A Família Hitler. À Descoberta da Genealogia Secreta do Ditadura Nazi

by David Gardner

Alois Hitler casou-se três vezes e teve oito filhos. Funcionário dos serviços aduaneiros, o austríaco era alcoólico e criou os seus filhos com violência. O resultado dos métodos de Alois seria desastroso: uma das crianças tornar-se-ia na figura mais temida e odiada da Europa do século xx.
Com quatro dos oito filhos de Alois mortos à nascença, o jovem Adolf cresceu com dois meios-irmãos e uma irmã. Porém, quando o ditador alemão se suicidou, em abril de 1945, não só alguns destes continuavam vivos como uma nova geração Hitler já havia nascido. O que aconteceu então a esses irmãos e sobrinhos do ditador nazi?
Durante anos ninguém soube responder a esta pergunta, até que o autor e jornalista David Gardner publicou A Família Hitler, uma pesquisa sobre os parentes vivos do Führer nos Estados Unidos. Agora, revista e atualizada, esta é uma investigação fascinante que revela uma parte desconhecida da história de Hitler, bem como de uma família, amaldiçoada pelo nome, que se julgava extinta.

Genres: Audiobook

280 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Librarian note:
Ther is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read about Hilter’s British nephew William Patrick Hitler and his family.

Pat spent most of his life seemingly in confusion about whether to claim the name or distance himself from it. At one point he went to Germany to try to build a relationship with his uncle and find work, until he fled for reasons we may never 100% know for sure.

When moving to the USA Pat no longer was happy to be associated with the Hitler name and did end up changing it (although, maybe deep down inside he still liked the fact he had a famous uncle as he did give one of his sons the middle name of Adolf).

The book also goes into some detail about Pat’s sons and how they have spent the majority of their lives hiding from the name and going to such lengths as moving houses with their mother when people found out they were related. None of the brothers (Hitler’s great nephews) have married or had children. The Hilter Bloodline will cease with them.

[Libby Andrews · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disappointing read. The author hounded the living relatives of Hitler. He said he wouldn’t reveal their adopted name but he told many people who knew them of lived nearby that they were related of the Führer. Much of the story was extremely repetitive. The American family of Hitler are not direct descendants from his actual bloodline. They are the descendants of his half brother. They lead very ordinary lives in NY state. None of them are married and the bloodline will die with them. I feel sorry for this family who are hounded by journalists. There were a couple of interesting points; William Patrick Hitler, the son of Adolf’s half brother, gave his eldest son the middle name ‘Adolf’. He also married a German lady whom he met in 1930’s Germany.

[Maria Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Família Hitler", na tradução portuguesa, é o resultado da longa investigação de David Gardner, sobre William Patrick Hitler, o sobrinho de Adolf Hitler.
Muito informativo e de leitura fácil, apresenta fontes de interesse histórico.

[Isequeira12 Sequeira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because it is a non-fiction. But very insightful book. Oh, if only Hitler had been successful in art school …

[Erik Schotanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about the story of William Patrick Hitler was fascinating to read, especially to someone who before had never even heard that Adolf Hitler had family in England/the USA. Regarding his story the author gathered a lot of information from diary's, interviews, news articles and even declassified FBI reports. Because he was such a public figure, I have no complaints about this.

Regarding the sons of William Patrick Hitler, who are still alive today, I have mixed feelings about the information published in this book. The author reached out to them multiple times, and they made it very clear that they wanted to be left alone. Despite that, the author kept trying and trying. He also published high school photos of them, and everything about their personal lives that he could find. Even seems to be revealing to one of Howard Hitler's (who passed away) friends that he was a relative of Hitler, which can be seen as controversial.

Even though I liked this book, I think the author could have respected the wishes of the remaining Hitler family in the US by keeping the focus on William Patrick Hitler, without bothering his sons. This story alone is fascinating already. And for the remaining family, being a Hitler relative is enough of a burden in itself.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really two books in one. The first is the story of the author's search for Hitler's nephew, the second the insights that the nephew's relationship with his uncle gives into Hitler's own life. At least a part of its appeal lies in the inconsistencies - and even contradictions - that the story throws up. We see William Patrick Hitler's fascination with his uncle as well as his resentment and ultimately rejection of him, as much for personal reasons as for issues of principle, providing a convincing account that is as messy and fascinating as real life.

[Amy apple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Not knowing about the history of the Hitler family and not having thought much about descendants of a bloodline/family name, this was very interesting as to the times that Patrick wanted to be a Hitler and when he wanted to distance himself.

All the relationships and name changes and movement around was also an eye opener.

[Rita Costa (Lusitania Geek) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Família Hitler, de David Gardner, oferece uma investigação interessante sobre os parentes de Adolf Hitler que sobreviveram ao regime nazi e se refugiaram nos Estados Unidos. O autor, ex-diretor da Newsweek, traça com rigor histórico o percurso dessas pessoas que, carregando um sobrenome pesado, optaram por manter um perfil discreto e até por mudar de apelido

Ao longo da leitura, os descendentes de Adolf Hitler, revelaram que criaram um pacto de não terem filhos para interromper a linhagem Hitler. O livro traz dados inéditos e bem investigados, no entanto , a narrativa foi por vezes demasiado factual e por não explorar em profundidade o impacto psicológico e emocional nos familiares.

É uma leitura interessante e informativa, embora um pouco envolvente do ponto de vista literário. Contudo, desejava esta obra tivesse uma maior densidade emocional e falta na exploração do impacto sociocultural do sobrenome Hitler após a guerra.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and nuanced overview of lives of some of Adolf Hitler relatives. It focuses predominantly on the one of Adolf's nephew's, and makes you ponder the question: what would I do if my uncle was Adolf Hitler?
The author also doesn't hide the fact that the remaining blood relatives of Adolf Hitler would like to be left quite alone, thank you very much, also leading you to ponder on the ethics of certain journalistic projects.

[Sel Rou · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting genealogy dive into if this evil bloodline is still amongst us today.
This book is fascinating & expertly researched for those interested in history, genealogy & debunking fact & fiction relating to the most diabolical human in history.

[julie clifton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, but felt it was a drag to read.