In a quiet corner of the Bergfriedhof (Mountain Cemetery) in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, lies a grave with an unusual feature. At first glance, it might seem like any other grave marker. But look closer, and you’ll spot something odd: a small padlock on the left side of the name board. This isn’t just any grave – it’s the final resting place of Paula Hitler, Adolf Hitler’s hidden sister. And that padlock? It’s the key to a secret that’s been carefully guarded for decades.
The Mysterious Grave Marker
Imagine walking through a peaceful cemetery, surrounded by the beauty of the Bavarian Alps. Suddenly, you come across a grave that catches your eye. There’s something different about it. You notice a small padlock on the left side of the name board. It’s not just for show – this padlock serves a purpose. If you could unlock it (which, sadly, we’re not allowed to do), you’d find that the name board is hinged. Lift it up, and you’d reveal something hidden underneath – something that’s been deliberately concealed from public view.
This unusual setup isn’t just a quirky design choice. It’s a deliberate attempt to hide the true identity of the person buried there. But why go to such lengths to conceal a grave? The answer lies in the person’s last name – Hitler.
Who Was Paula Hitler?
Paula Hitler was Adolf Hitler’s only full sister and the only full sibling who lived to adulthood. Born on January 21, 1896, she was the youngest child of Alois Hitler and his third wife, Klara Pölzl. Paula lived a life largely overshadowed by her infamous brother, often hidden from public view.
Early Life
Paula’s childhood wasn’t easy. She grew up in a household dominated by her father, Alois Hitler, who was known for his harsh and bullying behavior. He frequently beat his wife, children, and even the family dog. Paula was only six years old when her father died, and she lost her mother to cancer when she was 11.
After her mother’s death, Adolf briefly became the head of the household. Paula later claimed that he also beat her occasionally, following in their father’s footsteps. However, Adolf soon moved out to pursue his artistic dreams in Vienna, leaving Paula to fend for herself.
Adult Life
As an adult, Paula worked various jobs, including a stint as a housekeeper in a dormitory for Jewish university students. Interestingly, Adolf once visited her at this dormitory in 1921, when he was already becoming a prominent figure in right-wing politics in Munich.
To distance herself from her brother’s growing notoriety, Paula didn’t use the Hitler surname. Instead, she went by the name Wolff, originally her father’s stepfather’s surname before it was changed to Hitler.
The Impact of Adolf Hitler’s Rise to Power
As Adolf Hitler’s fame grew in Germany, Paula’s life became increasingly complicated. She lost her job at the Austrian State Insurance Company in Vienna when her employers discovered her connection to Hitler. However, Adolf, now wealthy and influential as the leader of Germany’s second-largest political party, stepped in to provide her with a monthly pension.
Despite this financial support, Paula saw very little of her brother during his years in power. She claimed to have met him only once a year and encountered Eva Braun, Hitler’s longtime companion, only once during World War II.
The End of the War and Beyond
As World War II drew to a close, Adolf Hitler made provisions for his sisters’ safety. He ordered Martin Bormann to move Paula away from the advancing Red Army. On April 14, 1945, just weeks before Hitler’s suicide, two SS officers drove 49-year-old Paula from Vienna to Berchtesgaden.
After the war, Paula was questioned by the U.S. Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps. While she wasn’t found guilty of any crimes – she had never joined the Nazi party or taken an active role in Hitler’s rise to power – it was noted that she admired her brother and shared many of his nationalistic opinions. She continued to defend his legacy for the rest of her life.
A Life in the Shadows
Paula never married or had children. After the war, she returned to Vienna for a while, working in an arts and crafts shop. On December 1, 1952, she moved back to Berchtesgaden, living under the name Paula Wolff in a tiny two-room apartment.
Despite being left a considerable sum in Hitler’s will, Paula never received the money due to Hitler’s assets being frozen or seized. She survived on welfare payments and financial support from former SS men and members of Hitler’s inner circle.
Towards the end of her life, Paula was interviewed by filmmaker Peter Morley for a British television documentary about her brother. On June 1, 1960, Paula Hitler died of stomach cancer at the age of 64. She was buried in Berchtesgaden’s Bergfriedhof under her real name: Paula Hitler.
The Secret Behind the Padlock
The story of Paula Hitler’s grave is as intriguing as her life. Initially, her grave marker bore her full name. However, in June 2005, it was removed when a new family took over the grave plot. In May 2006, Paula’s original marker was returned, but with a significant change: her contentious surname was now obscured by a hinged board recording the names of a local couple also buried in the same plot.
This is where the padlock comes into play. The hinged board can be unlocked and lifted to reveal Paula’s full name underneath. It’s a clever solution to a delicate problem—how to respect the dead while also acknowledging the sensitivity surrounding Hitler’s name.
The padlock is a physical manifestation of Paula’s complex legacy. It represents the tension between remembrance and concealment, historical fact and public sensibility. In a way, it mirrors how Hitler kept Paula hidden from the limelight during her life.
The Legacy of a Hidden Life
Today, at the foot of Paula’s grave, a glass candle holder shows a photograph of her as a young woman. It’s a poignant reminder of the person behind the infamous name – an unremarkable woman who lived most of her life in the shadow of history’s most reviled figure.
Paula Hitler’s story raises intriguing questions about family, loyalty, and the weight of a name. She went to her grave defending her brother and his crimes, whether out of familial loyalty, ignorance, or perhaps a combination of both. With her death in 1960, Hitler’s direct bloodline also came to an end.
Reflecting on History’s Shadows
The story of Paula Hitler and her hidden grave serves as a powerful reminder of the long-lasting impacts of historical events on individuals and families. It challenges us to consider how we remember and memorialize controversial figures and their relatives.
The padlocked grave in Berchtesgaden is more than just a final resting place. It’s a symbol of the complex relationship between personal and public history, a physical representation of the struggle to reconcile the atrocities of the past with the need for remembrance and respect for the dead.
As we stand before this unusual grave marker, we’re reminded that history is not just about grand events and infamous figures. It’s also about the quiet lives lived in the shadows, untold stories, and secrets hidden behind padlocks and hinged boards in quiet mountain cemeteries.
