The son of Adolf Hitler's half-brother, Alois, William Patrick Hitler enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service.
U.S. NavyWilliam Patrick Hitler, the son of Adolf Hitler’s half-brother, Alois.
On March 6, 1944, the U.S. Navy got a surprising recruit. His name was William Patrick Hitler, and he was the nephew of Adolf Hitler.
William, the son of Adolf’s half-brother Alois, had watched his uncle rise to power in Germany. He had even tried to join the Nazi regime, but had left the country after his uncle refused to give him a high-ranking position. Instead, William had made his way to the United States, where he’d given critical lectures about his uncle and ultimately joined the American military.
During World War II, he fought on the side of the Allies, and ultimately settled in Long Island, New York. There, William Patrick Hitler led a quiet life — though his neighbors did notice his resemblance to his infamous uncle.
This is his surprising story.
William Patrick Hitler, The Nephew Of Adolf Hitler
William Patrick Hitler was born in Liverpool, England, on March 12, 1911. He was the son of Adolf Hitler’s half brother, Alois Jr. (they shared the same father), and Alois’ Irish wife, Bridget Dowling.
Public DomainAlois Hitler Sr., the father of Alois Jr. and Adolf Hitler — and William Patrick Hitler’s grandfather.
However, William didn’t get to know the Hitler side of his family very well. Alois Jr. traveled to Germany in 1914 when William still a toddler and, because of the outbreak of World War I, was unable to return to Liverpool.
Instead, Alois stayed in Germany, where he entered into a bigamous marriage with another woman.
But Alois had not forgotten his son, and he wrote to his Irish wife asking her to let William visit. When William Patrick Hitler turned 18 in 1929, his mother allowed him to go to Germany.
By then, the Nazis had begun to quietly gain power. William attended a Nazi rally and, on a subsequent visit, met his uncle Adolf Hitler in person. But his family had begun to prove to be a burden. When William returned home to England, he was fired from his job on account of being Adolf Hitler’s nephew.
Poland National Digital ArchivesA Nazi rally in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1929.
Meanwhile, his uncle continued to gain strength. And so William returned to Germany in 1933 — the same year his uncle Adolf became chancellor — in order to take advantage of his uncle’s connections.
At that point, Adolf Hitler got his nephew a job at Reich Credit Bank. William also went on to work an Opel automobile factory and as a car salesman. But he was unsatisfied, and wanted a slice of his uncle’s power.
According to David Gardner, who wrote a book called The Last Of The Hitlers, William Patrick Hitler was “a bit of an opportunist as a young man.”
Rather than distancing himself from his uncle as the Nazi regime became more restrictive and violent, William took advantage of his last name to galavant around Berlin, attend parties, and meet women. This displeased his uncle, who sent spies to keep an eye on his nephew.
German Federal Archives Adolf Hitler in 1934.
“I could not even go on an outing without risking a summons to Hitler,” William complained.
And before long, William Patrick Hitler and Adolf Hitler’s relationship would take an even more sour turn.
Becoming Adolf Hitler’s ‘Loathsome Nephew’
One of the main points of contention that emerged between Adolf Hitler and William Patrick Hitler was William’s mother, Bridget. Adolf allegedly did not allow William to send any of the money he had made working in Germany back to his mother, because he viewed England as an enemy country.
Wikimedia CommonsWilliam Patrick Hitler’s mother, Bridget Dowling in 1941.
William allegedly started blackmailing Adolf Hitler, threatening to reveal embarrassing family secrets if he didn’t get William a higher-paying job and treat him better. It’s been reported that one threat involved spreading the rumor that Adolf’s paternal grandfather was really a Jewish merchant.
Adolf, who called William his “loathsome nephew” publicly fumed: “I didn’t become Chancellor for the benefit of my family… No one is going to climb on my back.”
He did offer William a high-ranking job, but only on the condition that William relinquish his British citizenship. William, wary of being trapped in Germany, refused. Uncle and nephew had one final confrontation, which William recorded in a 1939 article for Look magazine entitled “Why I Hate My Uncle.”
“I shall never forget the last time he sent for me,” William wrote in the article. “He was in a brutal temper when I arrived. Walking back and forth, brandishing his horsehide whip… he shouted insults at my head as if he were delivering a political oration. His vengeful brutality on that day made me fear for my physical safety.”
Look MagazineWilliam Patrick Hitler’s article “Why I Hate My Uncle” in Look Magazine.
William went even further, detailing everything from Adolf’s love of entertaining “beautiful women” to his suicidal tendencies to the oppression and intimidation tactics he used to manage his regime.
By then, William Patrick Hitler had left Germany for good — and made his way to the United States with his mother.
How William Patrick Hitler Fought For The Allies During World War II
When World War II began, William Patrick Hitler was in the United States. He had already tried to join the British Army, and been rebuffed, and decided to try again with the Americans. He purportedly first went to a recruiting office, where the induction officer thought he was making a joke when he said his name was “Hitler.” The officer allegedly responded “Glad to see you, Hitler. My name’s Hess,” a reference to the Nazi leader Rudolf Hess.
William was turned away but, according to the United States Navy Memorial, William then appealed directly to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt turned the question over to the FBI, who saw no problem with having a Hitler fighting for the United States. And so William Patrick Hitler, Adolf Hitler’s nephew, officially enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 6, 1944.
He fought in the Pacific Theater, where he earned a Purple Heart.
Wikimedia CommonsWilliam Patrick Hitler was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
After the war, and his uncle’s suicide, William disowned the Hitler side of his family. He changed his name to William Stuart-Houston married, moved to Long Island, and quietly raised a family. He had four sons — Alexander, Louis, Howard, and Brian — none of whom had children of their own.
Since Adolf Hitler had no acknowledged children, this meant the end of the paternal Hitler bloodline. It seemingly ended for good on July 14, 1987, when William Stuart-Houston — once William Patrick Hitler, Adolf Hitler’s “loathsome nephew” — died at the age 76.
After learning about William Patrick Hitler, Adolf Hitler’s “loathsome nephew,” read about Geli Raubal, Hitler’s niece and “only true love.” Then check out these embarrassing photos of Hitler that he tried to get banned.
