Paula Hitler

Paula Hitler (January 21, 1896 – June 1, 1960) was the younger sister of Adolf Hitler, and the last child of Alois Hitler and his third wife, Klara Pölzl. Paula was born in Hafeld, Austria, and was the only full sibling of Adolf Hitler to survive into adulthood.

Pre-war

Paula was six years old when her father Alois (a retired customs official) died and eleven when she lost her mother Klara, after which the Austrian government provided a small pension to Paula and Adolf. However, the amount was relatively meager and Adolf, who was by then old enough to support himself, agreed to sign his share over to her. Paula later moved to Vienna where she worked as a secretary. She had no contact with her brother during the period comprising his difficult years as a painter in Vienna and later Munich, military service during World War I and early political activities back in Munich. She was delighted to meet him again in Vienna during the early 1920s, though she later claimed to have been privately distraught by his subsequent rising fame. By her own account, after losing a job with a Vienna insurance company in 1930 when her employers found out who she was, Paula received financial support from her brother (which continued until his suicide in 1945), lived under the assumed family name "Wolf" at Hitler's request (this was a childhood nickname of his which he had also used during the 1920s for security purposes) and worked sporadically. She later claimed to have seen her brother about once a year during the 1930s and early 1940s. She worked as a secretary in a military hospital for much of World War II.

Postwar life

There is some evidence Paula shared her brother's strong German nationalist beliefs but she was not politically active and never joined the Nazi party. During the closing days of the war, at the age of 49, she was driven to Berchtesgaden, Germany, apparently on the orders of Martin Bormann. She was arrested by US intelligence officers in May 1945 and debriefed beginning later that year. [http://www.usd230.k12.ks.us/PICTT/eisenhower/PaulaWolff/1.html Interview with Paula Wolff] ] A transcript shows one of the agents remarking she bore a physical resemblance to her sibling. She told them the Russians had confiscated her house in Austria, the Americans had expropriated her Vienna apartment and she was taking English lessons. She characterized her childhood relationship with Adolf as one of both constant bickering and strong affection. Paula said she could not bring herself to believe her brother had been responsible for the Holocaust but agents ignored this as a sisterly expression of loyalty. She also told them she had met Eva Braun only once. Paula was released from US custody and returned to Vienna where she lived on her savings for a time, then worked in an arts and crafts shop. In 1952 she moved to Berchtesgaden, Germany, reportedly living "in seclusion" in a two room flat as Paula Wolff.

In February 1959 she agreed to be interviewed by Peter Morley, a documentary producer for British television station Associated-Rediffusion. The resulting conversation was the only filmed interview she ever gave and was broadcast as part of a programme called "Tyranny: The Years of Adolf Hitler". She talked mostly about Hitler's childhood.

Paula Hitler never married or had any children.

Death and burial

She died on June 1, 1960 at the age of 64. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Paula Hitler |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/209208842.html?dids=209208842:209208842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=JUN+03%2C+1960&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Paula+Hitler%2C+Adolf's+Kin&pqatl=google |quote=Berchtesgaden, Germany (AP) Paula Hitler, sister of Adolph Hitler, died Wednesday, according to police. She was 64. |publisher=Associated Press in Washington Post |date=June 3, 1960 |accessdate=2008-05-17 ] She was buried in the Bergfriedhof in Berchtesgaden/Schönau under the name Paula Hitler. In June 2005 the wooden grave marker and remains were reportedly removed and replaced with another burial, a common practice in German cemeteries after two or more decades have elapsed. In May 2006 however, it was reported the grave marker had been returned to Paula's grave and a second, smaller marker had been added indicating another more recent burial in the same plot. [ [http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm Third Reich in Ruins, Berchtesgaden] (the 2nd burial is Cornelia Reif, Feb 2 1925 - June 3 2005)] As of October 2007 a new marker with names of another family was placed over Paula Hitler's name, but according to the cemetery officials she is still buried in the plot.

Quotes

"His rapid rise in the world worried me. I must honestly confess that I would have preferred it if he had followed his original ambition and become an architect... It would have saved the world a lot of worries."

"Although he had captured the public, who believed him their protector and friend, I knew what he wanted and I was worried not only for his physical safety but also about his sanity."

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

References

Literature

* Marc Vermeeren, "De jeugd van Adolf Hitler 1889-1907 en zijn familie en voorouders". Soesterberg, 2007, 420 blz. Uitgeverij Aspekt. ISBN = 978-90-5911-606-1

External links

* [http://www.auschwitz.dk/Paula.htm Paula Hitler - He was still my brother]
* [http://thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm#bergfriedhof Paula's Grave - Third Reich in Ruins website]
* [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/index.html A website containing interviews with Paula Hitler]