The Life of Adolf Hitler’s Only Sister

Work and Forbidden Marriage

Doctor Erwin Jekelius

In the early 1920s, Paula Hitler had moved to Vienna. Although her brother had pursued his big dreams of being a painter and political leader, Paula had chosen a more peaceful and simple life.

She worked for a time as a housekeeper for several wealthy families and ironically for a Jewish dormitory. After Paula left cleaning behind, she made a living doing secretary work until during the war, she worked in a military hospital.

Little is known about Paula Hitler’s political leanings. During her work in the Jewish dormitory, its residents never reported any prejudice being shown against them. This is further supported by her not joining any movement in support of her brother and the Nazi Party

However, investigators discovered that during World War II she was engaged to Doctor Erwin Jekelius, a Third Reich officer and one of the main sacrificers of the Nazis, responsible for murdering at least 4,000 people in the gas chambers.

But the marriage was forbidden by Adolf, who had Jekelius arrested and sent to the Eastern Front, where he died in a prison camp.

“For me, discovering that Paula was going to marry Jekelius was one of the most surprising revelations of my career,” commented historian Timothy Ryback. “She bought the whole thing: hook, line and plumb line.”

Despite her knowledge of Hitler’s gaits, there was a strange dichotomy in Paula Hitler’s head. Although she did not support her brother’s political and social actions, she adored her older brother. She often regretted moving and expressed her great delight at the infrequent meetings.

In an interrogation by the United States Army, Paula claimed that her brother had not ordered the extermination of millions of people. She didn’t believe so, that just didn’t fit the brother she knew.

It was later discovered that Adolf assumed the role of the protective father so much that he once struck Paula. Paula took it as a correction in her education.

In fact, it seemed that Adolf had “affection” for his younger sister. After she lost her job, he supported her financially throughout the war and until his suicide in 1945.