Why do many people repeat the urban legend myth that Hitler was part Jewish?

[GermanicPride]

It seems this is repeated all over the internet, do people really believe rumours over truth?

The third possibility is that Adolf Hitler's grandfather was Jewish. Rumours to that effect circulated in Munich cafes in the early 1920s, and were fostered by sensationalist journalism of the foreign press during the 1930s. It was suggested that the name `Huttler' was Jewish, `revealed' that he could be traced to a Jewish family called Hitler in Bucharest, and even claimed that his father had been sired by Baron Rothschild, in whose house in Vienna his grandmother had allegedly spent some time as a servant. But the most serious speculation about Hitler's supposed Jewish background has occurred since the Second World War, and is directly traceable to the memoirs of the leading Nazi lawyer and Governor General of Poland, Hans Frank, dictated in his Nuremberg cell while awaiting the hangman.


So no Hitler wasn't Jewish, he was a full blooded Austrian!


MODERATOR NOTE==I've deleted a large block of copyrighted text and will link to the original, a scholarly book by IAN KERSHAW(1998)

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/k...aw-hitler.html

I've also moved the thread from General
Questions to Comments on Cecil's columns
samclem, Moderator

[Musicat]

Did you read Cecil's column about this? If so, and you want to discuss it, posting in the proper forum would be a good idea. We have a forum just for Cecil's columns and staff reports.

[Wesley Clark]

Hitler had genes that implied he could be Jewish or African.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_693568.html

I want to see how this thread turns out.

[TriPolar]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

So no Hitler wasn't Jewish, he was a full blooded Austrian!

I see. There are no Jewish Austrians. So Hitler couldn't be Jewish. Well there's no arguing with logic.

[Musicat]

GermanicPride, It looks like most or all of your post is copied from here. You might want to read our FAQ about how to post before you run afoul of our local constabulatory. Basically, links are fine, copying large blocks of text is verboten.

[orcenio]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

So no Hitler wasn't Jewish, he was a full blooded Austrian!

Um... thanks for history lesson, mister...("GermanicPride" is it?).

[Loach]

But he did only have one ball.

[Munch]

Originally Posted by Loach

But he did only have one ball.

Yeah, but it was shaped like a dradle.

[SubaRhubarb]

This is like arguing if a turd contains corn and peanuts, or just corn. It is a turd no matter the contents.

[GermanicPride]

Originally Posted by Wesley Clark

Hitler had genes that implied he could be Jewish or African.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_693568.html

I want to see how this thread turns out.

“This data clearly show that just because one person belongs to the branch of the Ychromosome referred to as haplogroup E1b1b, that does not mean the person is likely to be of Jewish ancestry,” said Professor Hammer.

Mulders confirmed the misinterpretation of his account with the following statement to haplogroup E1b1b, that does not mean the person is likely to
be of Jewish ancestry,” said Professor Hammer.

Family Tree DNA: “I never wrote that Hitler was a Jew, or that he had a Jewish grandfather. I only wrote that Hitler's haplogroup is E1b1b, being more common among Berbers, Somalian people and Jews than among overall Germans. This, in order to convey that he was not exactly what during the Third Reich would have been called ‘Aryan.’ All the rest are speculations of journalists who didn't even take the trouble to read my article.

Knack is a weekly Belgian news-magazine published by the Roularta Media Group. The results of the study are inconclusive until further verification by a scientific source.

The descendant accordingly a relative to Hitler was also a great nephew so he could have gotten the results from the non-Hitler side and the sample was from a napkin from the floor... very reliable.

[GermanicPride]

Originally Posted by Loach

But he did only have one ball.

Propaganda, no evidence.

[Johnny L.A.]

Originally Posted by Loach

But he did only have one ball.

Göbbels
Had no balls at all.

[Musicat]

Originally Posted by Munch

Yeah, but it was shaped like a dradle.

More likely, a dreidel.

Originally Posted by Johnny L.A.

Göbbels
Had no balls at all.

Not even a Senior Prom? A Freaker's Ball?

[Dewey Finn]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

Propaganda, no evidence.

I know. Hitler's been so unfairly maligned by these false claims about his Jewish ancestry and lack of a testicle. I mean, take those away, and what are you left with to complain about?

[GermanicPride]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

I know. Hitler's been so unfairly maligned by these false claims about his Jewish ancestry and lack of a testicle. I mean, take those away, and what are you left with to complain about?

All the other rubbish myths, rumours about him.

[Dewey Finn]

I haven't heard those. Can you share some other rumors or myths about him?

[Fear Itself]

I thought it was assumed to be true because most paper hangers were jewish.

[Exapno Mapcase]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

I haven't heard those. Can you share some other rumors or myths about him?

It's not going to work, dude. Germans have no sense of humor.

Only Austrians do. That's how you can tell them apart.

[Giles]

Did Hitler have a sense of humour?

[Musicat]

Originally Posted by Giles

Did Hitler have a sense of humour?

Yes, but it was only seasonal. In the Springtime.

[panamajack]

My dog has no nose!

More serious answer to the OP - people like irony. Alternately, it's just as often repeated to imply that the line between the "other group" and "us" is arbitrary.

[Colibri]

Given that Jews have been present in Europe since at least the days of the Roman Empire, because of the phenomenon of pedigree collapse it's a mathematical certainty that Hitler had some Jewish ancestors. Assuming the OP is of European ancestry, so does he. Anybody who lived in Europe before about AD 1200 who has modern descendants will be somewhere in the family tree of anyone alive today who has European ancestry.

[handsomeharry]

Originally Posted by Fear Itself

I thought it was assumed to be true because most paper hangers were jewish.

NO, NO, NO!
Hitler was a painter!!!!

(I'll leave the rest of this one for my betters!)

[handsomeharry]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

I know. Hitler's been so unfairly maligned by these false claims about his Jewish ancestry and lack of a testicle. I mean, take those away, and what are you left with to complain about?

Don't you have any grasp of history???

The moustache! The moustache!

[74westy]

Originally Posted by handsomeharry

Don't you have any grasp of history???

The moustache! The moustache!

Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for.

[Ludovic]

Originally Posted by handsomeharry

NO, NO, NO!
Hitler was a painter!!!!

(I'll leave the rest of this one for my betters!)

::::running with it::: He painted a whole house in one day! Two coats!

[TubaDiva]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

All the other rubbish myths, rumours about him.

Told by Jews and Gypsies, no doubt.

[TubaDiva]

Originally Posted by 74westy

Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for.

All the moderators on the internet, for one.

[Sister Vigilante]

Wow this was Godwinned in the first posts.

I, too, would also like to know which of the myths about him had proof. I know he was a vegetarian and owned a white German Shepherd named Blondi.

Or was it that Blondi's mother was white? I used to know the answer to that.

I have two German friends (living there now; one in Frankfurt, the other in Hamburg) and they do have senses of humor. And, GermanicPride, I have to day they would not be on your side right now.

[Ulfreida]

Originally Posted by 74westy

Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for.

this is why I love the Dope.

[Zeke N. Destroi]

Originally Posted by Johnny L.A.

Göbbels
Had no balls at all.

See, now I was told that 'twas poor DeGualle who has no balls at all.

[Zeke N. Destroi]

Originally Posted by Giles

Did Hitler have a sense of humour?

I've never heard his act but I hear it's a gas.

[GermanicPride]

Originally Posted by Sister Vigilante

I have two German friends (living there now; one in Frankfurt, the other in Hamburg) and they do have senses of humor. And, GermanicPride, I have to day they would not be on your side right now.

Elaborate...

[Captain Amazing]

Originally Posted by Sister Vigilante

Wow this was Godwinned in the first posts.

I, too, would also like to know which of the myths about him had proof. I know he was a vegetarian and owned a white German Shepherd named Blondi..

Neither of those are true. Blondi wasn't white. As you can see from this picture here:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/67558-3/47

she was yellow and black.

Also, Hitler wasn't a strict vegetarian. He didn't eat much meat, and stayed away from it for the most part, but he did sometimes eat ham, sausage, and meat dumplings.

[Guinastasia]

He also used to suffer from severe flatulance, apparently.

[GermanicPride]

There still is no evidence he was part Jewish, quite the opposite and there is no reason to doubt Johann Georg Hiedler was his paternal grandfather.

[Scumpup]

Based on photos, he appears to have been a man who pommaded his hair. I wonder whether he favored Fop or Dapper Dan.

[Captain Amazing]

I actually agree that there's not much evidence Hitler had a Jewish grandfather, but that, like Cecil said, the story was too good to let die. I'm pretty sure his father was either Johann George Hiedler or his brother ,Johann Nepomuk.

[DrFidelius]

Originally Posted by handsomeharry

Don't you have any grasp of history???

The moustache! The moustache!

Seriously. For seventy years now, no man can wear a toothbrush moustache. A perfectly legitimate style for facial hair now lost.

[Mangetout]

Originally Posted by Loach

But he did only have one ball.

Himmler had something sim'lar.

[Ludovic]

I'd like a cite that manny peoples repeat the urban legend that Hitler was part Jewish. I may have heard it a couple times in the early 90s but haven't really run into it too much lately, if at all. The story seems to be dying off.

Perhaps there is a poll as to how many percent of people believe this versus how many believed it 20 or 30 years ago. It may be easier to find people who believe it nowadays, but that's cause everyone is allowed to use the Internet.

[Johnny L.A.]

Originally Posted by Ludovic

I'd like a cite that manny peoples repeat...

Now there's a board meme we don't hear much anymore!

[astorian]

As we've seen, the evidence that Hitler had Jewish ancestry is sketchy at best, and not (to me, at east), vry convincing.

So, why does this legend get repeated so often? The same reason so many people like to cite bogus "studies" that suggest homophobes are secretly gay.

Because a lot of peoiple WANT to believe it.

[GermanicPride]

Originally Posted by Captain Amazing

I actually agree that there's not much evidence Hitler had a Jewish grandfather, but that, like Cecil said, the story was too good to let die. I'm pretty sure his father was either Johann George Hiedler or his brother ,Johann Nepomuk.

There's no reason to doubt Johann George Hiedler was his (Alois's) father really.

Originally Posted by DrFidelius

Seriously. For seventy years now, no man can wear a toothbrush moustache. A perfectly legitimate style for facial hair now lost.

Hey, some people still sport it!

Originally Posted by Ludovic

I'd like a cite that manny peoples repeat the urban legend that Hitler was part Jewish. I may have heard it a couple times in the early 90s but haven't really run into it too much lately, if at all. The story seems to be dying off.

Perhaps there is a poll as to how many percent of people believe this versus how many believed it 20 or 30 years ago. It may be easier to find people who believe it nowadays, but that's cause everyone is allowed to use the Internet.

A couple of years ago people tried to claim they had found Hitler's DNA and that he part Jewish and African.

“This data clearly show that just because one person belongs to the branch of the Ychromosome referred to as haplogroup E1b1b, that does not mean the person is likely to be of Jewish ancestry,” said Professor Hammer.

Mulders confirmed the misinterpretation of his account with the following statement to
Family Tree DNA:
“I never wrote that Hitler was a Jew, or that he had a Jewish grandfather. I only wrote that Hitler's haplogroup is E1b1b, being more common among Berbers, Somalian people and Jews than among overall Germans. This, in order to convey that he was not exactly what during the Third Reich would have been called ‘Aryan.’ All the rest are speculations of journalists who didn't even take the trouble to read my article.

Knack is a weekly Belgian news-magazine published by the Roularta Media Group. The results of the study are inconclusive until further verification by a scientific source.

This article made the Frankenburger rumour become even more noticed, if you google "Hitler's DNA" you fill find many people are still believing the tireless myth, people believe a rumour over facts - none of this has ever been proved so as far as I and most historians are concerned Hitler was Austrian (ethnic German) not a quarter Jewish.

Originally Posted by astorian

As we've seen, the evidence that Hitler had Jewish ancestry is sketchy at best, and not (to me, at east), vry convincing.

So, why does this legend get repeated so often? The same reason so many people like to cite bogus "studies" that suggest homophobes are secretly gay.

Because a lot of peoiple WANT to believe it.

It's very annoying though, you have to admit that there is so many myths about him it's crazy.

[DocCathode]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

he was a full blooded Austrian!

So was my great- great paternal grandfather- a Jew.

I remember when I was 9 or so, Dad took me to a German Jewish pride festival. I danced to oompah music and ate so much sausage I threw up.

[SubaRhubarb]

GermanicPride, mind if I ask you a question or 2?

Why does it matter to you personally?

As your name implies you are proud to be German, are you attempting to claim Hitler as a "purebred" German to be proud of, or are you trying to make Jews happy by clearing up the murk in the genetic pool?

[gamerunknown]

I hear Hitler ate sugar. Everyone knows real men don't eat sugar.

[Dewey Finn]

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

It's very annoying though, you have to admit that there is so many myths about him it's crazy.

I'm curious; what other myths are there?

[qazwart]

So no Hitler wasn't Jewish, he was a full blooded Austrian!

As someone with 100% Austrian and German ancestry (which are really one in the same), I don't see how this is something to brag about. It'd be like bragging how you're related to Ted Bundy, or living in the U.S. and bragging how your great, great, grandfather and Benedict Arnold fought on the same side.

Jewish or not, Austrian or not, Hitler instituted a bloody regime that resulted in the death of millions of people. And, I'm not just talking about the 10 million or so who died in extermination camps like Auschiwitz. I'm sure GermaticPride here would probably tell me that never happened, and besides that they deserved it.

Besides these massive extermination camps, Nazi Germany slaughtered hundreds and thousands of non-combatants, and were quite boastful of the fact. There was an official German policy of Lebensraum which had the stated goal of killing, deporting, or enslaving entire countries. There were the military Einsatzgruppen squads that were officially part of the army, and whose sole job was to round up and kill civilians, including thousands of women and children. There were the slaughters of entire cities in the name of retribution. Nazi Germany issued press releases whenever they did that.

And, let's not forget the Nazi crimes not just against Jewish Germans, but against non-Jewish Germans and Austrians. These included assassinations, confiscation of property, stripping of citizenship, and the round up of anyone not deemed fit. Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people were slaughtered in the name of purifying the race.

Which highlights Hitler's and the Nazi regime's ultimate crime: Reducing the entire human existence into something resembling the Westminster Kennel Club. Like pure bred dog breeders, the Nazis were more interested in the shape of your ears, the length of your nose, how bushy your eyebrows were, or the color of your hair rather than if you were smart, capable, compassionate, or any of the hundreds of traits we think of as truly human. To the Nazis, even the Germans were nothing more than mere animals to be bred and put to work.

You want to be proud of your Germanic heritage? All the royalty of Europe are of Germanic origins. German technology and engineering is revered around the world. Germany rebuilt its shattered nation and became the keystone to European prosperity and unity. Because of Germany's central role, Western Europe has had a period of peace and prosperity stretching back over 65 years -- something entirely unprecedented in all of European history. Heck, Germany makes really good beer too. That's something you can definitely take pride in, and rub in America's face too.

What you should never take pride in is a brutal dictator who instituted a regime of slaughter of millions of people. Who brought the world into the bloodiest war it ever experienced, and who allowed his own nation to be destroyed because in the end he publicly proclaimed that the German people let him down and decided that the Germans themselves didn't have the right to live. It is sad when the enemy armies you're fighting have a higher opinion of you and your people than your own leadership.

[Irishman]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

I haven't heard those. Can you share some other rumors or myths about him?

That he was gay, that the long night of knives where he killed 150 of his own Brownshirts was to cover up that fact.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...hs-Fuhrer.html

Originally Posted by GermanicPride

There still is no evidence he was part Jewish, quite the opposite and there is no reason to doubt Johann Georg Hiedler was his paternal grandfather.

Well, there is some reason to doubt Johann Georg Hiedler was his paternal grandfather, that his paternal grandmother did not marry Johann until 5 years after Alois's birth, and that the parentage was not confirmed, and that it could have been Johann Goerg's brother, Johann Nepomuk. But that is hardly much evidence that it wasn't J. Georg. It certainly doesn't look good for the claim he was Jewish.