 16 Sept. 1658, and d. on 14 Aug. 1713 in Dollersheim, the daughter of Georg Kherler and Anna Probst who mar. in Dollersheim on 19 Sept. 1655, the daughter of Caspar Probst, [he d. in Dollersheim 27 Sept. 1664] of Moidrams, Osterreich, and his wife, Apollonia. Georg Kherler was the son of Hans Khorgl, a peasant in GroB-Kainraths, and his wife, Anna, who was buried in Dollersheim on 3 Nov. 1656.) The children of Jacob Schickelgruber, all of whom were chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Elisabeth, chr. 10 Sept. 1679. 2. Maria, chr. 27 Feb. 1681. 3. Jacob, chr. 25 July 1687. 4. Barbara, chr. 14 Sept. 1692. 5. Peter, chr. 27 June 1696. Jacob Schiklgrueber (or Schicklgrueber), fanner, born in Strones,Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 25 July 1687, buried in Dollersheim; mar. 12 April 1712 to Eva Schiedl. Their children, all christened in Dollersheim, were: 1. Anna Maria, chr. 27 Aug. 1713. 2. Anna Maria, chr. 16 March 1715. 3. Bartholomaus, chr. 25 Aug. 1716 (twin). 4. Joseph, chr. 25 Aug. 1716 (twin). 5. Jacob, chr. 10 July 1721. 6. Jacob, chr. 8 July 1722. Jacob Schickelgruber, fanner, bom in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 8 July 1722, d. in Strones 3 Oct. 1806, buried in Waldreichs, Osterreich, 5 Oct. 1806; mar. in Dollersheim 14 Nov. 1747 Theresia Sillip, the daughter of Matthias Sillip and Eva Maria Klezl. Johann Schickelgruber, b. in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 29 May 1764 in d. 12 November 1847 in Klein-Motten in house Nr. 9, buried in Dollersheim on 14 Nov.; mar. in Dollersheim 5 Feb. 1793, Thersia Pfeisinger. Their contract, found in the Lordship of Ottenstein’s business records for 1793, reads: „1. If so be the bride weds her betrothed she is to provide along with proper love and fidelity the portion inherited from her mother viz. 100 florins. Next from her father she shall receive an unencumbered dowry: 200 florins therewith goods and chattels viz: 1 bed 20 fl., 1 chest 7 fl., 1 coffer 1 florin 30 kr., 1 cow 20 fk, 70 skeins of flax at 6 kr. 7 fl. In all 355 fl. 30 kr. Against which 355 florins 30 kronen. 2. The bridegroom shall set the unencumbered marriage apportionment from his parents viz 100 fl. and their savings of 100 fl., in all 200 fl. so that everything they presently bring together along with any wealth that may by God’s Grace accrue to them in marriage shall be their common property and shall so be termed and so remain. 3. In the event of death and failing the existence of heirs between them two begotten, the nearest kith shall receive a third part of the full inventory; and if there be issue, one of more, one half.“ As was customary, in 1817 Johann Schickelgruber turned his land over to his eldest son, Josef, who shortly lost possession, leaving his father penniless. Johann Schickelgruber ended his life as a destitute man. Johann and Thersia Schickelgruber were the parents of eleven children, but only six survived infancy; they include: 1.Maria Anna (see below). 2. Josef. 3. - 35 - Josefa (who mar. in 1826 in Fuenfhaus, near Wien). 4. Leopold. 5. Franz. (Franz Schickelgruber was the maternal uncle for whom Alois Hitler acted as executor in 1876. While taking care of this duty he wrote to his cousin explaining why there was no money left after paying their uncle’s expenses: „He was a great friend of common laborers and always liked best to spend his time in the tavern. That he had not changed is shown by the fact that the 100 florins which he had set aside for the casket in his will had gone to drink. As a man lives, so does he die. But of course, that was his business.“ One of the above children, Josef, Josefa or Leopold, produced a daughter named Josefa, who married Alois Veit of Wien and produced a son named Josef Veit. During the 1870s Alois Hitler exchanged a number of letters with these relations, his first cousins, and these still survive in the Hauptarchiv Files.) Maria Anna Schickelgruber, born at Nr. 1 in Strones, Osterreich at 6 a.m. on 15 April 1795 and chr. at 9 a.m. the same day in the parish church at Dollersheim (her godparent was Anna Maria Sillip, a relative). She mar. Johann Georg Hiedler, the son of Martin Hiedler, in Dollersheim on 10 May 1842. Maria Anna Schickelgruber Hiedler d. at Nr. 4 in Klein-Motten on 7 Jan. 1847 of consumption (tuberculosis), and was buried on 9 Jan. in Dollersheim. However, this was not the end of Maria Anna Hiedler’s story, as this notation from Wemer Maser’s book, Hitler Legend, Myth & Reality, tells: „...after the Anschluss [i.e., the union of Germany and Austria] Maria Anna Schicklgruber’s grave was adorned with a memorial stone and cross bearing the legend: ‘Here lies the grandmother of the Fiihrer - Maria A. Hitler, nee Schicklgruber. The burial-place was invariably tended with special care and was much visited by schools and Hitler Youth groups.“ Alois Hitler, born in Strones, Osterreich in peasant holding Nr. 13, which was the home of Johann Trummelschlager, on 7 June 1837 at 11:30 a.m., he was chr. in Dollersheim on 7 June 1837 as Aloys Schicklgruber, with Johann and Josepha Trummelschlager acting as godparents; he d. on 3 Jan. 1903 and is buried in Leonding, Osterreich. Alois Hitler mar. as his third wife at Braunau am Inn on 7 Jan. 1885, his cousin Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. Adolf Hitler, Grunder der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, Fiihrer und Reichskanzler. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the POLZL Family Johann Polzl, d. in Spital, Osterreich about 1813; mar. Theresia Ledermuller of Spital. Their children were 1. Theresia, who mar. in Spital 20 Feb. 1827 to Joseph Goschl, the son of Mathias Goschl and his wife, Theresia Goschl, the dau. of Leopold Goschl of Spital, living at Nr. 15. (Note: Leopold and Mathias Goschl are undoubtedly related to Laurenz Goschl, who also resided in Spital and whose dau., Anna Maria, mar. Martin Hiedler and who were ancestors of Adolf Hitler.) 2. Anna Maria, born and died 29 May 1841 in Spital. 3. Laurenz (see below). Laurenz Polzl, farmer, b. in Spital, Osterreich 15 July 1788, d.at Nr. 37 in Spital 10 April 1841 (his death notice reads „Gestorben den 10 April 1841, begraben den 12 April: Lorenz Polzl, Bauer in Spital 37, gebiirtig von hier, 52 Jahre 9 Monate alt, an Gedarmbrand.“ He mar. at Nr. 37 in Spital on 20 Feb. 1827 to Juliana Wallj (or Wally) who was the mother of - 36 - the below, Johann Baptist Polzl. After the death of his wife Laurenz Polzl married for the second time on 17 July 1831 to Antonia Markhard (after Laurenz Polzl’s death she married Laurenz Hiedler, the brother of Johann Georg Hiedler, who was the grandfather of Adolf Hitler), the dau. of Franz Markhard (or Marchhard). By this marriage he had four children, all bom, christened and died in Spital: 1. child, not named, bom, chr. and d. 18 July 1835; 2. Ignaz, b. 1 June 1835, d. 8 June 1835; 3. Theresia, b. 26 Dec. 1836, d. 1 March 1837; 4. Barbara, b. 18 Nov. 1837, d. 1 Dec. 1837. Johann Baptist Polzl, fanner, b. at Nr. 24 in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828 and chr. on 25 May, d. at 8 p.m. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902 and buried in the cemetery at Spital on 11 January; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 Johanna Hiedler, or Htittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital (see Hitler family chart two for information on their children), witnesses Joseph Pollack, Johann Wally and Johann Nepomuk Hutler (Hiedler). Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, godparents were Franz and Anna Maria Ledennuller of Spital; died of cancer (Sarcoma Pectoris) shortly after last Sacraments were administered, at her home at Nr. 9 Bliitengasse in Urfahr, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907; buried beside her husband in Leonding 23 December 1907; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885 to Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The notice of her passing was printed by the Linz firm of Kolndorffer by the instructions of her son, Adolf Hitler: We, Adolf and Paula Hitler, hereby announce, both in our own names and those of her other relatives, the passing away of our deeply loved, never-to-be-forgotten mother, and/or stepmother, grandmother and sister, Frau Klara Hitler, Senior Customs Officer’s widow, who fell asleep ... on 21 December 1907 at two o’clock in the morning. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the CAPELLER Family Simon Capeller, who was a peasant in Wachtberg, Osterreich, d. before 1638, and was mar. to Anna, who d. before 1638. Michael Capeller, who was a peasant living in Wachtberg, Osterreich, mar. in Grofi- Gemngs on 21 Nov. 1638, Eva SchloBner (or Schlossner) of Stainbach, the daughter of Stephan SchloBner of Stainbach, who d. after 1638, and his wife, Margaretha, who d. after 1638. Urban Kapeller, a farmer living in Wachtberg and Schmerbach, Osterreich, d. in Schmerbach, and buried in Langschlag 8 Jan 1719; mar. Maria Winter (or Winder) in Langschlag on 22 Nov. 1676 (she was buried in Langschlag on 7 June 1713, and was the daughter of Pankraz and Catharina Winter of Pertlhof, Osterreich). Their children, all chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were: 1. Michael, b. in Wachtberg, chr. 3 Sept. 1677. 2. Agnes. 3. Gerdraud, b. in Wachtberg, chr. 7 March 1680. 4. Lorenz, b. in Wachtberg, chr. 2 Aug. 1681. 5. Catharina, b. in Wachtberg, chr. 22 Oct. 1683. 6. Caspar, b. in Wachtberg, chr. 1 Jan. 1686. 7. Johann, b. in Schmerbach, chr. 11 June 1688. 8. Elisabeth, b. in Schmerbach, chr. 26 Sept. 1690. 9. Maria, b. in Schmerbach, chr. 15 Jan. 1693. 10. Jacob, b. in Schmerbach, chr. 4 July 1695, d. in Schmerbach in 1764. 11. Philip. 12. Sabina. - 37 - Agnes Capeller, born in Wachtberg, Osterreich, chr. in GroB-Schonau 12 Dec. 1678, d. in Walterschlag and buried in GroB-Schonau 2 July. 1750; mar. in Grofi-Gerungs 25 Nov. 1698 to Stephan Huetler, or Hiedler. Johannes Hiedler, chr. in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich 18 May 725, d. in Walterschlag 11 October 1803, mar. Anna Maria. Martin Hiedler, chr. 17 November 1762 in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich; d. in Spital 10 January 1829; mar. Anna Maria Goschl. Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Huttler), chr. in Spital 19 March 1807, d. in Spital 17 Sept. 1888, buried 19 Sept.; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Eva Maria Decker. Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, b. in Spital, Osterreich, 19 Jan. 1830, d. in Spital 8 Feb. 1906, buried 10 Feb.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 Johann Baptist Polzl (or Poelzl) of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, mar. her cousin, Alois Hitler in Braunau am Inn 7 Jan. 1885. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the WALLJ Family Jacob Weil, who was a peasant living in Grunbach, Weissenalbem, Osterreich, and mar. to Sara. Jacob Weil, born in Grunbach, Weissenalbem, Osterreich in circa 1623, d. in Reinbolden, buried in Schweiggers 4 March 1700; mar. in Schweiggers 7 Jan. 1651 to Barbara Sterer (buried in Schweiggers on 4 June 1709) the daughter of Jacob Sterer of Streitbach, and his wife Maria. Johannes Weilli born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, in 1661, d. in Reinbolden, buried in Schweiggers 6 June 1738; mar. in Schweiggers 23 Nov. 1700, Magdalena Koppensteiner, the daughter of Matthias Koppensteiner and Catharina Pfeiffer. Leopold Weyly (or Wally, Wallj) born in Reinbolden, chr. in Schweiggers 12 Nov. 1709, d. in Rothfahrn, buried in GroB-Schonau 16 Feb. 1783; mar. 8 Feb. 1735 Magdalena Fux (Fugs), daughter of Matthias Fux and Eli z abeth Minihold (see the Minihold family pedigree). Their children, all bom in Reinbolden and chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Sebastian, chr. 14 Jan. 1736, buried in Schweiggers on 21 Feb. 1736. 2. Hans Michael (see below). 3. Anna Maria, chr. 11 Nov. 1739, buried in Schweiggers, 1 May 1744. 4. Franz, chr. 29 July 1742, buried in Schweiggers 23 Oct. 1742. 5. Maria Anna, chr. 11 May 1744, mar. Joseph Kauffmann in Mannshalm. 6. Theresia, chr. 21 Jan. 1747, mar. Joseph Hasslinger (or HaBlinger) in Rothfahrn. 7. Anton, chr. 6 Oct. 1749, mar. 1775 to Anna Maria Zwierner. Hans Michael Wally, born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, 6 Sept. 1737, d. at Nr. 20 in Wetzles 16 April 1810, buried in Weitra 18 April; mar. in 1759, Anna Maria Haubner. The children of Hans Michael Wally (all b. in WeBles, and chr. in Weitra) were: 1. Anna Maria, chr. 27 Feb. 1764. 2. Sebastian, chr. 19 Jan. 1766. 3. Anton (see - 38 - below). 4. Michael, chr. 17 Aug. 1770. 5. Johann, chr. 22 May 1774, d. 10 Nov. 1838, mar. Anna Maria Weiss (or Weifi). Anton Wally, chr. in Weitra, Osterreich, 9 March 1768, d. in GroB-Wolsgers on 6 Feb. 1812; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 23 Oct. 1787 Anna Maria Stumpner, daughter of Johannes Simon Stumpner. They had eleven children, all bom in GroB-Wolsgers 1. Marianna, b. 9 June 1789. 2. Joseph, b. 22 Nov. 1790. 3. Anna Maria, b. 14 Aug. 1793. 4. Sebastian, b. 20 Jan. 1795, d. 24 Feb. 1795. 5. Johann Georg, b. 18 Jan. 1796, d. 22 July 1797. 6. Juliana. 7. Antonia, b. 11 June 1799. 8. Georg, b. 12 Feb. 1802, d. 20 Feb. 1802. 9. Ignatius, b. 5 July 1803, mar. Johanna Weber of Thaures. 10. Thersia, b. 8 Aug. 1807. 11. Johannes, b. 30 April 1810. Juliana Wall) (or Walli), b. at Nr. 8 in GroB-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. at Nr. 37 in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Laurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the DECKER Family Beit Deckher, d. in circa 1678, mar. Maria. Matthias Deckher, bom in circa 1626, d. in Hormanns, Osterreich, buried in Unser Frau on 3 July 1723; mar. in Unser Frau on 20 Feb. 1678 Eva Zwettler (chr. in Unser Frau on 6 Aug. 1658, the daughter of Jakob Zwettler, a farmer in Weitra who was buried in Unser Frau on 13 Oct. 1699, mar. in Unser Frau on 24 June 1657 to Ursula Tuecher [d. in Alt-Weitra on 28 May 1680: Note, the name Tuecher is probably a variant spelling of Decker], the daughter of Georg and Maria Tuecher of Grof3-Otten, Osterreich.) Matthias and Eva Deckher’s children, all of whom were chr. in Unser Frau, were: 1. Paul, chr. 19 Jan. 1679. 2. Georg, chr. 8 April 1682. 3. Andreas (see below). 4. Simon, chr. 30 Sept. 1685. 5. Rosina, chr. 11 March 1687. 6. Bartholomaus, chr. 13 Aug. 1689. 7. Urban, chr. 12 May 1692. 8. Elisabeth, chr. 19 Sept. 1697. 9. Maria, chr. 24 May 1702. Andreas Dockher, farmer, born in Hormanns, Osterreich and was chr. in Unser Frau on 22 Nov. 1683, d. in Reichenbach and buried in Schweiggers on 27 Sept. 1746; mar. in Schweiggers on 12 Feb. 1715 Maria Doberl (chr. in Schweiggers on 20 Dec. 1693, d. and buried in Schweiggers on 20 Sept. 1780) the daughter of Martin Doberl (the son of Matthias Doberl, or Toberl, who d. in Reichenbach and was buried in Schweiggers on 13 Feb. 1705, mar. to Barbara) and Agnes Fux (or Fugs), who mar. 3 Jan. 1688 in Schweiggers. (Agnes Fux, d. in Schweiggers on 27 Aug. 1730, was the daughter of Matthias Fux, or Fugs, a farmer in Reichenbach who was buried in Schweiggers on 11 Oct. 1687, and was mar. in Schweiggers on 17 Oct. 1651 to Maria Badstuber, who was buried in Schweiggers on 30 Jan. 1685, and - 39 - was the daughter of Bartholomaus Badstuber of Reichenbach. Matthias and Maria Fux had the following children; 1. Anna, chr. 19 Oct. 1730. 2. Elisabeth, chr. 15 Aug. 1707. 3. Magdalena. Matthias Fugs was the son of Sebastian Fux, or Fugs, who was living in Reichenbach in 1571. Note: there is another Fux family in Adolf Hitler’s ancestry. See the Minihold family for details. Both families are undoubtedly related). Andreas and Maria Docker’s children, all of whom were b. in Reichenbach and chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Maria, chr. 25 Jan. 1716, mar. Johann Koppensteiner. 2. Martin, chr. 23 Oct. 1718. 3. Theresia, chr. 30 March 1721. 4. Magdalena, chr. 3 June 1724. 5. Cordula, chr. 19 Aug. 1727. 6. Gregor, chr. 12 March 1731. 7. Eva, chr. 21 Dec. 1731, d. 27 Sept. 1746. Martin Docker (or Decker, Tecker, Dockher, Toker), fanner, b. in Reicheubach, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich 23 Oct. 1718, d. in Thaures, buried in Grofi-Schonau 14 May 1762; mar. in Schweiggers on the 13 May 1743 to Elisabeth Artner. Their children, all chr. in Grofi- Schonau, were: 1. Matthias, chr. 24 Feb. 1744, mar. Elisabeth Tuchler 21 Jan. 1765. 2. Johann Georg, chr. 8 April 1747. 3. Anna Maria, chr. 27 Jan 1750. 4. Joseph (see below). 5. Gregor, chr. 12 March 1756. 6. Unnamed female, chr. 4 March 1761. Joseph Tecker (or Tocker, Docker or Decker), born Thaures, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi- Schonau 2 March 1753, d. in Thaures, 14 Oct. 1825, buried in Grofi-Schonau on 16th of Oct. He mar. 1st on 30 May 1775 Maria Anna Wober, the dau. of Michael Wober of Grofi-Otten. Children from this marriage are: 1. Michael, chr. 23 Sept. 1775. 2. Johann Georg, chr. 2 April 1777. 3. Joseph, chr. 20 Sept. 1780. 4. Faurentius, chr. 20 July 1783 (all bom in Thaures and chr. in Grofi- Schonau). Joseph Decker mar. as his second wife on 25 May 1785 in Grofi- Schonau, Theresia Hinterlechner, the daughter of Philipp Hin- terlechner. Their children, all bom Thaures and chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were, 1. Magdalena, chr. 9 July 1786. 2. Martin, chr. 23 Sept. 1788. 3. Eva Maria (see below). 4. Sebastian, chr. 2 Jan. 1795. 5. Anton, chr. 25 May 1799. 6. Josepha, chr. 11 Nov. 1800. Eva Maria Decker, b. at Nr. 9 in Thaures, Osterreich, 16 Dec. 1792, chr. 16 Dec.; godparent was Magdalena Weissin; d. in Spital 28 Dec. 1878, buried in Spital 30 Dec. 1873; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Huttler). Johanna Hiedler, b. in Spital 19 Jan. 1830, buried in Spital on 10 Nov. 1906; mar. in Spital on 5 Sept. 1848 to Johann Baptist Polzl. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. - 40 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the STUMPNER Family Stephan Stumpner, a peasant in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, was mar. to Maria of Grofi- Wolfgers. Andreas Stumpner, farmer, bom in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich in circa 1613, buried in Schweiggers on 18 Jan. 1697, mar. Maria, who d. in Schweiggers 23 Dec. 1686. Their children were: 1. Rosina, mar. in Grofi-Schonau, 25 Nov. 1663 to Andreas Weber. 2. Elisabeth, chr. in Schweiggers, 7 May 1647. 3. Michael, chr. in Schweiggers, 13 Aug. 1648. 4. Georg, chr. in Schweiggers, 28 March 1650. 5. Catharina, chr. in Schweiggers, 18 Sept. 1652, mar. Martin Artner (both are ancestors of Adolf Hitler through the Decker family: see the Artner family pedigree for details.) 6. Philip, chr. in Schweiggers 5 April 1657. 7. Helen, chr. in Schweiggers 19 May 1658. 8. Andreas, chr. in Schweiggers 1 Nov. 1660. 9. Bartholomaus (see below). Bartholomaus Stumpner (or Stumptner), born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich in circa 1662, d. in GroB-Wolfgers and buried in Schweiggers on 18 Aug. 1719; mar. in Schweiggers on 5 Feb. 1686 to Barbara Koppensteiner The children of Bartholomaus and Barbara Stumpner, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Adam, chr. 24 Dec. 1691. 2. Andres, chr. 24 Nov. 1694. 3. Maria, chr. 31 March 1699. 4. Gertraud, chr. 1 Feb. 1703. 5. Matthaeus, chr. 20 Sept. 1705. Andreas Stumpner, born in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers on 24 Nov. 1694, d. in Grofi-Wolfgers and buried in Schweiggers on 11 April 1757; mar. in Schweiggers on 8 Nov. 1718 to Maria Magdalena Anderl (she was b. in GroB-Wolfgers and chr. in Schweiggers on 18 May 1695, d. in Grofi-Wolfgers, buried in Schweiggers 1 Aug. 1745, the daughter of Thomas Anderl [buried in Schweiggers on 1 Feb. 1707] and Susanna Anterler. Thomas Anterler was the son of Thomas Anterler of GroB-Wolfgers). Their children, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Michael, chr. 27 Sept. 1719. 2. Maria, chr. 30 Sept. 1725. 3. Juliana, chr. 26 Nov. 1728. 4. Simon, chr. 9 Oct. 1731. 5. Joseph, chr. 8 March, 1734. (Johannes) Simon Stumpner, born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers 9 Oct. 1731, d. at Nr. 8 in GroB-Wolfgers and buried in Grofi-Schonau on 24 Nov. 1787; mar. in Schweiggers 30 Jan. 1753 to Anna Maria Kauffmann the daughter of Matthias Kauffmann. Their children, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Theresia, chr. 30 July 1754. 2. Joannes, chr. 1 Dec. 1756. 3. Michael, chr. 9 Sept. 1760. 4. Anna Maria, chr. 28 Dec. 1762. 5. Thersia, chr. 3 Oct. 1764. 6. Magdalena, chr. 18 June 1767. 7. Anna Maria, chr. 25 June 1770. Anna Maria Stumpner, born in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 25 June 1770, d. in GroB-Wolfgers 26 Feb. 1842, buried in Siebenlinden on 1 March 1842; mar. in Grofi-Schonau on 23 Oct. 1787 Anton Wally of Grofi-Wolfgers. Juliana Wallj, chr. in Grofi-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Faurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. -41 - Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the PFEISINGER Family Stephan Pfeisinger, a peasant farmer living in Dietreichs, Osterreich in 1565. Caspar Pfeisinger, d. in Dietreichs, Osterreich, buried in Dollersheim 24 Feb. 1656, mar. Barbara, who was born in circa 1584, d. in Dietreichs, and was buried in Dollersheim on 6 Dec. 1664. Two sons: 1. Johannes (see below). 2. Melchior, mar. in Dollersheim 17 Jan. 1662 Eva, dau. of Michael Leidtenfrost. Johannes Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs in 1628, d. in Dietreichs and was buried in Dollersheim on 18 Aug. 1698; mar. 16 May 1662 in Dollersheim to Maria Fischer (bom in Franzen in 1645, d. in Dietreichs, and was buried in Dollersheim on 3 April 1715, she was the daughter of Martin Fischer, a peasant who d. after 1652, and his wife, Ursula, who d. before 1662). Their children, all chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Eva, chr. 9 Aug. 1662, mar. Matthias Pannagl. 2. Justina, chr. 24 April 1666. 3. Jacob, chr. 20 March 1669. 4. Ursula, chr. 7 June 1670. 5. Johannes, chr. 22 Aug. 1673. 6. Maria, chr. 9 March 1682. 7. Gertrud, chr. 9 March 1682. Johannes Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 22 Aug. 1673, d. in Dietreichs, and was buried in Dollersheim on 17 Jan. 1728; mar. in Dollersheim on 21 Jan. 1700, Catharina Fciden frost. Their children, all chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Joannes, chr. 19 June 1701; 2. Matthaeus, chr. 9 Sept. 1702; 3. Ger- taudt, chr. 17 Jan. 1708; 4. Magdalena, chr. 6 Feb. 1711; 5. Rosina, chr. 19 March 1714. Matthaeus Pfeisinger (or PfeiBinger), born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 9 Sept. 1702, d. in Dietreichs, buried in Dollersheim 23 Jan. 1760; mar. in Dollersheim on 13 Nov. 1729 to Maria Hamberger. Their children were: 1. Eva Elisabeth, chr. 15 Sept. 1730. 2. Joseph, chr. 26 Jan 1734. 3. Joannes, chr. 23 May 1739. 4. Leopold, chr. 13 Nov. 1741. 5. Magdalena, chr. 6 July 1744 (twin). 6. Theresia, chr. 6 July 1744 (twin). All were chr. in Dollersheim. Johannes Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich and chr. in Dollersheim on 23 May 1739, godparent Joseph and Gertraud, Schmid, d. in Dietreichs on 22 Oct. 1817, and buried in Dollersheim on 24 Oct. 1817; mar. in Dollersheim on 29 Jan 1765 to Gertraut Hagen (the daughter of Joseph Hagen and Barbara Reitter.) They had five children, all listed in the will of Johannes Pfeisinger: 1. Thomas Pfeisinger, who mar. Magdalena Brenner. 2. Mathias Pfeisinger, who mar. Theresia Fleischhacker. 3. Theresia (see below). 4. Maria Anna Essbiiglin. 5. Anna Maria Pomasslin. - 42 - Thersia Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Sept. 1769, buried in Strones, Osterreich on 27 Nov. 1821; mar. in Dollersheim on 5 Feb. 1793 to Johannes Schickelgruber. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, chr. in Strones, Osterreich in April 1795, d. Klein-Motten 7 Jan. 1847, mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim, 10 May 1842. Alois Hitler mar. Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the LEIDENFROST Family Adam Leidenfrost, a citizen of Ober-Plottbach, Osterreich, d. before 26 Feb. 1669; mar. Margaretha, who d. before 26 Feb. 1669. (Undoubtedly, Adam was related to Michael Fcidt.cn frost of Dollersheim, whose dau. Eva, mar. Melchior Pfeisinger, son of Caspar Pfeisinger. See Pfeisinger family.) Christoph Lcidtcnfrost, farmer, born in Ober-Plottbach, Osterreich, d. in Dollersheim im Spital, buried in Dollersheim 27 Oct. 1706; mar. in Dollersheim 26 Feb. 1669 Justina Pohr, or Pahr (bom circa 1651, d. in Kuhbach, buried in Dollersheim 15 Dec. 1701), the daughter of Andreas Pahr, or Pohr, a citizen of Kuhbach, Osterreich (born circa 1613, d. in Kuhbach, buried in Dollersheim 18 June 1668, mar. Mag- dalean, who was buried in Dollersheim on 2 Oct. 1664; Andreas Pahr was the son of Hannz Pahr, or Bahr, Lilienfelischer Richter in Kuhbach). Their children, all christened in Dollersheim, were: 1. Adam, chr. 15 March 1671, mar. Maria Millecker. 2. Catharina, chr. 12 Dec. 1676. 3. Maria, chr. 16 May 1682. Catharina Leidenfrost (or Leidtenfrost) bom in Kuhbach, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 12 Nov. 1676, d. in Strones, buried in Dollersheim 9 July 1631; mar. Johannes Pfieisinger 31 Jan. 1700 in Dollersheim. Matthaeus Pfeisinger, bom in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 9 Sept. 1702, d. in Dietreichs, buried in Dollersheim 23 Jan. 1760; mar. in Dollersheim on 13 Nov. 1729 to Maria Hamberger. Johannes Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich and chr. in Dollersheim on 23 May 1739, d. in Dietreichs on 22 Oct. 1817, and buried in Ditreichs on 24 Oct. 1817; mar. in Dollersheim on 29 Jan 1765 to Gertraut Hagen. Thersia Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Sept. 1769, buried in Strones, Osterreich on 27 Nov. 1821; mar. in Dollersheim on 5 Feb. 1793 to Johannes Schickelgruber. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, chr. in Strones, Osterreich in April 1795, d. Klein-Motten 7 Jan. 1847, mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim, 10 May 1842. Alois Hitler mar. Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. - 43 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the HAMBERGER Family Christoph Hamberger, a peasant fanner of Kuhbach, Osterreich living in 1637. Georg Hamberger, born in Kuhbach, Osterreich in 1615, d. in Nieder-Plottbach and buried in Dollersheim on 5 Sept. 1695; mar. in Dollersheim on 15 Nov. 1676 his second wife on Elisabeth Hainzl (or Hanzl, bom in Nieder-Plottbach in 1647, buried in Dollersheim on 3 March 1713, she was the daughter of Gregor Hainzl, Bauer am Schoberhof am grossen Kamp, who was bom circa 1605, buried in Dollersheim on 10 July 1665; mar. Maria). Their children, both chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Maria, chr. 27 March 1678. 2. Paul (see below). Paul Hamberger, born in Nieder-Plottbach, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Jan. 1680, d. in Nieder-Plottbach and buried in Dollersheim on 7 Dec. 1747; mar. in Dollersheim on 27 Oct. 1765 Ursula Sillip (bom in Klein-Motten and chr. in Dollersheim on 10 Sept 1688, d. in Nieder-Plottbach, buried in Dollersheim on 27 Oct. 1765, she was the daughter of Andreas and Elisabeth Sillip, who were the parents of Matthias Sillip, whose daughter Theresia Sillip mar. Jacob Schickelgrueber [see the Schickelgruber pedigree for details]). Paul and Ursula Hamberger’s children, all chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Maria, chr. 16 Jan. 1709 (see below). 2. Johann, chr. 1 May. 1711. 3. Georg, chr. 24 March 1713. 4. Catharina, chr. 19 Jan. 1716. 5. Magdalena, chr. 14 April 1717. 6. Rosina, chr. 11 March 1720. 7. Catharina, chr. 13 June 1721. 8. Eva Maria, chr. 7 July 1722. 9. Lorenz, chr. 5 Aug. 1725. 10. Catharina, chr. 28 July 1728. 11. Johann, chr. 1 Dec. 1732. 12. Joseph, chr. 20 Jan. 1736. Maria Hamberger, born in Nieder-Plottbach, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 16 Jan. 1709, d. in Dietreichs Nr. 11, and buried in Dollersheim on 30 Oct. 1782; mar. in Dollersheim on 13 Nov. 1729 to Matthaeus (or Matthias) Pfeisinger. Johannes Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich and chr. in Dol- lersheim on 23 May 1739, d. in Dietreichs on 22 Oct. 1817, and buried in Ditreichs on 24 Oct. 1817; mar. in Dollersheim on 29 Jan 1765 to Gertraut Hagen. Thersia Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Sept. 1769, buried in Strones, Osterreich on 27 Nov. 1821; mar. in Dollersheim on 5 Feb. 1793 to Johannes Schickelgruber. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, chr. in Strones, Osterreich in April 1795, d. Klein-Motten 7 Jan. 1847, mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim, 10 May 1842. Alois Hitler mar. Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. - 44 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the MINIHOLD Family Matthias Miniholt (or Miiniholt), a farmer in GroB-Neufield, Osterreich, who mar. a peasant girl named Eva. Urban Minihold bom circa 1636, d. in Grofi-Neufiedl, Osterreich, buried in Waldenstein 11 March 1706; mar. Magdalena, born circa 1650, d. in Grofi-Neufiedl, buried in Waldenstein 17 Oct. 1719. Elisabeth Minihold chr. in Grofi-Neusiedl in 1678, d. in Reinbolden, buried in Schweiggers 23 March 1725, mar. in Schweiggers on 9 Jan. 1718 to Matthias Fux (b. in Reinbolden in circa 1665, d. in Reinbolden, son of Joseph Fux, a peasant in Reinbolden, chr. ca. 1615, d. in Reinbolden 4 Oct. 1695, buried in Schweiggers 6 Oct. 1695 age 80 years, mar. Maria who was buried in Schweiggers on 22 Sept. 1692. Note: there is another branch of the Fux family in Adolf Hitler’s ancestry. Both were from the Schweiggers area, and undoubtedly related. See the Decker family for details.) Magdalena Fux, b. in Reinbolden, chr. in Schweiggers 8 March 1713, d. in Reinbolden, buried in Schweiggers, mar. in Schweiggers 16 Feb. 1735 to Feopold Weyly, or Wally. Hans Michael Wally, born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, d. in Wetzles 16 April 1810, buried in Wei- tra 18 April; mar. in 1759, Anna Maria Haubner, daughter of Thomas Haubner. Anton Wally, chr. in Weitra, Osterreich, 9 March 1768, d. in Grofi- Wolsgers, 6 Feb. 1812; mar. Anna Maria Stumpner, daughter of Simon Stumpner. Juliana Wallj, chr. in Grofi-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich,, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Faurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, chr. 25 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan. 1902; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Feonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Feonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich, 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the WIDMANN Family Wolf Widiman, d. after 1661 in GroB-Globnitz, Osterreich; mar. Maria, who d. in Dollersheim on 22 May 1669. Joseph Widmann (or Widtmann) born in GroB-Globnitz in 1622, d. in Nieder-Plottbach, buried in Dollersheim 20 Feb. 1714; mar. on 25 Oct. 1678 in Dollersheim, Barbara Ufifall, -45 - who was born in 1641, and was buried in Dollersheim on 7 May 1717, the daughter of Johann (who was buried in Dollersheim on 3 Jan. 1665)and Sophia Ufifall (or Ufiwaldt.). Elisabeth Widmann, born in Nieder-Plottbach, and chr. in Dollersheim on 18 Nov. 1680, d. in Nieder-Plottbach, and buried in 28 May 1737; she mar. in Dollersheim on 10 June 1698 as his second wife, Johann Hagen. Joseph Hagen, born in Flachau, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 12 March 1706, d. in Flachau, and buried in Dollersheim on 4 March 1776; mar. in Dollersheim on 21 Jan. 1738 to Barbara Reitter. Gertrud Hagen, born in Flachau, and chr. in Dollersheim on 8 Jan. 1741, d. in Dietreichs 24 Oct. 1789, and buried in Dollersheim on 26 Oct. 1789; mar. in Dollersheim on 29 Jan 1765 Johannes Pfeisinger. Thersia Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Sept. 1769, buried in Strones, Osterreich, on 27 Nov. 1821; mar. in Dollersheim on 5 Feb. 1793 to Johannes Schickelgruber. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, chr. in Strones, Osterreich in April 1795, d. Klein-Motten 7 Jan. 1847, mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim, 10 May 1842. Alois Hitler mar. Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the HAGEN Family Johann Hagen born in 1646, d. in Nieder-Blottbach, Osterreich, buried in Dollersheim on 11 Feb. 1715; mar. in Dollersheim on 4 June 1680, Susanna Paner. Mar. 2nd in Dollersheim on 10 June 1698 Elisabeth Widmann. Their children, all christened in Dollersheim, were: 1. Elisabeth, chr. 28 July 1695. 2. Lorenz, chr. 21 July 1699. 3. Eva Maria, chr. 28 Dec. 1700 (twin). 4. Rosina, chr. 28 Dec. 1700 (twin). 5. Maria Elisabeth, chr. 24 July 1703. 6. Joseph (see below). 7. Gertrud, chr. 16 March 1708. 8. Regina, chr. 15 March 1711. 9. Anna Maria, chr. 7 Jan. 1714. Joseph Hagen, born in Flachau, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 12 March 1706, d. in Flachau, and buried in Dollersheim on 4 March 1776 age 73; mar. in Dollersheim on 21 Jan. 1738 to Barbara Reiter (or Reiterer)bom in Franzen, christened in Dollersheim on 3 Dec. 1704, d. in Flachau, and buried in Dollersheim on 1 March 1767; she was the daughter of Benedikt Reiterer (or Reidterer) and Sophia HoBer. (Benedikt Reiterer, bom in Mannshalm, and chr. in Dollersheim on 21 March 1668, mar. Sophia HoBer [or Hosser] in Dollersheim on 22 July 1696, was the son of Gregor Reiterer, who was born in 1624, buried in Dollersheim on 25 April 1684, and his wife, Ursula, who was born in 1630, and was buried in Dollersheim on 17 March 1670; Sophia HoBer, was chr. in Dollersheim on 27 April 1675, the daughter of Georg HoBer, who was born in 1632, buried in Dollersheim on 2 Sept. 1692, and his wife, Barbara, who was born in 1624, and buried in Dollersheim on 31 March 1694.) - 46 - Gertraut Hagen, born in Flachau, Osterreich and chr. in Dollersheim on 8 Jan. 1741, d. in Dietreichs 24 Oct. 1789, and buried in Dollersheim on 26 Oct. 1789; mar. in Dollersheim on 29 Jan 1765 Johannes Pfeisinger. Thersia Pfeisinger, born in Dietreichs, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 7 Sept. 1769, buried in Strones, Osterreich on 27 Nov. 1821; mar. in Dollersheim on 5 Feb. 1793 to Johannes Schickelgruber. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, chr. in Strones, Osterreich, in April 1795, d. Klein-Motten 7 Jan. 1847, mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim, 10 May 1842. Alois Hitler mar. Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the AMBSTOTTER Family Thomas Amstetter, d. in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich after 1652; mar. Barbara of Grofi- Wolfgers. Simon Amsteter, born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, in circa 1615, buried in Schweiggers on 18 Aug. 1713; mar. in Schweiggers on 23 Nov. 1653, Lucia Lauterpeckh (buried in Schweiggers on 13 July 1710, the daughter of Paulus and Maria Lauterpeckh of GroB-Wolfgers). Their children were: 1. Martin, chr. in Schweiggers 15 Oct. 1655. 2. Matthais, chr. in Schweiggers on 15 Feb. 1660. 3. Michael (see below). Michael Amstatter (Ambstotter), bom in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, in circa 1669, buried in Schweiggers 12 March 1746; mar. in Schweiggers 29 Aug. 1694 to Barbara Haan (buried in Schweiggers 11 May 1744), the daughter of Georg Haan (bom in circa 1633, d. in GroB-Wolfgers, buried in Schweiggers 16 Dec. 1693; mar. in Schweiggers 21 June 1654 to Maria Lauterbedch of GroB-Wolfgers, who d. in 1701, the daughter of Beit Lauterbedch, who was undoubtedly related to the above Paulus Lauterpeckh of GroB-Wolfgers, d. before 1685 in GroB-Wolfgers, and Susanna Haas, who d. in 1685. Georg Haan’s children were: 1. Gertrud, chr. in Schweiggers on 20 Feb. 1658. 2. Matthias, chr. In Schweiggers on 22 Feb. 1661. 3. Elisabeth, chr. in Schweiggers on 8 Nov. 1661. Georg Haan was the son of Leonhard Han who d. in GroB-Wolfgers before 1685, and his wife, Barbara, who also d. before 1685.) Michael and Barbara Amstatter’s children, all of whom were chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Andres, chr. 28 Aug. 1695. 2. Maria (see below). 3. Elisabeth, chr. 28 Sept. 1700. 4. Barbara, chr. 9 Nov. 1702. 5. Matthias, chr. 29 Jan. 1705. 6. Catharina, chr. 26 Nov. 1715. Maria Ambstotter, born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers 17 Jan. 1698, d. in 1768; mar. in Schweiggers 21 Nov. 1719 to Matthias Kauffmann, of GroB- Wolfgers. Anna Maria Kauffmann, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, 20 March 1728, d. in GroB- Wolfgers, and buried in Grofi-Schonau on 24 Dec. 1778; mar. Simon Stumpner of GroB- Wolfgers. - 47 - Anna Maria Stumpner, born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in GroB-Schonau 25 June 1770, d. in GroB-Wolfgers 26 Feb. 1842; mar. in GroB-Schonau on 23 Oct. 1787 Anton Wally of GroB-Wolfgers. Juliana Wallj, chr. in GroB-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich,, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Laurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich, 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau am Inn, Osterreich, 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the HINTERLECHNER Family Simon Hinterlechner and his wife, Maria, peasants farmers living in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich; he d. in Ober-Windhag in 1685. Their children, all chr. in GroB-Schonau, were: 1. Gregor (see below). 2. Matthias, chr. 11 Feb. 1652. 3. Agnes, chr. 12 Dec. 1653. 4. Maria, mar. on 26 June 1667 to Johann Windter, son of Leopold Windter. 5. Franz, living in 1683. Gregor Hinterlechner, farmer, b. ca. 1639 in Ober-Windhag, buried in GroB-Schonau 6 Sept. 1709, mar. 10 May 1672 in GroB-Schonau, Eva GraBauer (or Grasauer, b. ca. 1649, buried 6 June 1719 in GroB-Schonau) the daughter of Georg GraBauer, or Grossauer, and his wife, Regina, who were peasant farmers living in Mistelbach, Osterreich. (Georg and Regina GraBauer were the parents of the following children, all of whom were chr. in GroB-Schonau: 1. Eva (see above). 2. Martin, chr. 2 Nov. 1655. 3. Andreas, chr. 16 Nov. 1658. 4. Thomas, chr. 24 Nov. 1660. 5. Magdalena, chr. 9 Aug. 1664. 6. Michael, chr. 19 Sept. 1665. 7. Catharina, chr. 12 Sept. 1667. 8. Maria, chr. 14 Nov. 1669. 9. Gregor, chr. 30 Jan. 1673. Georg GraBauer was the son of Martin GraBauer of Mistelbach.) Gregor and Eva Hinterlechner’s children, all of whom were chr. in GroB-Schonau, were: 1. Matthias, chr. 27 Jan. 1675. 2. Maria, chr. 2 April 1676. 3. Joannes, chr. 22 Dec. 1677. 4. Georg, chr. 26 Feb. 1679. 5. Elisabeth, chr. 22 Aug. 1680. 6. Gregor, chr. 10 Feb. 1682. 7. Veronica, chr. 24 Jan. 1683, mar. 9 May 1718 in GroB-Schonau, Georg Befil (Polzl). 8. Gertraud, chr. 9 March 1685. 9. Matthias (see below). 10. Georg, chr. 24 March 1688. 11. Simon, chr. 16 Oct. 1690. Matthias Hinterlechner, born in Ober-Windhag, chr. in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich on 2 Oct. 1686, d. in Ober-Windhag, buried in GroB-Schonau 6 June 1752, mar. 19 Feb. 1715 Maria Fefil, chr. in GroB-Schonau 19 Jan. 1696, d. in St. Wolfgang 9 Dec. 1781, the daughter of Matthias Fefil (Fessl) and Ursula Grimis, who mar. in GroB-Schonau on 4 Feb. 1687. (Ursula was chr. in GroB-Schonau on 21 Sept. 1661 and buried in GroB-Schonau on 9 Feb. 1728, and was the daughter of Johann Grimis of Walterschlag, Osterreich, who mar. Catharina in GroB-Schonau on 19 March 1699; their children, all chr. in GroB-Schonau were 1. Elisabeth, chr. 22 Sept. 1659. 2. Ursula, chr. 21 Sept. 1661. 3. Joseph, chr. 17 March 1666. - 48 - 4. Catharina, chr. 8 Nov. 1671; Matthias Fefil was born in Wachtberg, Osterreich in circa 1639, d. in Ober-Windhag, and buried in GroB-Schonau on 29 July 1709. The children of Matthias Fefil, all of whom were chr. in GroB-Schonau, were: 1. Maria, chr. 13 June 1673. 2. Catharina, chr. 15 Nov. 1675. 3. Lorenz, chr. 3 Aug. 1678. 4. Philip. 5. Johann, chr. 19 Dec. 1682). The children of Matthias and Maria Hinterlechner, all chr. in GroB-Schonau, were: 1. Maria, chr. 3 June 1716, mar. Joseph Goldnagl. 2. Maria Magdalena, chr. 12 March 1719. 3. Elisabeth, chr. 5 June 1721. 4. Joseph, chr. 3 July 1722. 5. Philip, chr. 8 March 1725. 6. Magdalena, chr. 11 April 1728. 7. Magdalena, chr. 11 April 1735. 8. Paul, chr. 15 Jan. 1738. Philipp Hinterlechner, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, chr. in GroB-Schonau 8 March 1725, d. in Ober-Windhag 9 March 1806; mar. 13 Feb. 1753 in GroB-Schonau (witnesses Mathias Pollack and Leopold Polzl) Maria Elisabeth Pollack, daughter of Simon Pollack. Children, all chr. in GroB-Schonau: 1. Anna Maria, chr. 12 Jan. 1754. 2. Maria Anna, chr. 31 March 1755. 3. Joseph, chr. 20 March 1758. 4. Joannes, chr. 24 Dec. 1760. 5. Theresia (see below). Theresia Hinterlechner, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, chr. in GroB-Schonau, Osterreich on 20 April 1763 (a Simon and Anna Maria Hinterlechner stood as godparents), d. in Thaures 20 April 1839, age 77 years, buried in Thaures on 22 April; mar. in GroB-Schonau (his second wife), Joseph Tecker (or Decker) of Thaures. Eva Maria Decker, b. in Thaures, Osterreich, 16 Dec. 1792, d. in Spital, buried in Spital 30 Dec. 1873; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Hiittler). Johanna Hiedler, b. in Spital 19 Jan. 1830, buried in Spital on 10 Nov. 1906; mar. in Spital on 5 Sept. 1848 to Johann Baptist Polzl. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the POLLACK Family Georg Pollackh, a peasant living in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich in 1571. Thomas Polackh, a peasant farmer living in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, d. before 1695, mar. Eva, who d. in Ober-Windhag 3 May 1702, or 19 April 1712. Their children were: 1. Cordula. 2. Regina. 3. Paul. 4. Anton. 5. Matthias (see below). Matthias Pollackh, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich in circa 1653, d. in Ober- Windhag and buried in GroB-Schonau 6 Aug. 1709; mar. in GroB-Schonau on 22 Nov. 1678 to Christina Miillfahrt (buried in GroB-Schonau on 14 April 1727, the daughter of Urban and Maria Miillfahrt, or Miihlfahrt, of Bohmsdorf, Osterreich.) Their children, all of whom were chr. in GroB-Schonau, were: 1. Simon, chr. 8 Oct. 1679. 2. Caspar, chr. 1 Jan. 1682. 3. Paul, chr. 1 Jan 1686. 4. Anna, chr. 25 July 1689. 5. Andreas, chr. 29 Nov. 1691. 6. Adam, chr. 29 Nov. 1691 (twin). 7. Franz, chr. 4 Oct. 1694. 8. Matthias, chr. 13 Oct. 1694. - 49 - Simon Pollack, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 8 Oct. 1679, d. in Harmannstein and buried in Grofi-Schonau on 15 march 1752; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 20 Feb. 1718, Elisabeth Fiechtinger. Their children, all chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were: 1. Johann, chr. 18 June 1719, mar. 4 Feb. 1749 to Anna Maria Senckh. 2. Feopold, chr. 30 Oct. 1721, mar. 1 Feb. 1751 Magdalena Schmid. 3. Francis, chr. 1 July 1724, mar. 28 Aug. 1759 to Elisabeth Mayrhofer. 4. Maria Elisabeth, chr. 15 Jan. 1727. 5. Johann Georg, chr. 18 Nov. 1729. 6. Joseph, chr. 9 Feb. 1733, mar. 30 Jan. 1758 Juliana Polzl from Schizenberg. Maria Elisabeth Pollack, born in Hanuannstein, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 15 Jan. 1727, d. in Ober-Windhag at Nr. 6 on 31 July 1791, buried in St. Wolfgang; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 13 Nov. 1753 to Philipp Hinterlechner, a peasant of Ober-Windhag. Theresia Hinterlechner, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau, Osterreich on 20 April 1763, d. in Thaures 20 April 1839; mar. in Grofi-Schonau as his second wife, Joseph Tecker (or Decker) of Thaures. Eva Maria Decker, b. in Thaures, Osterreich, 16 Dec. 1792, d. in Spital, buried in Spital 30 Dec. 1873; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Huttler). Johanna Hiedler, b. in Spital 19 Jan. 1830, buried in Spital on 10 Nov. 1906; mar. in Spital on 5 Sept. 1848 to Johann Baptist Polzl. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. I860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the FIECHTINGER Family Andreas Fichtinger (or Fiechtinger) born in Harmannstein, Osterreich, d. in Harmannstein, buried in Grofi-Schonau 30 Nov. 1700; mar. Eva, widow of Simon Mahrhofer of Harmannstein. Wolfgang Fiechtinger, a peasant living in Harmannstein, Osterreich after 1650. Andreas Fiechtinger, born in Harmannstein, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 13 March 1662, d. in Ober-Windhag, and buried in Grofi-Schonau 14 April 1727; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 27 Jan. 1688 to Elisabeth Haider (chr. in Grofi-Schonau 30 Sept. 1659, d. in Harmannstein, and buried in Grofi-Schonau 11 Nov. 1740; she was the daughter of Bartholomaus Haider, who d. in Harmannstein and was buried in Grofi-Schonau on 9 Jan 1702, and his wife, Susanna, who d. before 30 June 1671. Bartholomaus Haider’s children, all of whom were chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were: 1. Gregor, chr. 2 March 1653. 2. Johann, chr. 14 June 1654. 3. Maria, chr. 20 March 1656. 4. Martin, chr. 6 Sept. 1657. 5. Elisabeth, chr. 30 Sept. 1659. 6. Georg, chr. 7 April 1662. 7. Ursula, chr. 26 Feb. 1665. 8. Magdalena, chr. 10 July 1666. 9. Matthias, chr. 8 Sept. 1670.) Andreas and Elisabeth Fiechtinger’s children, all of whom were chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were: 1. Maria Magdalena, chr. 19 July 1690, mar. 24 June 1710 to Michael Mahrhoffer in Grofi-Schonau. 2. Maria, chr. 22 Oct. 1691. 3. Barbara, chr. 21 Oct. 1693, mar. - 50 - Michael Weifi on 1 May 1714 in Grofi-Schonau. 4. Elisabeth, chr. 7 April 1696. 5. Magdalena, chr. 12 July 1700. Elisabeth Fiechtinger born in Harmannstein, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 7 April 1696, d. in Harmannstein and buried in Grofi-Schonau 10 June 1764; mar. in Grofi-Schonau on 20 Feb. 1718 to Simon Pollack of Harmannstein. Maria Elisabeth Pollack, bom in Harmannstein, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 8 March 1725, d. in Ober-Windhag 9 March 1806 age 61 years; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 13 Nov. 1753 to Philipp Hinterlechner, a peasant of Ober-Windhag. Theresia Hinterlechner, born in Ober-Windhag, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau, Osterreich on 20 April 1763, d. in Thaures 20 April 1839; mar. in Grofi-Schonau as his second wife, Joseph Tecker (or Decker) of Thaures. Eva Maria Decker, b. in Thaures, Osterreich, 16 Dec. 1792, d. in Spital, buried in Spital 30 Dec. 1873; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Huttler). Johanna Hiedler, b. in Spital 19 Jan. 1830, buried in Spital on 10 Nov. 1906; mar. in Spital on 5 Sept. 1848 to Johann Baptist Polzl. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the LEDEMULLER Family Sebastian Ledermuller, a peasant farmer in Hohenau, buried in Dobersberg, Osterreich 14 Oct. 1676, mar. Veronika, who died ca. 1664. Their children were: 1. Martin. 2. Stephan, buried in Grofi-Schonau 25 March 1709. 3. Thomas, buried in Grofi-Schonau 24 April 1702, d. in Grofi-Schonau 21 Feb. 1718, mar. 24 Feb. 1664 to Sophia Froschauer. 4. Magdalena, mar. in Grofi-Schonau 9 June 1671 to Matthias Schon. Martin Ledermuller, a peasant farmer in Spital, died after 1709, mar. Margaretha. Franz Ledermuller, a peasant in Spital. Franz Ledermuller, a peasant in Spital Nr. 29; mar. in ca. 1760 Elisabeth. Thersia Ledermuller, b. in Spital Nr. 29 between 1761 and 1765, d. in Spital Nr. 37 on 16 Aug. 1825, buried in Spital on 18 Aug. 1825, mar. Johann Polzl of Spital in ca. 1781. Laurenz Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 15 July 1788, d. in Spital 10 April 1841 (his death notice reads „Gestorben den 10 April 1841, begraben den 12 April: Lorenz Polzl, Bauer in Spital 37, gebiirtig von hier, 52 Jahre 9 Monate alt, an Gedarmbrand.“ He mar. in Spital on 20 Feb. 1827 to Juliana Wall), who was the mother of the below, Johann Baptist Polzl. After the death of his wife he mar. on 17 July 1831 to Antonia Markhard, the dau. of Franz Markhard -51 - of Sulz. By this marriage he had four children all of whom were born dead. (Antonia Markhard Polzl mar. 2nd to Laurenz Hiedler, the son of Martin Hiedler.) Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, chr. 25 May 1828, d. at Nr. 24 in Spital 9 Jan. 1902 and buried in Spital on 11 January; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the KOPPENSTEINER Family Georg Koppensteiner, b. circa 1610, d. in Unter-Windhag, Osterreich, buried in Rieggers on 22 March 1666, mar. as his 2nd wife in Schweiggers on 23 Nov. 1649, Sophia Grabnitzer (or Gradnitzer), the daughter of Thomas Grabnitzer of Strahlbach, and his wife, Margaretha. Matthias Koppensteiner, b. in Unter-Windhag, Osterreich in circa 1651, d. in Mannshalm and buried in Schweiggers 19 Jan. 1725; mar. in Schweiggers to Catharina Pfeiffer.Magdalena Koppensteiner, d. in Schweiggers on 1 September 1747 aged 71 years; mar. Johannes Weilli in Schweiggers 23 Nov. 1700. Leopold Wally (or Wallj), farmer, born in Reinbolden, chr. in Schweiggers 12 Nov. 1709, d. in Rothfahrn, buried in Grofi-Schonau 16 Feb. 1783; mar. Magdalena Fux. Hans Michael Wally, born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, d. in Wetzles 16 April 1810, buried in Weitra 18 April; mar. in 1759, Anna Maria Haubner. Anton Wally, chr. in Weitra, Osterreich, 9 March 1768, d. in GroB-Wolsgers on 6 Feb. 1812; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 23 Oct. 1787 Anna Maria Stumpner, daughter of Johannes Simon Stumpner. Juliana Wallj, b. in Grofi-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Laurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. - 52 - Another Descent of Adolf Hitler From the KOPPENSTEINER Family (Note: the below family is undoubtedly related to the above Koppensteiner family, although a connection has not been determined.) Wolfgang Koppensteiner of Landrichterhof, who lived in 1548. Stephan Koppensteiner, who d. in Landrichterhof in 1616; mar. Barbara. Andreas Koppensteiner, who d. in Landrichterhof before 1685, mar. Maria, who was buried in Schweiggers on 18 May 1690. Gregor Koppensteiner, b. in Landrichterhof, Osterreich in circa 1635, buried in Schweiggers 16 Feb. 1717, mar. in Schweiggers on 3 Oct. 1662 to Catharina Lautterbecth (b. in Grofi-Wolfgers in ca. 1636, buried in Schweiggers on 27 July 1716. She was undoubtedly related to Matthias Lautterbockh of Schweiggers, who was Adolf Hitler’s ancestor. See Artner family.) Their children: 1. Martin, d. in Siebenlinden 11 May 1741, mar. Maria Weber. 2. Barbara (see below). 3. Maria, mar. 30 Jan. 1701 Matthias Deibler. 4. Georg, d. in Siebenlinden 20 April 1733, mar. Catharina, mar. 2nd Maria Anderle. Barbara Koppensteiner, born in Grofi-Wolfgers in circa 1672, buried in Schweiggers on 8 Feb. 1742; mar. in Schweiggers on 5 Feb. 1686 to Bartholomaus Stumpner (or Stumptner). Andreas Stumpner, bom in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers on 24 Nov. 1694, d. in Grofi-Wolfgers and buried in Schweiggers on 8 April 1757; mar. in Schweiggers on 8 Nov. 1718 to Maria Magdalena Anderl. (Johannes) Simon Stumpner, born in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers 9 Oct. 1731, d. in Grofi-Wolfgers and buried in Grofi-Schonau on 24 Nov. 1787; mar. in Schweiggers 30 Jan. 1753 to Anna Maria Kauffmann. Anna Maria Stumpner, born in Grofi-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi-Schonau 25 June 1770, d. in Grofi-Wolfgers 26 Feb. 1842, buried in Siebenlinden on 1 March 1842; mar. in Grofi-Schonau on 23 Oct. 1787 Anton Wally of Grofi-Wolfgers. Juliana Wall), chr. in Grofi-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Laurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. - 53 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the SILLIP Family Andreas Sillip buried in Dollersheim 14 Sept. 1733. He mar. a peasant girl named Elisabeth. Their children, ah chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Maria, chr. 18 Feb. 1682; 2. Martin, chr. 10 Nov. 1684; 3. Ursula, chr. 10 Sept. 1688, buried in Dollersheim 10 Sept. 1688, mar. Paul Hamberger of Nieder-Plottbach, Osterreich, in Dollersheim on 27 Oct. 1765 (note: both Ursula and her brother, Matthias Sillip, were ancestors of Adolf Hitler; see the Hamberger family chart for more details); 4. Juliana, chr. 7 Jan. 1691; 5. Catharina, chr. 22 Oct. 1694; 6. Matthias (see below); 7. Adam, chr. 14 Nov. 1698. Matthias Sillip b. in Klein-Motten, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 22 Feb. 1696, d. in Klein-Motten, buried in Dollersheim 6 March 1772; mar. in Dollersheim 30 Jan. 1724 Eva Maria Klezl (Andreas Schiedl witness). (Eva Maria Klezl was born in Niederplottbach, and chr. in Dollersheim, Osterreich on 25 Oct. 1700, d. in Klein-Motten and buried in Dollersheim on 25 Feb. 1769. She was the daughter of Thomas Klezl, chr. in Dollersheim, Osterreich on 28 Nov. 1664, d. in Klein-Motten, buried in Dollersheim on 7 Aug. 1719 and mar. 4 Feb. 1698 to Elisabeth Koller. Thomas Klezl was the son of Thomas Klezl, bom in 1624, d. in Dietreichs, and buried in Dollersheim on 25 Dec. 1684, and his wife, Christina, who was buried in Dollersheim on 1 Feb. 1692. Their children, all b. in Dietreichs and chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Georg, chr. 24 March 1653. 2. Ursula, chr. 7 Oct. 1655. 3. Gregor, chr. 11 March 1658. 4. Jacob, chr. 28 April 1659. 5. Matthias, chr. 12 Jan. 1662. 6. Thomas, chr. 28 Nov. 1664. 7. Gotthard, chr. 30 April 1667. 8. Regina, chr. 1 March 1671.) The children of Matthias and Eva Sillip were, 1. Theresia. 2. Johann. 3. Joseph. Theresia Sillip was bom in Klein-Motten in 1722, d. in Strones on 7 December 1814, buried in Dollersheim on 9 Dec. Married Jacob Schickelgruber in Dollersheim on 14 Nov. 1747. Johann Schickelgruber, b. in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 29 May 1764 in d. 12 November 1847 in Klein-Motten, buried in Dollersheim on 14 Nov.; mar. in Dollersheim 5 Feb. 1793, Thersia Pfeisinger. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, born at Nr. 1 in Strones, Osterreich at 6 a.m. on 15 April 1795 and chr. at 9 a.m. the same day in the parish church at Dollersheim (her godparent was Anna Maria Sillip, who was obviously some relation to the above family). She mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim on 10 May 1842. Maria Anna Schickelgruber Hiedler d. at Nr. 4 (the home of a Sillip cousin) in Klein-Motten on 7 Jan. 1847 of consumption (tuberculosis), and was buried on 9 January. Alois Hitler, born in Strones, Osterreich in peasant holding Nr. 13, which was the home of Johann Trummelschlager, on 7 June 1837 at 11:30 a.m., he was chr. in Dollersheim on 7 June 1837 as Aloys Schicklgruber, with Johann and Josepha Trummelschlager acting as godparents; he d. on 3 Jan. 1903 and is buried in Feonding, Osterreich. Alois Hitler mar. as his third wife at Braunau am Inn on 7 Jan. 1885, his cousin Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. - 54 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the HEYMULLER Family Friedrich Heyrniiller, farmer of Unser Frau, who was buried there on 6 March 1683, and mar. Elisabeth, who was buried in Unser Frau on 18 Nov. 1693. The children, all of whom were chr. in Unser Frau, were: 1. Johann, chr. 15 June 1658. 2. Thomas, chr. 12 Dec. 1659. 3. Andreas, chr. 20 Nov. 1662. 4. Veronica, chr. 17 Jan. 1665. 5. Fucia, chr. 12 Dec. 1666. 6. Gregor, chr. 1 March 1669. 7. Regina, chr. 21 Aug. 1670. 8. Jacob, chr. 1 July 1672. Jacob Heyrniiller, farmer, b. in Unser Frau and chr. on 1 July 1672, d. in Unser Frau on 2 March 1706, and mar. in Unser Frau as his 1st wife, Anna Maria Tobias; mar. in Unser Frau as his 2nd wife on 11 June 1697, Elisabeth Schwarzinger, who was chr. in Weitra on 16 March 1678, and was the daughter of Beit Schwarzinger, a miller in Wultschau, who mar. Susanna (buried in Weitra on 12 Aug. 1708). Jacob and Elisabeth Heymullner had the following children, all chr. in Unser Frau: 1. Regina, chr. 20 April 1694. 2. Matthias, chr. 11 Dec. 1695. 3. Phillipp, chr. 4 April 1698. 4. Eva, chr. 24 June 1699. 5. Joseph, chr. 11 Feb. 1702. 6. Rosina, chr. 1 May 1703. 7. Anna Maria, chr. 8 July 1705. Eva Heymuller, b. and chr. in Unser Frau on 24 June 1699, d. in Zehenthof, buried in Waldenstein on 22 Aug. 1756; mar. 26 June 1718 to Thomas Haubner (b. and chr. in Unser Frau, Osterreich, chr. 20 Dec. 1695, buried in Waldenstein on 9 Feb. 1782), the son of Jacob Haubner and Fucia (buried in Unser Frau on 24 may 1731). Anna Maria Haubner, b. in Zehenthof, Osterreich, and chr. in Schweiggers on 20 Feb. 1729, d. in Wetzles at Nr. 20 on 4 Oct. 1793, and buried in Weitra on 6 Oct. 1793; mar. in 1759 to Hans Michael Wally, born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, d. in Wetzles 16 April 1810, buried in Weitra 18 April. Anton Wally, chr. in Weitra, Osterreich, 9 March 1768, d. in GroB-Wolsgers on 6 Feb. 1812; mar. in GroB-Schonau 23 Oct. 1787 Anna Maria Stumpner, daughter of Johannes Simon Stumpner. Juliana Wall), b. in GroB-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Faurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Feonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Feonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. - 55 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the SCHIEDL Family Johann Schiedl, farmer, born in Strones in circa 1616, buried in Dollersheim on 16 Dec. 1666; mar. Elisabeth, who was buried in Dollersheim on 30 March 1673. Andreas Schiedl b. in Strones in 1647, buried in Dollersheim on 7 Feb. 1693, mar. in Dollersheim on 1 May 1667 to Rosina Knedl, the daughter of Hans and Maria Knedl of Franzen. Their children, all chr. in Dollersheim, were: 1. Maria chr. 30 Oct. 1666. 2. Sophia, chr. 16 Feb. 1669. 3. Martha, chr. 16 July 1671. 4. Elisabeth, chr. 20 Sept. 1673. 5. Elisabeth, chr. 17 Jan. 1678. 6. Barbara, chr. 8 March 1681. 7. Joannes, chr. 8 May 1682. 8. Margaretha, chr. 14 July 1686. 9. Mattheus, 20 Aug. 1689. 10. Eva, chr. 27 July 1692. Eva Schiedl, b. in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim on 27 July 1692, d. in Strones and buried in Dollersheim on 10 July 1738; mar. 12 April 1712 to Jacob Schiklgrueber (or Schicklgrueber), farmer, born in Strones. Their children, all christened in Dollersheim, were: 1. Anna Maria, chr. 27 Aug. 1713. 2. Anna Maria, chr. 16 March 1715. 3. Bartholomaus, chr. 25 Aug. 1716 (twin). 4. Joseph, chr. 25 Aug. 1716 (twin). 5. Jacob, chr. 10 July 1721. 6. Jacob, chr. 8 July 1722. Jacob Schickelgruber, fanner, bom in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 8 July 1722, d. in Strones 3 Oct. 1806, buried in Waldreichs, Osterreich, 5 Oct. 1806; mar. in Dollersheim 14 Nov. 1747 Theresia Sillip, the daughter of Matthias Sillip and Eva Maria Klezl. Johann Schickelgruber, b. in Strones, Osterreich, chr. in Dollersheim 29 May 1764 in d. 12 November 1847 in Klein-Motten, buried in Dollersheim on 14 Nov.; mar. in Dollersheim 5 Feb. 1793, Thersia Pfeisinger. Maria Anna Schickelgruber, bom at Nr. 1 in Strones, Osterreich at 6 a.m. on 15 April 1795 and chr. at 9 a.m. the same day in the parish church at Dollersheim (her godparent was Anna Maria Sillip). She mar. Johann Georg Hiedler in Dollersheim on 10 May 1842. Maria Anna Schickelgruber Hiedler d. at Nr. 4 in Klein-Motten on 7 Jan. 1847 of consumption (tuberculosis), and was buried on 9 January. Alois Hitler, born in Strones, Osterreich in peasant holding Nr. 13, which was the home of Johann Trummelschlager, on 7 June 1837 at 11:30 a.m., he was chr. in Dollersheim on 7 June 1837 as Aloys Schicklgruber, with Johann and Josepha Trummelschlager acting as godparents; he d. on 3 Jan. 1903 and is buried in Leonding, Osterreich. Alois Hitler mar. as his third wife at Braunau am Inn on 7 Jan. 1885, his cousin Klara Polzl, daughter of Johann Polzl and his wife, Johanna Hiedler. - 56 - The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the KAUFFMANN Family Paul Kaufmann, buried in Schweiggers 4 June 1731, mar. Elisabeth, buried in Schweiggers 21 Dec. 1739. Their children, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Maria, chr. 20 Aug. 1686. 2. Matthias, chr. 21 Feb. 1692. 3. Joseph, chr. 6 Feb. 1695. 4. Joseph, chr. 22 March 1697. 5. Magdalena, chr. 14 May 1702. 6. Justina, chr. 24 April 1706. Matthias Kauffmann chr. in Schweiggers 21 Feb. 1692, buried in Schweiggers 28 Dec. 1768, mar. in Schweiggers 21 Nov. 1719 to Maria Ambstotter. Their children, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Faurentz, chr. 11 July 1720. 2. Magdalena, chr. 18 Jan. 1722. 3. Joseph, chr. 6 Feb. 1724. 4. Magdalena, chr. 12 Feb. 1726. 5. Anna Maria, chr. 20 March 1728. 6. Catharina, chr. 18 Oct. 1729. 7. Franz, chr. 21 Nov. 1731. 8. Georg, chr. 3 March 1735. Anna Maria Kauffmann, bom in Grofi-Wolfgers, chr. in Schweiggers 20 March 1728, buried in GroB-Schonau 24 Dec. 1778, mar. in Schweiggers 30 Jan. 1753 to Johannes) Simon Stumpner. Their children, all chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Theresia, chr. 30 July 1754. 2. Joannes, chr. 1 Dec. 1756. 3. Michael, chr. 9 Sept. 1760. 4. Anna Maria, chr. 28 Dec. 1762. 5. Thersia, chr. 3 Oct. 1764. 6. Magdalena, chr. 18 June 1767. 7. Anna Maria, chr. 25 June 1770. Anna Maria Stumpner, born in GroB-Wolfgers, Osterreich, chr. in GroB-Schonau 25 June 1770, d. in GroB-Wolfgers 26 Feb. 1842, buried in Siebenlinden on 1 March 1842; mar. in GroB-Schonau on 23 Oct. 1787 Anton Wally of GroB-Wolfgers. Juliana Wall), chr. in GroB-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Faurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Huttler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Feonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Feonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the ARTNER Family Martin Artner, a farmer in GroB-Wolfgers, b. ca. 1638, d. in GroB-Wolfgers, buried in Schweiggers 3 Sept. 1734, mar. in Schweiggers 21 Nov. 1670 to Catharina Stumpner (b in Grofi-Wolfgers, buried in Schweiggers on 3 Sept. 1734), the dau. of Andreas and Maria Stumpner. Johann Artner, fanner, b. 1685, buried in GroB-Schonau 24 May 1743 (or 1745), mar. 2 May 1717 in Schweiggers) Magdalena Fautterbockh who was b. in Grofi-Wolfgers, d. in Thaures and buried in GroB-Schonau 18 Nov. 1737. (She was the daughter of Matthias - 57 - Lautterbockh [buried in Schweiggers on 29 July 1718 age 80 years, and who was undoubtedly related to Catharina Lautterbecth, who was Adolf Hitler’s ancestor. See Koppensteiner family] and Catharina Arthner [buried in Schweiggers on 18 Aug. 1699, age 69 years] who mar. in Schweiggers on 27 Feb. 1661. [Note: Catharina Arthner lived in GroB-Wolfgers as did Martin Artner. She was born in circa 1636, and he in circa 1638. They were undoubtedly related.] The children of Johann and Magdalena Artner, the first three chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Matthias, chr. 9 Jan. 1718 [twin], 2. Joseph, chr. 9, Jan 1718 [twin], 3. Elisabeth, chr. 12 Nov. 1720. 4. Anton, chr. in GroB- Schonau 12 April 1730. 5. Anna Maria, chr. in Grofi- Schonau 23 Jan. 1732. 6. Joseph, chr. in Grofi-Schonau on 3 March 1734.) Elisabeth Artner (or Ardner), b. GroB-Wolfgers, chr. in Schweiggers 12 Nov. 1720, mar. in Schweiggers on 13 May 1743 to Martin Docker (or Decker, Tecker, Dockher, Toker). The children of Martin and Elisabeth Docker (all chr. in Grofi-Schonau) were: 1. Matthias, chr. 24 Feb. 1744, mar. Elisabeth Tiichler 21 Jan. 1765. 2. Johann Georg, chr. 8 April 1747. 3. Anna Maria, chr. 27 Jan 1750. 4. Joseph (see below). 5. Gregor, chr. 12 March 1756. 6. Unnamed female, chr. 4 March 1761. Joseph Tecker (or Tocker, Docker or Decker), bom Thaures, Osterreich, chr. in Grofi- Schonau 2 March 1753, d. in Thaures, 14 Oct. 1825, buried in Grofi-Schonau; mar. as his second wife on 25 May 1785 in Grofi-Schonau, Theresia Hinterlechner, the daughter of Philipp Hinterlechner. Their children, all born Thaures and chr. in Grofi-Schonau, were, 1. Magdalena, chr. 9 July 1786. 2. Martin, chr. 23 Sept. 1788. 3. Eva Maria (see below). 4. Sebastian, chr. 2 Jan. 1795. 5. Anton, chr. 25 May 1799. 6. Josepha, chr. 11 Nov. 1800. Eva Maria Decker, b. at Nr. 9 in Thaures, Osterreich, 16 Dec. 1792, chr. 16 Dec. godparent was Magdalena Weissin, d. in Spital 28 Dec. 1878, buried in Spital 30 Dec. 1873; mar. in Spital 3 Nov. 1829 Johann Nepomuk Hiedler (Hiittler). Johanna Hiedler, b. in Spital 19 Jan. 1830, buried in Spital on 10 Nov. 1906; mar. in Spital on 5 Sept. 1848 to Johann Baptist Polzl. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. The Descent of Adolf Hitler From the PFEIFFER Family Georg Pfeiffer of Siebenlinden, and his wife, Magdalena Alrich Pfeiffer, bom in circa 1622, buried in Schweiggers on 15 March, 1702, mar. in Schweiggers 26 Nov. 1647 to Margaretha Pold- erle (d in Siebenlinden, buried in Schweiggers on 11 Dec. 1694), the daughter of Nicholaus Polderle of Schwarzenba, and his wife, Susanna. Their children, all of whom were chr. in Schweiggers, were: 1. Eva, chr. 10 Dec. 1648. 2. Catharina (see below). 3. Johann, chr. 24 Dec. 1654. 4. Maria, chr. 23 Feb. 1657. 5. Georg, chr. 21 April 1658. 6. Magdalena, chr. 30 April 1661 Catharina Pfeiffer, chr. in Schweiggers on 8 June 1652, d. in Mannshalm in 1729, mar. 1st Andreas Georg Fux of Reinbolden; mar. 2nd Matthias Koppensteiner. - 58 - Magdalena Koppensteiner, d. in Schweiggers on 1 September 1747 aged 71 years; mar. Johannes Weilli in Schweiggers 23 Nov. 1700. Leopold Wally (or Wallj), farmer, bom in Reinbolden, chr. in Schweiggers 12 Nov. 1709, d. in Rothfahrn, buried in Grofi-Schonau 15 Feb. 1783; mar. Magdalena Fux. Hans Michael Wally, born in Reinbolden, Osterreich, chr. in Schweiggers, Osterreich, d. in Wetzles 16 April 1810, buried in Weitra 18 April; mar. in 1759, Anna Maria Haubner. Anton Wally, chr. in Weitra, Osterreich, 9 March 1768, d. in GroB-Wolsgers on 6 Feb. 1812; mar. in Grofi-Schonau 23 Oct. 1787 Anna Maria Stumpner, daughter of Johannes Simon Stumpner. Juliana Wallj, b. in GroB-Walsgers 25 Dec. 1797, d. in Spital, Osterreich, 23 Feb. 1831; mar. in Spital 20 Nov. 1827 to Laurenz Polzl of Spital. Johann Baptist Polzl, b. in Spital, Osterreich 24 May 1828, d. in Spital 9 Jan. 1902, buried in Spital 11 Jan.; mar. in Spital 5 Sept. 1848 to Johanna Hiedler, or Hiittler, daughter of Johann Nepomuk Hiedler of Spital. Klara Polzl, chr. in Spital, Osterreich 12 Aug. 1860, d. in Leonding, Osterreich 21 Dec. 1907, buried in Leonding; mar. in Braunau Am Inn, Osterreich 7 Jan. 1885, Alois Hitler, son of Johann Georg Hiedler of Spital. Appendix I Some Hitler biographers declare or at least imply a Slavic ancestry for the Hitler family. (See Robert Payne’s The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, p. 3 for example.) Noted Hitler biographer Joachim C. Fest goes even further and, after stating that the name „Hitler, Hiedler, or Hiittler is probably of Czech origin", offers the Czech surnames „Hidlar and „Hidlarcek“ as examples to back his allegation. To give is suggestion added weight he also mentions the close proximity of the Waldviertel to Bohemia. (Joachim C. Fest, Hitler, translated from the German by Richard and Clara Winston. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1973, p. 15.) From a genealogical point of view Fest’s allegation is pure nonsense. Similar sounding surnames do not of themselves prove a connection one with the other. This author can use his own surname as an example. Konder is derived from the small German village of Cond (or Kond), which is today a suburb of Cochem. When the family moved to Schweich (a small village about ten miles outside of Trier) sometime before the seventeenth century, they took the surname Konder (variously spelled Conder, Konter, Gonder, etc., the reason for which is explained in footnote 7). Significantly the surname Conder is found in England, but research there clearly shows that the English surname has no connection to its German counterpart (in England Conder is derived from an old English occupation). Moreover, there are names similar to Konder in other parts of Europe, notably in Scandinavia, France and Eastern Europe. To the knowledge of this author no historian has ever tried to genealogically connect a Czech family to the Hitler family of Austria. Therefore, aside from the similarity of Hidlar to Hiedler and the close proximity of the Waldviertel to Bohemia, it would seem that the primary reason for Herr Fest and his associates to make allegations of a Czech origin for the - 59 - Hitler family is to ridicule the racially conscious National Socialist Fiihrer through his family. In that regard it is interesting that Herr Fest doesn’t mention that the Waldviertel is also close to the border of Germany and that the surname Hiedler/Hitler and its variants are found well established in several German States. (For example, Adela Sabina Hidler who married 14 Nov 1443 in Schwarzenberg, Sachsen; Georg Hitler chr. 28 June 1698 in Wiirttemberg; Anna Catharina Hitler, mar. 18 May 1734 in the Rheinland; Gregor Heidler born in 1710 in Baden; Adam Christian Hidler christened in 1721 in Kirchberg, Sachsen; and Adolf Heidler, christened on 5 Feb 1817 in Posema, Sachsen.) Indeed, even if one could connect the German/Austrian Hiedlers to Czechoslovakia it could easily be argued that the surname found its way to Bohemia during the centuries when large numbers of Germans were making their homes in the lands east of Germany. (Bohemia has a particularly long, involved Germanic history.) The following examples of Bohemian Germans will illustrate the point: Anna Theresia Heidler, daughter of Christoph and Maria Anna Fuchs, was christened in 1800 in Bemau, Nejdek, Bohemia; Anna Theresia Heidler, daughter of Martin and Anna Barbara Heidler, was christened in 1770 in Ahomswald, Nejdek, Bohemia; Anna Elisabeth Heidler was bom 1775 in Ahornswald, Nejdek, Bohemia to Martin and Anna Maria Rodig; Anton Heidler was born in 1770 in Neu Hammer, Nejdek, Bohemia, son of Anton and Barbara Zettel Heidler; Josef Heidler married 11 May 1857 to Anna Richter in Neudeck, Bohemia; Maria Anna Heidler married in 1843 to Anton Hannewald in Hirschenstad, Neudeck, Bohemia; and Adolf Heidler who was born 1 Nov 1867 Neudeck, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. German Hitlers not only emigrated to Bohemia but also to other nations, such as France (examples are Georg Hitler, bom in Bas-Rhin, France in 1755; and Catherine Huttler, who was born 12 June 1818 in Gunstett, Bas-Rhin, France to Ignatz Hittler and Anna Maria Bern- hart); they are found in Switzerland (examples are Barbli Hidler, bom in ca. 1551 in Bern, Switzerland; and Anna Hidler, bom in ca. 1632 in Bern); they emigrated to Estonia (an example is Aleksander Heidler born on 27 Oct 1878 in Estonia); they emigrated to Norway (an example is Georg Erhard Heitler who married on 25 Mar 1765 in Fiskum, Norway). It also might be of interest to note that the surname Hitler, like this author’s own surname, is also found in England. For example Thomas Hitler was christened in 1719 in Worcester; there is a Hannah Hittler who married in 1733 in Cheshire; James Hittler who married in 1720 in Cheshire; a Margaret Hitler was born in Lancashire in 1700; and Thomas Hitler was christened in 1769 in Durham. The surnames Hitler and/or Hiedler/Heidler is also found well-established in America’s German communities, notably those in Ohio and Pennsylvania (an example is Thomas Ludwig Hitler, born 4 Apr 1842 in Pickaway County, Ohio). In all fairness, Herr Fest likely borrowed his suggestion of a Czech surname origin from an earlier argument put forward by the fanatical anti-Hitler writer Franz Jetzinger, who hypothesizes that Hitler is derived from a Czech surname - an argument that he largely bases on German grammar and spellings. This argument is answered by a fact of which perhaps Jetzinger forgot: There were no established spelling rules in Europe or the British Isles during the centuries when surnames were being formed - names, like words, were simply spelled the way they sounded! See Franz Jetzinger’s book, Hitler’s Youth, p. 32. - 60 - Appendix II It is generally agreed by Britain’s leading historians that Sir Winston Churchill’s wife, Clementine Hozier, was conceived during an adulterous affair between her mother, Lady Blanche Ogilvy Hozier and, perhaps, Blanche’s brother-in-law, Bertram Mitford, Baron Redesdale, who was married to Blanche’s sister Clementina Ogilvy. Blanche Ogilvy Hozier was notorious for her extramarital affairs and it is impossible to pinpoint the real father of Clementine Hozier Churchill, although Bertram Mitford remains the prime candidate for most historians. It is of interest to note that Bertram and Clementina Ogilvy Mitford were the parents of Unity Mitford - making her either Winston Churchill’s cousin by marriage, or his sister-in-law if Bertram Mitford was Clementine’s father. The reason this is of interest is because Unity Mitford became one of Churchill’s greatest family embarrassments after she became an active supporter of Adolf Hitler. Indeed, she often traveled to Germany where she became closely acquainted with the German Fiihrer. Another Mitford daughter, Diana, married Sir Oswald Mosley, the leader of England’s „Black Shirts,“ or National Socialists. They were married in Berlin in the presence of Josef Goebbels and were toasted in a private dinner afterward by Reichskanzler Hitler. Uncle Winston Churchill’s wedding gift was to have the couple thrown in prison for the duration of the war. This example can be extended to Winston Churchill’s mother, Jennie Jerome, an American whose father made his fortune as a Rothschild agent. Jennie Jerome Churchill is remembered in history for her numerous sexual affairs (some historians believe that John Strange Spencer Churchill, Winston’s brother, was a product of Jennie’s affair with the fifth Earl of Roden, John Strange Jocelyn). However Jennie Churchill’s behavior is understandable since her husband, Lord Randolph Churchill, was equally notorious in virtually all aspects of his life. (Lord Randolph, the son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, was a well-known womanizing alcoholic who died of syphilis and deeply in debt to the Rothschild family.) Indeed, the entire Churchill family history can be summed up in the words of Queen Victoria’s famous Prime Minister, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, who, in 1882, expressed the generally held view of the English nation: „There never was a Churchill from John [the first Duke] of Marlborough down that had either morals or principles/ 4 This information is presented here not to discredit the Churchill family, but as an example of the double standard employed by World War Two historians in their treatment of the Hitler family history. Whereas most Hitler biographers often accept and include as fact numerous degrading rumors about the Hitler family in their works, few if any Churchill biographers mention the tangle of infamy surrounding the Churchill ancestry. Appendix III The threat posed by international Jewry during the era Adolf Hitler was struggling to save his nation from a Communist revolution is ably summed up by no less a personage than Winston S. Churchill. In a House of Commons speech delivered on 5 November 1919 he said: „Certainly I dispute the title of the Bolsheviks to represent Russia.... No sooner did Lenin arrive than he began beckoning a finger here and a finger there to obscure persons in sheltered retreats in New York, in Glasgow, in Beme and other countries, and he gathered together the leading spirits of a most formidable sect - the most formidable sect in the world.“ -61 - In a 8 February 1920 article for a London newspaper, the Illustrated Sunday Herald, Mr. Churchill openly identified the „most formidable sect“ of whom he spoke: „This movement among the Jews is not new. From the days of Spartacus-Weishaupt to those of Karl Marx, and down to Trotsky (Russia), Bela Kun (Hungary), Rosa Luxemburg (Germany), and Emma Goldman (United States), this world-wide conspiracy for the overthrow of civilization and for the reconstitution of society on the basis of arrested development, of envious malevolence, and impossible equality, has been steadily growing. It played, as a modem writer, Mrs. [Nesta] Webster has ably shown, a definitely recognizable part in the tragedy of the French Revolution. It has been the mainspring of every subversive movement during the nineteenth century; and now at last this band of extraordinary personalities from the under worlds of the great cites of Europe and America have gripped the Russian people by the hair of their heads and have become practically the undisputed masters of that enormous empire. There is no need to exaggerate the part played in the creation of Bolshevism and in the actual bringing about of the Russian Revolution by these inter-national and for the most part atheistical Jews.“ It should be understood that among the top 556 leaders of the so called Russian Revolution, historians have discovered that 457 were Jews, a number that includes Vladimir Lenin. Moreover, the financing for Lenin’s revolution came chiefly from wealthy Jews in New York City and Germany. This information is important because the same international Jewish backers who brought about the „Russian Revolution 44 were also bringing Germany to the same chaos. Concerning the March 1933 boycott instigated by international Jewry against Germany after Adolf Hitler came to power, German historian Udo Walendy quotes the following boast from The Jewish Daily Bulletin of 27 July 1935: „There is only one Power which really counts: The Power of Political Pressure. We Jews are the most powerful people on Earth, because we have this Power and we know how to apply it. 44 This boasted-of power was thoroughly implemented against Germany as a result of the Second World Jewish Congress in Geneva, which commenced on 5 September 1933. In his speech before the World Jewish Congress, the internationally-known Zionist, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, urged his fellow Zionists that their first task „was to create the organization needed to conduct a ‘bitter’, well-planned war against Germany. 44 Indeed, up until that time organized international Jewry had been very successful in bringing most American and British businesses into a boycott on their behalf. When this campaign was launched London’s Daily Express for 24 March 1933 boldly printed this headline on page one: Judea Declares War on Germany. Facing such a crippling blow, the NSDAP responded by organizing a one day boycott for 1 April 1933 throughout Germany. This is a fact that has been forgotten. The power of present-day international Jewry is such that historians ignore the fact that international Jewry instigated open hostilities with National Socialist Germany in 1933 and that they instigated the one-day German boycott of Jewish shops in Germany by their own world-wide boycott of German goods. This is demonstrated by the fact that photographs of Germans protesting outside of Jewish-owned shops with placards during their one day boycott are still being reproduced around the world, while photographs of Jews from New York to London protesting outside German shops, or those shops selling German goods in their years-long boycott, are all but unknown. - 62 - Appendix IV Regarding Frank’s allegations, most historians now admit that they were a complete fabrication, produced by a desperate, unbalanced man facing an Allied hangman’s noose. Moreover, Frank’s story about Hitler’s Jewish origins was co-written by an American army prison chaplain named Sixtus O’Connor. Additionally, many reputable historians claim that Frank was tortured to induce his revelations. This latter charge is well-founded since torture of German prisoners was a common practice by American, British and Russian interrogators after the war. Discussing the Frank allegation, Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw writes: „With regard to the story of Hitler’s alleged Jewish grandfather, they are valueless/ 4 Even noted anti-Hitler biographer Joachim C. Fest admits that „the whole notion [of a Hitler Jewish grandfather] can scarcely stand serious investigation/ 4 Among the few historians treating the rumors of a Jewish Hitler ancestor as fact is Franz Jetzinger in his book, Hitler’s Youth. As previously noted, to back his claim for a Jewish Hitler ancestor Jetzinger even goes so far as to reproduce a bogus photo, which he claims as Alois Hitler, to illustrate Alois’ „Jewish“ features. Jetzinger borrowed this photo from the Miinchen newspaper, Revue, which printed rumors of Adolf Hitler’s alleged Jewish grandfather during his rise to power. Appendix Y It should be noted that historians offer two very different translations of Father Zahnschirm’s parish register comments. Some put forward a translation that refers to Georg Hiedler in the present tense, which they claim proves that Alois Schickelgruber and company deceived Father Zahnschirm into believing that Georg Hiedler was still living in Spital. Such is the translation and charge offered by Joachim C. Fest: „The undersigned confirm that Georg Hitler, registered as the father, who is well known to the undersigned witnesses, admits to being the father of the child Alois as stated by the child’s mother, Anna Schicklgruber, and has requested the entry of his name in the present baptismal register. 44 (Fest also claims that Alois’ uncle Johann Nepomuk Hiedler appeared before Father Zahnschirm to confirm that his brother, Georg, acknowledged paternity of Alois Schickelgruber. Herr Fest doesn’t offer documentation for his assertion, and indeed there is no mention of Nepomuk Hiedler in the proceedings.) The claim that Alois Schickelgruber and company deceived the parish priest doesn’t hold up for a number of reason, not the least of which is that Father Zahnschirm, if he thought Georg Hiedler was still living, should have dismissed the witnesses and asked to see Georg Hiedler. This aside, it is of interest to note that even those historians who agree on the meaning of Father Zahnschirm’s comments offer conflicting details, which can be seen in John Toland’s translation: „It is confirmed by the undersigned that Georg Hitler whose name is here entered as Father, being well known to the undersigned, did accept paternity of the child Aloys [sic], according to the statement of the child’s mother, and did desire his name to be entered in the register of baptisms of this parish. 44 First we notice that Toland’s account is translated in the past tense, meaning that Georg Hiedler is represented by the priest’s comments as being deceased, which agrees with the - 63 - translation offered by Robert Payne. But also notice that, like Fest and unlike Payne, Toland’s translation offers that during her lifetime Maria Anna Schickelgruber claimed Georg Hiedler as Alois’ father. This translation agrees with Werner Maser’s translation - except that his translation speaks of Georg Hiedler in the present tense. Indeed, as if the different accounts couldn’t get any more confused, Hitler biographer, Konrad Heiden, a self-confessed bitter enemy of Adolf Hitler’s during the 1920s, has an elderly Georg Hitler alive in 1876 and personally appearing before Father Zahnschirm declaring Alois Schickelgruber to be his son. The original entry, in German, reads: ,,1837 Geboren den siebenten Juny um 1/2 Uhr Mittags, und getauft am nehmlichen Tage; Namen des Taufenden: Ignaz Rufikefer, Pfarrer; Namen des Getauften: Aloys; katholisch, mannlich, ehlich [vormals: unehlich]; Vater; Georg Hitler, kath. Rel. Inwohner in Spital, laut hiestigem Trauungsbuch haben die Kindsaltern die Ehe am 10. Mai 1842 gescholossen; Mutter: Maria Anna Schicklgruber, unverehel. Tochter des Johann Schicklgruber, Bauers in Stronnes No. 1, und dessen Ehew. Theresia, geb. Johann Pfeisinger von Dietreichs; Ort: Stronnes No. 13; Pathen: Johann Trummelschlager, Bauer in Stronnes No. 13, ux. Josepha; Hebamme: A. Maria Waldhausl, Ausnehmerin in Klein-Motten ungepriist; Anmerkung: Dafi der als Vater eingetragene Georg Hitler, welcher den gefertigten Zeugen wohl bekannt ist, sich als den von der Kindesmutter Anna Schicklgruber angegebenen Vater des Kindes Alois bekannt, und die Eintragung seines Namens in das Hiesige Taufbuch nachgesucht habe, wird durch die Gefertigten bestatigt: Josef Romeder, Johann Breiter, Zeuge, Engelbert Pauths, Zeuge.“ Appendix VI Essentially, it has become a routine exercise by Hitler biographers to write insultingly about Adolf Hitler’s artistic abilities. They begin by focusing on Hitler’s failed 1907 entrance examination at the General School of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna as proof that he had little artistic talent. However, in recent years (especially after the discovery of 42 original Hitler paintings in the Russian archives) this attitude has slowly given way to a more fair assessment. Historians Ada Petrova and Peter Watson write: „However, inadequate attention has been paid to whether the Academy was right to dismiss him [Adolf Hitler], There is certainly evidence that the selectors - as all such selectors - were fallible and, to an extent, unjust.... Among those who failed along with Hitler was Robin Christian Andersen, who became a distinguished painter and even held a professorship in the Academy that had once rejected him.“ Perhaps the best comment about Hitler’s ability is found in the argument that so many of his early paintings have survived - painted, sold and kept during the time when he was a „nobody.“ It is pointed out by the fair-minded that those who bought and saved these paintings did so because the pictures were good! Appendix VII Joachim C. Fest asserts that Adolf Hitler went to great lengths to hide his ancestry: „He was forever bent on muddying still further the opaque background of his origins and family.“ Such a charge has given rise to numerous rumors about Adolf Hitler’s supposed attempts to „hide“ his origins. One of these involves the tale that when the Fiihrer learned that the inhabitants of Strones had placed a plaque in honor of his father’s birth place, that he flew into a rage and demanded that it be removed. - 64 - One of the first hints that this tale has no substance is seen by the fact that Koppensteiner’s pedigree of the Hitler family, naming Strones as Alois Hitler’s birth place and giving considerable detail, was approved for publication by the Fiihrer long before the inhabitants of Strones placed the plaque in their village. Indeed, in 1942 the Fiihrer had no objections to the publication of a book entitled Die Alte Heimat; Beschreibung des Waldviertels um Dollersheim (or Ancestral Home; Description of the Waldviertel around Dollersheim), which focused on Adolf Hitler’s ancestors, the Schickelgrubers and Hiedlers. We can add to the above the following notation from Werner Maser’s book, Hitler Legend, Myth & Reality: ... after the Anschluss [i.e. the union of Germany and Austria] Maria Anna Schicklgruber’s grave was adorned with a memorial stone and cross bearing the legend: ‘Here lies the grandmother of the Fuhrer - Maria A. Hitler, nee Schicklgruber. The burial- place was invariably tended with special care and was much visited by schools and Hitler Youth groups.“ The widely-reported charge that Adolf Hitler had his ancestral villages of Dollersheim and Strones destroyed after he attained power to obscure his roots is likewise absurd. The charge is based on the fact that in 1941 the Dollersheim Military Training Area was established in an area that included several of Hitler’s ancestral villages, notably Dollersheim and Strones. The German Resettlement Association, on behalf of the Wehrmacht, bought the houses and other buildings in area for training purposes for full market value and assisted the displaced villagers in resettling to other villages (such as Krenglbach in Upper Austria where the Sillip family relocated). But, contrary to the above charge, the actual villages in the training area were not destroyed by the Wehrmacht. Indeed, the pilgrimages to the grave of Maria Anna Hitler mentioned above continued to take place during the time when the Wehrmacht occupied the area for military training. The truth is that until 1945 the houses and farms of Dollersheim and Strones were left intact. It was only after Hitler’s death and the downfall of the National Socialist government in Austria that the villages were destroyed. First they were stripped of all usable building material by the inhabitants of surrounding villages. Their complete destruction took place during the Russian occupation of Austria. That the Russians took special pleasure in this destruction might be seen from the fact that they also took the occasion to arrest and deport to Russian slave camps some of Adolf Hitler’s relatives, who were still living in the area. Apparently the charge that Adolf Hitler had his ancestral villages destroyed was first published by Franz Jetzinger and has since been picked up and uncritically reported by numerous Hitler biographers. Hitler biographer, Wemer Maser, who spent considerable time in the Waldviertel researching the Hitler family, demonstrates the absurdity of Jetzinger’s allegations. What is most important to this book is that after the Wehrmacht’s purchase of the area, all church, local government and court records were removed and stored elsewhere, most being shipped to the Lower Austrian Provincial Archives in Vienna. - 65 - Appendix VIII One critic of Rudolph Koppensteiner’s research and pedigree of the Hitler family is noted anti-Hitler biographer Franz Jetzinger who is singled out here because a number of later Hitler biographers have used his criticisms as a basis for their own works. Indeed Jetzinger opens his book, Hitler’s Youth (Hitler Jugend), by stating that Herr Koppensteiner produced his extensive pedigree of the Hitler family without bothering to personally examine the original records. He claims that Koppensteiner copied his work from others. But Jetzinger fails to explain what work Rudolph Koppensteiner would have copied since there was no published Hitler pedigree prior to the publication of his Die Ahnentafel des Fiihrer. Moreover, this author has personally checked Koppensteiner’s work insofar as the original records can be located and found that his work is, simply put, correct. (Perhaps this is why Jetzinger uses Koppensteiner’s Hitler pedigree as a reference in his own book!) This being the fact we need to look closer at Franz Jetzinger and those who have followed his lead. Franz Jetzinger’s overall motivation for his post-World War Two research about Adolf Hitler is exposed by the fact that he, an Austrian national, was a long-time active political foe of Hitler and as such was arrested and questioned several times by the Hitler government after it came to power. (Toland, op. cit., pp. 531-532. See also, Jetzinger, op. cit., pp. 175-182.) One may judge the overall value of Jetzinger’s assessment of the Hitler pedigree by Bradley F. Smith’s careful study of his work and the subsequent notation that „Jetzinger. . . is vague, cites no documentation and habitually guesses.“ An example of Jetzinger’s sloppy research is found in John Toland’s history of Adolf Hitler. Standing against the statements of several credible eyewitnesses, Jetzinger argues in his book that Adolf Hitler wasn’t even in town when his mother died, which he bases on the remembrances of an elderly neighbor lady of the Hitlers during the time of Klara Hitler’s final illness. After explaining the obvious that Jetzinger „... has a tendency to accent events that make Hitler look bad“, John Toland refutes the above Jetzinger’s assertion by noting that Dr. Bloch’s casebook for 1907 survives and it confirms that Dr. Bloch consulted Adolf Hitler on 22 October 1907 in Linz, almost two months before his mother’s death, which means that Adolf Hitler was present at his mother’s death. This evidence vindicates the testimony of Dr. Eduard Bloch cited elsewhere, Paula Hitler’s CIC interview of 5 June 1946 (U.S. Army Military History Research Collection, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.) and August Kubizek who remember the day-and-night attention Adolf Hitler showed his dying mother. - 66 -