Page 42 - All About History - Issue 180-19
P. 42
In 1929, Hitler moved back to Munich, taking
a flat on Prinzregentenstraße and bringing Geli “there was a hole in Hitler’s life where
along with him. The rumours of a relationship
between the two of them skyrocketed, but the vivacious young woman had been”
neither party seemed to care for a while.
Ernst Hanfstaengel, a close friend of Hitler’s,
commented that Geli was the “one woman official photographer Heinrich Hoffmann, “Being Geli’s response was simple and to the point:
in [Hitler’s] life who went some way towards loved is boring, but to love a man, you know, to “I have to go to Vienna, Uncle Alf, because I’m
curing his impotence”, and the pair seemed good love him – that’s what life is about. And when going to have a baby.”
together. Hitler enjoyed showing his half-niece you can love and be loved at the same time, it’s Blazing rows weren’t out of the ordinary for
off, and Geli didn’t mind the attention. The soon- paradise.” She wasn’t speaking of her uncle – those the pair – the neighbours didn’t bat an eyelid.
to-be politician even encouraged his paramour to words were all about Maurice. Hitler left for Hamburg that evening, off on the
receive weapons training, and insisted that she But there were other whispers around Munich campaign trail, and Geli was desperate. She
carried a loaded pistol with her for protection. about what Geli was up to. Some evidence couldn’t leave, not with both her uncle and her
Feeling like she was in a Western, Geli loved it. suggests that she was in a relationship with a man mother so vehemently against the idea, but
But what was lying underneath the surface of this in Vienna, and that she planned to meet him there staying was torturous.
seemingly loving relationship? and they were to marry until Hitler put a stop to it, Residents in neighbouring flats apparently
Violence, jealousy, aggression and perhaps apparently with the support of his half-sister, Geli’s heard a short cry that evening, but they thought
sadism were all part and parcel. According mother. Some said that the man was Jewish, and nothing of it. Why would they? The terrible truth
to both Hanfstaengel and Otto Strasser, Geli that she was pregnant with his child. In fact, the would be uncovered the next morning when
had complained about strange and downright day before Geli’s body was found, that was what Georg Winter, the husband of the housekeeper,
disgusting things she had been asked to do in their latest argument had been about. found the door to the room locked. He opened it
the bedroom, and she was looking for a way out “You say you have to go to Vienna? Is it to see with a screwdriver, only to find the 23-year-old,
of Uncle Alf’s grip. Hitler wouldn’t let her see that filthy Jew, the one who claims to be a singing once so vivacious, face down on the floor. Near her
other people – although apparently that didn’t teacher? Is that it? Have you been seeing him was an unfinished letter addressed to someone in
necessarily stop her when he was away. Rumours secretly again? Have you forgotten I forbade you Vienna, detailing how she would meet them there.
spread that she was sleeping with Emil Maurice, to have anything to do with him? Tell me the Only she would never make it.
Hitler’s chauffeur. They weren’t far off the truth. truth now. Why do you want to go to Vienna?” Geli’s death is still a mystery today. Had
Geli told her friend Henriette, daughter of Hitler’s Hitler had roared. she killed herself, as everyone believed? Nazi
3x © Alamy Geli and Hitler relax in
a garden, circa 1930
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