Klara Hitler, born Klara Pölzl (August 12, 1860 - December 21, 1907), was the mother of Adolf Hitler by her husband Alois. Born in the Austrian village of Spital, Weitra, she was the daughter of Johann Pölzl and Johanna Hiedler. Either her grandfather Johann Nepomuk Hiedler or his brother were also likely Alois' biological father. Moreover, Johann was her future husband's stepuncle. Even after they were married Klara still called her husband "Uncle". Author Bradley F. Smith describes Klara as "a fairly large girl, almost as tall as her husband, with dark brown hair and even features."[1] Her adult life was devoted to keeping house and raising children, for which, according to Smith, Alois had limited interest.[2] Klara had six children. Only two of them, Adolf and Paula, survived childhood. She was a devout[3] Roman Catholic and went to church regularly. When her husband died in 1903 he left her a government pension along with property. As a result she was adequately provided for financially, as were her children. However, four years after the death of her husband Klara died a particularly painful death from breast cancer at the age of 47 in Linz, Austria. Her teenaged children Adolf and Paula were at her side, the death affecting a young Adolf much more deeply than that of his father.[4]
See also
Notes
- ^ Smith, Bradley F. Adolf Hitler: His Family, Childhood and Youth Hoover Institute, 1967, p. 41
- ^ "[He] had a limited understanding of children and a minimum interest in their development" Smith, p.54
- ^ "[She] was completely devoted to the faith and teachings of Catholicism…" Smith, p.42
- ^ "Klara Hitler." Biography. Spartacus Educational. Retrieved on 17 August 2007.
References
- Marc Vermeeren, "De jeugd van Adolf Hitler 1889-1907 en zijn familie en voorouders". Soesterberg, 2007, 420 blz. Uitgeverij Aspekt. ISBN = 978-90-5911-606-1
- Bullock, Alan Hitler: A Study in Tyranny 1953 ISBN 0-06-092020-3
- Fest, Joachim C. Hitler Verlag Ullstein, 1973 ISBN 0-15-141650-8
- Kershaw, Ian Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris W W Norton, 1999 ISBN 0-393-04671-0
- Maser, Werner Hitler: Legend, Myth and Reality Penguin Books Ltd 1973 ISBN 0-06-012831-3
- Smith, Bradley F. Adolf Hitler: His Family, Childhood and Youth Hoover Institute, 1967, reprinted in 1979, ISBN 0-8179-1622-9
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