THE STRANGE TALE OF WILLIAM HITLER, ADOLF’S SECRET NEPHEW

He kept his identity secret until his dyingday.

A rare picture of William Hitler

None of his neighbours in Patchogue, LongIsland, had any idea that William Stuart Houston was actually born WilliamHitler.

Nor did they know that his uncle had been AdolfHitler, one-time Fuhrer of Nazi Germany.

It was not until long after his death, in1987, that the truth about William’s identity was made public. But severalunanswered questions remain - questions that even his sons, three of whom arestill alive and living in America, have been unable to answer.

Uncle Adolf

William’s story begins in EdwardianLiverpool. Adolf Hitler’s half brother, Alois, had moved to the city in 1911.He had married his Irish-born lover, Bridgit Dowling, who now fellpregnant. When young William was born, he was knownto his neighbours as ‘Paddy’ Hitler.

Alois abandoned his wife and son in 1914; adecade later, he renewed contact with Bridgit and asked her to send William toGermany.

With his Irish mother

William made a brief visit in 1929 andreturned four years later for a much longer stay. He was hoping to profit fromhis uncle’s position as chancellor. Hitler got him a temporary job in a bank:later, William moved to an automobile factory - a job he disliked.

He repeatedly asked Hitler for betteremployment but his uncle resisted, Indeed, William eventually found himselfsuspended from his work on Hitler’s orders. He stood accused of trying to sellcars for his own profit.

Hitler's birth certificate; William's copy

William continued to see Hitler occasionally, butAdolf was no longer the friendly uncle of old. ‘I shall never forget the lasttime he sent for me,’ wrote William. ‘He was in a brutal temper when Iarrived. Walking back and forth, brandishing his horsehide whip… he shouted insults at my head as if hewere delivering a political oration. His vengeful brutality on that daymade me fear for my physical safety.’

William realised it was time to leave Germany:in February 1939, he sailed for the United States.

'Why I hate my uncle' - William's
article in Look Magazine

As war began, William began a lecture tourof the USA, denouncing his Fuhrer-uncle and his extravagant life-style. He also write an article in Look Magazine entitled Why I hate my uncle. ‘Farfrom scorning lavish display,’ he wrote, ‘he has surroundedhimself with luxury more extravagant than any kaiser ever enjoyed. Todecorate his new chancellery in Berlin every museum in Germany wasplundered for priceless carpets, tapestries, paintings.’

When America joined the war, William wroteto President Roosevelt asking to join the US Army. The letter was sent to theFBI, who cleared him for service. According to one paper, his recruitingofficer said: ‘Glad to see you Hitler. My name's Hess.’

Going public for the first time

At the war’s end, William set up a medicallaboratory that analysed blood samples for hospitals. As the Nuremberg Trialsgot underway, he wanted a complete break with his Hitler past.

He changed his name to William StuartHouston and settled with his wife in Long Island. They would eventually havefour sons, three of whom remain alive to this day.

William died in 1987 and was buried inanonymity in the same grave as his mother. And there the story might have ended,were it not for American journalist David Gardner who began investigating theHitler family. He eventually stumbled across the strange story of WilliamHitler, and discovered that members of the Hitler clan were alive and well andliving in America.

No mention of Hitler

The family insist that William hated Hitleruntil his dying day and they proudly point to his unblemished war record, spentfighting against Nazi Germany.

Yet two enigmas remain. Why did WilliamHitler chose as his new name Stuart Houston, one that is strikingly close tothe name of Adolf Hitler’s favourite anti-Semitic author, Houston StewartChamberlain?

And why did William give his eldest son,Alexander, the middle name Adolf?

They are questions that will probably neverbe answered. But they are ones that Alexander Adolf, still alive to this day,would probably like to have answered.