When Adolf Hitler shot himself in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945, he left behind not just the ashes of the Third Reich, but a family name permanently stained by history’s darkest legacy. But what happened to those who shared his bloodline? Hitler’s family—siblings, nephews, and distant relations—did not die with him. Some lived quietly in the shadows, others vanished, and a few even vowed to end their bloodline forever.
This is the haunting story of what really happened to Hitler's family after World War II.
The Hitler Family Tree: Twisted Roots
Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889. His father, Alois Hitler, had children from multiple relationships. Adolf had five siblings, though only Paula Hitler—his younger sister—survived into adulthood. His family was complex, and his half-siblings would go on to have children of their own, some of whom would carry the Hitler name into the post-war world.
But after the war, carrying that name became a curse.
Paula Hitler – The Loyal but Forgotten Sister
Paula Hitler, born in 1896, was Adolf’s only full sibling. Unlike her brother, Paula lived a quiet life and stayed mostly out of the public eye. She worked as a secretary under a false name, Paula Wolf, taking on Adolf's favored pseudonym.
After the war, she was arrested and interrogated by U.S. intelligence. She admitted her brother’s crimes but continued to refer to him lovingly. She claimed he was “a good man,” brainwashed by his advisors—a statement that outraged many.
Paula never married and had no children. She lived in obscurity in Berchtesgaden, Germany, and died in 1960 at the age of 64. Her grave is marked under her real name, but very little draws attention to the fact that she was Hitler’s sister. She chose isolation over infamy.
Alois Hitler Jr. – The Wayward Half-Brother
Alois Hitler Jr., Adolf’s half-brother, had a strained relationship with the future dictator. A petty criminal and alcoholic, Alois ran a restaurant in Dublin for a time and even served a prison sentence. He married an Irishwoman, Bridget Dowling, and had a son named William Patrick Hitler—the only direct descendant to openly carry the Hitler name into the 20th century.
Alois later abandoned Bridget and returned to Germany. He had several more children and was reportedly treated well under Adolf's regime. However, as the war ended, Alois disappeared from the public eye. He survived the war and died in Germany in 1956, mostly forgotten.
William Patrick Hitler – The Nephew Who Turned on the Führer
Perhaps the most fascinating and controversial relative was William Patrick Hitler, Adolf Hitler’s British-born nephew. Born in 1911 in Liverpool, he met his uncle Adolf in the 1930s and briefly lived in Nazi Germany. He reportedly tried to use his family ties to gain favor but was rebuffed.
Frustrated, he returned to England and then moved to the United States in 1939. Once war broke out, William gave anti-Hitler lectures across America, speaking out against the regime. In a shocking twist, he even joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a medical corpsman during the war.
After the war, William Patrick changed his last name to Stuart-Houston, married, and had four sons. He lived in Long Island, New York, and worked as a medical technician. Despite his controversial heritage, he kept a low profile. He died in 1987.