# Why do many people repeat the urban legend myth that Hitler was part Jewish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 6, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064 "2012-05-06T13:29:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/21 "2012-05-06T17:54:53Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/22 "2012-05-06T18:44:49Z")
Given that Jews have been present in Europe since at least the days of the Roman Empire, because of the phenomenon of [pedigree collapse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/23 "2012-05-06T18:57:27Z")
> [@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!:p:D) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/24 "2012-05-06T18:58:32Z")
> [@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! ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/25 "2012-05-06T19:43:01Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > > [@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! Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/26 "2012-05-06T22:10:56Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > NO, NO, NO! > Hitler was a painter!!! > > (I’ll leave the rest of this one for my betters!:p:D) ::::running with it::: He painted a whole house in one day! Two coats! ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/27 "2012-05-06T22:11:14Z")
> [@GermanicPride](#): > > All the other rubbish myths, rumours about him. Told by Jews and Gypsies, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/28 "2012-05-06T22:12:45Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for. All the moderators on the internet, for one. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/29 "2012-05-06T22:46:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/30 "2012-05-06T22:56:40Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Actually, when you think about it, Hitler has a lot to answer for. this is why I love the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/31 "2012-05-06T23:01:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Göbbels > Had no balls at all. See, now I was told that 'twas _poor DeGualle who has no balls at all._ ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/32 "2012-05-06T23:06:20Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Did Hitler have a sense of humour? I’ve never heard his act but I hear it’s a gas. ---
**Author:** ![GermanicPride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7bcc69/32.png) [@GermanicPride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GermanicPride)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/33 "2012-05-07T01:59:23Z")
> [@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… :o ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/34 "2012-05-07T04:32:47Z")
> [@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](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. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/35 "2012-05-07T07:24:53Z")
He also used to suffer from severe flatulance, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![GermanicPride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7bcc69/32.png) [@GermanicPride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GermanicPride)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/36 "2012-05-07T09:33:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/37 "2012-05-07T10:03:30Z")
Based on photos, he appears to have been a man who pommaded his hair. I wonder whether he favored Fop or Dapper Dan. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/38 "2012-05-07T10:52:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/39 "2012-05-07T11:41:44Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064/40 "2012-05-07T12:29:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > But he did only have one ball. Himmler had something sim’lar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-many-people-repeat-the-urban-legend-myth-that-hitler-was-part-jewish/621064.md?page=3)