The Story of Adolf Hitler's Nephew: Dissension Within the Ranks

In a letter to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, dated March 3, 1942, a young British subject living in the United States beseeched the President's consent on his clearance for service in the U.S. armed forces. Not unreasonable in its principle, the context of his appeal proved extraordinary. The fourth sentence of this letter underscores the convoluted nature of his request; a request that will spark an FBI investigation and an O.S.S. report. Unmasked and forthright, the author explains his injunction: "I am the nephew and only descendant of the ill-famed Chancellor and Leader of Germany who today so despotically seeks to enslave the free and Christian peoples of the globe." 1

In 1944, the Allied forces and the world prepared for an invasion-unprecedented in size, planning, and scope-against a foe unrivaled in evil and ambition. Germany and its fellow Axis powers, having felled most of Europe, teetered on the precipitous of global domination. Hitler and his generals prepared for the impending attack. William Patrick Hitler, nephew to the villainous demagogue, was undergoing training in the U.S. in preparation for service in the Navy.

Before imploring the attention of President Roosevelt, the Liverpool native had attempted to enlist with the British and Canadian armed forces, both of which denied his requests. After subsequent investigations and reports filed by the F.B.I. and the O.S.S., however, young Hitler's eloquent plea was answered as he was called up for service in the United States Navy in March of 1944.

Not much is known about the specifics of William Patrick's military service. His personnel files, which were located on the 6th floor vault at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, were consumed in a fire on July 12th, 1973. A reconstruction effort in 1974 resulted in a collection of basic service records containing information such as date of entry, date of discharge, character of service, and final rank. 2