Address: Alpenwirtschaft Vorderorand, Gemeinde Königsee (Kreis Berchtesgaden)
Particulars: Investigation ordered by Lt. Bronfen
Report: 1. Born Rauschergut, Gemeinde Fischelham, Kreis Lambach
(Oberoesterreich) on November 21, 1896
(quoted as 21 January 1896 on her gravestone in
Berchtesgaden)
2. Education: Volksschule and Lyzeum Linz
3. Party - membership before 1933: none
4. Party - membership during the Nazi regime: none
5. Party - membership today: none
6. Yesterday the undersigned was visiting Mrs. Paula Wolf in the
Alpenwirtschaft Vorderbrand and got the following information from Mrs. Wolf concerning
her life:
"I adopted my name Paula Wolf many years ago to avoid the interest of the
public which was unwelcome to me. I am in possession of a passport with the name of Paula
Wolf with the erroneously registered date of birth November
21, 1896. In fact I was born
8 months earlier. Until today I was not interested in a correction of the date of my
birth, moreover it has never been necessary. (on
her gravestone, the date of birth is quoted as 21 January 1896)
I was born at the Rauschergut in Hafeld, Gemeinde Fischelham (upper Austria),
which belonged to my father, the retired Custom - House - Officer Alois Hitler. It was a
small property of approximately 50 Joch (the Joch,
the word means, "Yoke", was a unit of area of about an Acre
in size and was derived from the amount of land an Ox
could plough in a day). My parents sold the farm however when I was only 2 - 3 years old since my
father could not manage the farm on account of his age of nearly 60 years. I was the
youngest child out of the second marriage of my father (there is an error here as she
was the youngest child of her father's third, not second marriage, the first being childless). We have been 4 brothers and sisters. Of the altogether 8 children of my
father out of his first and second marriage (actually the second and third), 4 died
young of infant diseases. My step - brother Alois (he was her half - brother, not step
- brother), who is living in Hamburg as far as I know, was the eldest, next came my
sister Angela (another error, as Angela was Paula's half - sister, and full - sister to
Alois) and at last my brother Adolf, born April
20, 1889 in Braunau. I liked my
brother (Adolf) best of all my brothers and sisters (again she does not
differentiate between half and full kin) in spite of the difference in age.
Our father was Waldviertier (a name given to a poor area and those living
there) from Lower Austria. He was frequently transferred as Custom - House - Officer,
at last he was employed in Passau, Braunau and Linz and he retired in Linz, 58 years old.
Probably my father married for the second time in Braunau. My mother was 23 years his
junior. Also she came from Waldviertel. Her parents have been the farmers Polzl in Spital
near Veitra, where my mother was born on August 12,
1860. She had six brothers and
sisters. I cannot remember anything of my father's first wife.
The married life of my parents was a very happy one, in spite of their very
unlike characters. My father, who was of great harshness in the education of his children
and who only spoiled me as the pet of the family, was the absolute type of the old
Austrian official, conservative and loyal to his emperor to the skin. My mother, however,
was a very soft and tender person, the compensatory element between the almost too harsh
father and the very lively children who perhaps were somewhat difficult to train. If there
were ever quarrel or difference of opinion between my parents it was always on account of
the children.
It was especially my brother Adolf, who challenged my father to extreme
harshness and who got his sound thrashing every day. He was a scrubby little rogue, and
all attempts of his father to thrash him for his rudeness and to cause him to love the
profession of an official of the estate were in vain. How often on the other hand did my
mother caress him and try to obtain with her kindness, were the father could not succeed
with harshness!
Of my other brothers and sisters I especially remember my stepsister Angela as
a beautiful girl. Also she was watched by my father very harshly. He was examining every
wooer with the strict demand that only a civil servant was allowed to marry her. Really in
1903 she married the Revenue officer Leo Raubal in Linz, who died very young in 1910.
After his death my sister with her 3 children went on to live in Linz for a short time.
Then she removed to Vienna. Later on she married the university professor Hammitzsch in
Dresden. They had no children. I visited my sister in Dresden twice, but until today I
have not got any news from her. I guess that she has found a refuge somewhere in Upper
Austria.
In the beginning of January 1903 my father died of heart failure. He was
carried home dead from his morning pint. Four years later on December
21, 1907, far too
early for me and my brother Adolf, for we were both sincerely fond of my mother, my mother
died too. Both are buried on the churchyard of Leonding near Linz. During this time my
mother was severely ill we were most unhappy. Assisting me, my brother Adolf spoiled my
mother during this time of her life with overflowing tenderness. He was indefatigable in
his care for her, wanted to comply with any desire she could possible have and did all to
demonstrate his great love for her. Her last desire was accomplished; she was buried
beside the father. We accompanied her on her last way from Linz to Leonding, where she was
buried on December 23, 1907.
Of those last years we lived together with my mother I especially remember the
cheerfulness of my brother and his extraordinary interest for history, geography,
architecture, painting and music. At school he was nothing less
than a show boy, came home
with bad school reports and admonitions. At home every day he was sitting for hours on the
beautiful Heitzmann grand piano, my mother had given him. This extraordinary interest for
music, especially for Wagner and Listz, remained with him for all his life. Particularly
strong was even at that time already his interest for the theatre and especially for the
opera. I can remember that he was visiting the opera house 13 times to hear "Die
Gotterdammerung". His Christmas present for his mother has always been a theatre
ticket. He was also pursuing aquarelle - painting (watercolour painting) already
during his school years, but more seriously in Vienna and later in Munich. Very often he
used to give lectures on themes concerning history and policy to my mother and to me in a
rhetorical way.
A few days after my mother's death my brother moved to Vienna. I remained in
our flat in Linz, where my mother's sister was keeping house. In the few letters I got
from my brother from Vienna - in the meantime I had become pupil of the Lyzeum - he was
recommending certain books to me and gave well-meaning advice. I remember that he once
sent me the book "Don Quichote" (Don Quixote) from Vienna, which - as
he meant - would particularly enjoy me. Naturally he was the great brother for me, but I
submitted to his authority only with inner resistance. In fact we were brother and sister,
who did frequently quarrel, but were fond of each other, and yet often spoiled each
other's pleasure of living together. A last attempt of my aunt in 1908 to persuade him to
take up the career of an official was in vain. From that time he ceased to write letters
to us. I did not hear from him for years, when at last in 1921 I saw him again in Vienna.
In the meantime I had moved to Vienna myself. But what occurrences of the time had
meanwhile passed over Europe, war and the years after the war with their exorbitant
suffering! Only then I was told by my brother, that in 1913 he had moved from Vienna to
Munich and that he had taken up aquarelle - painting entirely. I had the impression that
he was successful. He told me of his wonderful adventures of war - comradeship, of his
injury, and his blindness in the war hospital Pasewalk. At that time he was already leader
of the NSDAP. I can I admit that I can remember this meeting with my brother always as a
great and happy event. Living alone and in modest conditions in Vienna, I happened to meet
my brother I had imagined lost through the war, who was showing his love for me and giving
me presents, which meant exorbitant luxury for me! It were few but happy days we spent
together in Vienna. He went back to Munich while I stayed in Vienna and earned my living
as secretary in an insignificant office.
On account of the separation a close living together with my brother was
impossible. It was the same with us as with most families. As soon as the parents are
dead, the children withdraw from one another. Not I, but my step-sister Angela kept house
for my brother in House Wachenfeld, which later on became the "Berghof".
When my brother became more and more active and the name "Hitler" was
known in Vienna, I had difficulties to such an extent, that I was at last dismissed from
my position. At that time I changed my name to "Wolf". I went to Munich and
described my difficult position of life to my brother. With full understanding he assured
me that he would provide for me in future. He did so until his death and at first
transferred the sum of 250 Mk, later on since 1938 - the sum of 500 Mk to me. Moreover I
got a present of 3000 Mk every Christmas.
Not only with my brother but also with my step-sister Angela I met very seldom,
since my sister was living in Dresden. I only came to Berchtesgaden at different times
invited by my brother and was rarely spending more to 8 - 14 days in the Berghof. This was
one of the rare opportunities for me to see my brother.
So I could witness the years of rise and power of my brother only from afar. I
was much too fond of Vienna to leave it. My relationship with my brother remained as
affectionate as it was unto his death, but I have never been very ambitious for myself and
never appeared at official fetes. I was often told in Vienna that I did never show off but
always did just the opposite.
Already in my youth and also in later years I used to spend my holidays at my
aunt in Spital, the home - place of my mother I was so very fond of because of its beauty
and its magnificent woods. My Aunt Theres Schmid had always been like a mother to me since
my mother dies far too early. I was deeply sorry when I heard that my cousin Marie
Koppensteiner has been misplaced with her family by the Russians. I nearly lose courage to
go on living after all disaster I experienced since more than a year.
In 1941 / 42 I had bought a little house in Weiten in the Wachau with the
assistance of my brother. It was an old villa I had furnished simply and comfortably. I
did this without the help of an architect. This house was robbed and expropriated by the
Russians. I still possess a small apartment consisting of two rooms in Vienna which is
occupied by Americans. My intention to go back to Vienna can scarcely be realised at
present.
I was in my house in Lower - Austria when in the middle of April 1945 I was
fetched by two SS - Men in a motor car. Both SS - Men declared that they had an order to
call for me. I had made preparations for my departure, had packed up all in trunks,
chests, and boxes, which were fetched off by a truck on the next day, and went with some
small luggage to Berchtesgaden. All my big luggage was brought to the hotel
Berchtesgadener Hof. When the Americans were about to enter Berchtesgaden I was brought to
the Dietrich - Eckardhutte, where I was permitted to remain until December 1945.
Christmas 1945 I spent already in my present lodgings Alpenwirtschaft
Worderbrand. The family of the lessee Franz Beer, living there already since 1921 is
treating me very kindly. I like to be here and try to help by working in the kitchen.
At present I have no troubles in pecuniary respect, since I could take with me
about 10,000 Mk of my savings. I deposited this money at the Bayerische Hypothoken und
Wechselbank at Berchtesgaden. But at present I do not earn money nor am I in possession of
a fortune. I intend to live as long as possible from my savings. For my small room and
board I pay 6 Mk per day to the family Beer.
Unfortunately I lost all my luggage secured at the Berchtesgadener Hof. All I
possess of clothing and linen was in the small suitcase I could bring here.
I can dispose of my bank account sine I was not a member of the Party or any
Party organisation. The policy of my brother, his ideas and terms were no reason for me to
enter the Party. It has never been the wish of my brother. But if it had been his wish I
would have entered the Party to please him.
I do not believe that my brother ordered the crime committed to innumerable
human beings in the concentration - camps or that he even knew of these crimes. It may be
possible however, that the hard years during his youth in Vienna caused his anti-Jewish
attitude. He was starving severely in Vienna and he believed that his failure in painting
was only due to the fact that trade in works of art was in Jewish hands.
Closing remarks of the Agent.
If further investigations prove that the declarations of Mrs. Paula Wolf
are true there can be no doubt in her sincerity, at least as far as she is describing her
own life and her relationship to her brother. Unworthy of belief, however, is her
declaration that she did never know anything about the innumerable crimes which were
committed during the government of her brother and under his immediate responsibility, and
that she was never told of these crimes. She also insisted on the fact that she never
noticed his threat to destroy the Jews in Europe and to crush all his enemies in his
speeches which were transferred by radio over the whole world and also to Vienna! And what
a contrast of this Adolf Hitler who according to her own declarations was radiant with
kindness with the brutal man he really was! The tactics to have been unaware of all what
happened during 12 years of Nazi terror are only too well known and unable to convince
even an unprejudiced man.
This woman is not in the least denying the fact that she was extremely fond of
her brother whose death, by the way she does not doubt. The likeness to her brother in
appearance, look and physiognomy is striking and intensifies the longer one is in her
presence. I could bring her a typewriter ribbon she needed for her small Erika typewriter.
After answering my questions dilatorily in the beginning she was later on talking freely
and with increasing confidence. There was a certain charm in her modesty and her simple
manner of speaking. The surroundings, the terrace of the Alpenwirtschaft with its unique
view over the land of Berchtesgaden made a strong impression on the agent. But this woman
must not be allowed to become the protectress of the mountain in which the sole of her
brother is only lying dormant to rise again to new life and to new crimes against human
nature. Reporters desiring for sensational news are not to work their way up the mountain
to cable into the world with charming stories the Hitler - Myth which will inevitable
arise. Too many German authors would greedily snatch at such news to offer an immortal
hero of the type of Barbarrosa to youth always longing for romanticism. What enrichment
for the gallery of heroes of German history, for the academical youth for spur and
emulation!
And what a chance for skilfully camouflaged militarists like Doctor Lenz,
Laufen who is president of the district of the OSU is making provoking speeches with the
theme: Germany as a bastion against communism in east and west, or translated into good
German: "Get strong for a revenge - war against Russia and against the communistic
France!"
No, it must not come to that! The suffering of innumerable human beings in
concentration camps and penitentiaries the sacrifice of life of comrades of the European
and last not least of the German underground - movements, all what was done by Allies
Forces to suppress Nazism, all would be in vain! No vindictiveness against a lonely, at
least with regard to her actions guiltless woman. But get her away from publicity. She
could become a germ cell for a new disaster, maybe against her own wishes. One thing is
certain: the American, who visited her and declared that the question who is to blame for
all what happened since 12 years war and crimes, destruction and death, can only be
answered by future generations, will not remain the only one. Many people, Americans and
other, will come and bear a share to show Hitler as what he has never been: a kind man and
a great Leader.