40 Facts About Alois Hitler

Early Life and Background

Alois Hitler, born Alois Schicklgruber, had a tumultuous start in life. His early years were marked by uncertainty and hardship, shaping the man he would become.

1. Birth and Illegitimacy: Alois was born out of wedlock to Maria Anna Schicklgruber, a 42-year-old unmarried peasant woman. His paternity was never established, and he was registered as "illegitimate" at his baptism in Döllersheim.

2. Early Life in Strones: Alois spent his early years in the hamlet of Strones, where his mother cared for him in a house she shared with her elderly father, Johannes Schicklgruber.

3. Marriage to Johann Georg Hiedler: When Alois was about five years old, Johann Georg Hiedler moved in with the Schicklgrubers and married Maria Anna. This union gave Alois his surname, Hiedler.

4. Death of Maria Anna Schicklgruber: Alois's mother died when he was nine years old, leaving him to be cared for by Johann Georg Hiedler's younger brother, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler.

5. Life with Johann Nepomuk Hiedler: By the age of 10, Alois was sent to live with Johann Nepomuk Hiedler, who owned a farm in the nearby village of Spital. During this time, Alois attended elementary school and took lessons in shoemaking from a local cobbler.

Career and Aspirations

Alois's career in the customs service and his aspirations as a farmer played significant roles in his life. His professional journey was marked by ambition and frequent relocations.

6. Apprenticeship in Vienna: At 13, Alois left Johann Nepomuk Hiedler's farm and went to Vienna as an apprentice cobbler. He worked in Vienna for about five years before joining the frontier guards (customs service) of the Austrian Finance Ministry in 1855 at the age of 18.

7. Career in Customs Service: Alois spent 40 years in the customs service, rising through the ranks and becoming a respected civil servant. His job required frequent moves, and he and his family relocated 18 times during his career.

8. Marriage to Anna Glasl-Hörer: In 1873, Alois married his first wife, Anna Glasl-Hörer. However, their marriage was short-lived and tumultuous, marked by infidelity and conflict.

9. Affair with Fanni Metzelsberger: Alois had an affair with a servant named Fanni Metzelsberger, which led to the birth of two children. He eventually married Fanni, but their relationship was also troubled.

10. Name Change to Alois Hiedler: In 1876, Alois decided to legitimize himself by taking his father's name, Johann Georg Hiedler. He officially changed his name to Alois Hiedler, which would later be changed to Alois Hitler.

Family Life and Relationships

Alois's family life was complex and often strained. His relationships with his wives and children were marked by conflict and dominance.

11. Marriage to Klara Pölzl: After the death of his second wife, Fanni, Alois married his cousin Klara Pölzl. This union produced six children, but only two survived to adulthood: Adolf and Paula.

12. Family Dynamics: Alois's relationship with his children was strained. He was known to be rough and domineering, often beating his children for perceived misbehavior. Klara Pölzl, Alois's third wife, tried to intervene and protect their children from his wrath.

13. Adolf's Rebellion: Adolf Hitler, Alois's most famous son, rebelled against his father's wishes. Alois wanted Adolf to become a civil servant like him, but Adolf had other aspirations. This led to constant conflict between them, with Adolf eventually rejecting his father's plans.

14. Anti-Clerical Views: Both Alois and Adolf shared anti-clerical views, although Adolf did not quit the Roman Catholic Church. This shared contempt for authority was a significant aspect of their relationship.

15. Anti-Semitic Tendencies: Alois Hitler exhibited anti-Semitic tendencies, which were later amplified by his son Adolf. The family once lived in a Jewish-owned property in Urfahr near Linz, a fact that Adolf likely sought to conceal later in life.

Later Years and Legacy

Alois's later years were marked by retirement and a desire to become a farmer. His legacy, however, is most significantly tied to his influence on his son Adolf.

16. Medical Treatment by Jewish Doctor: When Adolf's mother, Klara, was nearing death in 1907, she was treated by a Jewish doctor who later escaped to America. This incident further highlighted the family's complex and often conflicted views on Jews.

17. Handwriting Similarity: Alois's handwriting style, known as Kurrentschrift, was similar to that of his son Adolf. This similarity was noted by historian Roman Sandgruber after studying the letters written by Alois to Josef Radlegger.

18. Letters to Josef Radlegger: Alois wrote 31 letters to Josef Radlegger after buying his farm at Hafeld in Upper Austria. These letters provide valuable insights into Alois's personality and his aspirations as a farmer.

19. Aspirations as a Farmer: Despite having no practical farming experience, Alois always wanted to be a learned gentleman farmer who was better than others. He was described as self-taught, smug, and someone who grossly overestimated himself.

20. Farm at Hafeld: In February 1895, Alois purchased a house on a 3.6-hectare plot in Hafeld near Lambach. The farm was called the Rauscher Gut, and he moved his family there, retiring from his customs service career.

21. Retirement and Death: Alois retired from his customs service career on June 25, 1895, at the age of 58. He died suddenly on January 3, 1903, at a local inn while drinking his morning glass of wine. The cause of death was likely a pleural hemorrhage, although Adolf later wrote in Mein Kampf that he died of a "stroke of apoplexy".

22. Funeral and Burial: Alois's funeral was attended by his family, including his son Adolf. After his death, his grave marker was removed in 2012 by a descendant of his first wife, Anna. The remains of Adolf Hitler's parents are still a subject of debate regarding their interment.

Influence on Adolf Hitler

Alois's influence on his son Adolf was profound. The complex family dynamics and Alois's domineering personality played crucial roles in shaping Adolf's future.

23. Portrayals in Popular Culture: Alois Hitler has been portrayed by several actors in popular culture, including Helmut Griem in Tales of the Unexpected, James Remar in The Twilight Zone, and Ian Hogg in Hitler: The Rise of Evil.

24. Historical Significance: Alois Hitler's life and actions significantly influenced the upbringing and worldview of his son Adolf. The complex family dynamics and the father's domineering personality played a crucial role in shaping Adolf's future.

25. Legacy: Despite his significant influence on Adolf Hitler, Alois Hitler remains a relatively understudied figure in historical literature. The recent publication of Roman Sandgruber's book Hitler's Father: How the Son Became a Dictator has shed new light on Alois's life and its impact on his son.

26. Uncertain Parentage: Alois's uncertain parentage, with rumors suggesting his father might have been a wealthy Jewish man, added to the family's complex and often conflicted views on Jews. This uncertainty would later cause doubts about the ancestry of Adolf Hitler.

27. Family Tree Gaps: Despite Adolf Hitler's emphasis on ancestral purity and Aryan origin, there were significant gaps in the family tree. This contradiction highlights the complexities and contradictions within the Hitler family.

28. Domineering Personality: Alois Hitler was known for his domineering personality, often beating his children and ruling his household with an iron fist. This behavior led to a strained relationship with his son Adolf, who rebelled against his father's wishes.

29. Influence on Adolf Hitler: Alois's influence on Adolf Hitler was multifaceted. While Adolf respected his father, he also feared him. The constant conflict between them shaped Adolf's worldview and contributed to his later actions as a leader.

30. Anti-Authoritarian Views: Both Alois and Adolf shared anti-authoritarian views, which were reflected in their behavior and actions. This shared contempt for authority was a significant aspect of their relationship and influenced Adolf's later policies.

Cultural and Historical Context

Understanding Alois Hitler within the historical context of his time is crucial. The social and economic conditions of 19th-century Austria influenced his career choices and family dynamics, shaping the future of his son Adolf.

31. Cultural Significance: Alois Hitler's life and actions have significant cultural and historical importance. His complex family dynamics and the father-son relationship provide valuable insights into the psychological and social factors that contributed to Adolf Hitler's rise to power.

32. Historical Context: Understanding Alois Hitler within the historical context of his time is crucial. The social and economic conditions of 19th-century Austria influenced his career choices and family dynamics, shaping the future of his son Adolf.

33. Personal Characteristics: Alois Hitler was described as self-taught, smug, and someone who grossly overestimated himself. These personal characteristics were reflected in his aspirations as a farmer and his behavior towards his family.

34. Family Relationships: The relationships within the Hitler family were complex and often strained. Alois's relationship with his children was particularly difficult, marked by physical and emotional abuse.

35. Educational Background: Alois attended elementary school and took lessons in shoemaking from a local cobbler. This educational background influenced his career choices and shaped his worldview.

36. Career Advancement: Alois's career in the customs service was marked by significant advancement. He rose through the ranks, becoming a respected civil servant despite his tumultuous personal life.

37. Family Moves: Alois and his family relocated 18 times during his career in the customs service. This frequent moving had a significant impact on the family's stability and dynamics.

38. Farm Life: Alois's retirement to the farm at Hafeld provided a sense of stability and peace. However, his aspirations as a farmer were not realized, and he continued to exhibit his domineering personality.

39. Death and Legacy: Alois Hitler's death in 1903 marked the end of an era for the Hitler family. His legacy, however, continues to influence historical discussions about Adolf Hitler's upbringing and the factors that contributed to his rise to power.

40. Historical Relevance: Understanding Alois Hitler is crucial for grasping the historical context of Adolf Hitler's rise to power. The complex family dynamics and the father-son relationship provide valuable insights into the psychological and social factors that shaped Adolf's worldview and actions.

Alois Hitler's Lasting Impact

Alois Hitler's life was a whirlwind of complexities and contradictions. Born out of wedlock, he faced early hardships that shaped his stern and domineering personality. His career in the customs service brought stability but also frequent relocations, impacting his family's dynamics. Alois's relationships were tumultuous, marked by infidelity and conflict, especially with his children. His harsh parenting style and anti-authoritarian views left a lasting mark on his son, Adolf, contributing to the future dictator's worldview.

Despite his significant influence, Alois remains a relatively understudied figure. Recent research has shed new light on his life, revealing the deep psychological and social factors that shaped Adolf Hitler. Understanding Alois is crucial for grasping the historical context of Adolf's rise to power. The complex family dynamics and the father's domineering personality provide valuable insights into the factors that contributed to one of history's most infamous figures.