Geli Raubal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Angela "Geli" Raubal (June 4, 1908 – September 19, 1931). Born in Linz, Austria, was the second child and eldest daughter of Leo Raubal Sr. and Adolf Hitler's half sister, Angela Raubal. She was Hitler's half-niece and rumored to be his lover (Hitler's own mother Klara was likely his father Alois' niece).
Contents |
[edit] Life and death
After World War II, her first cousin, Willy Hitler described his impression of Geli when he met her in Obersalzberg: "Geli looks more like a child than a girl. You couldn't call her pretty exactly, but she had great natural charm. She usually went without a hat and wore very plain clothes, pleated skirts and white blouses. No jewellery except a gold swastika given to her by Uncle Adolf, whom she called Uncle Alf."[1]
As he rose to power as leader of the Nazi Party, Hitler kept a tight rein over his niece. He did not allow her to associate with friends freely and attempted to have himself or someone he trusted near her at all times. Despite Hitler's efforts to control her however, she was a free-spirited young woman who often did as she pleased whenever and wherever possible. She had an affair with Emil Maurice, a founding member of the SS and at the time, Hitler's chauffeur. Maurice was dismissed as a result, but later rehired and promoted. Emil later claimed that he "...loved her, but it was a strange affection that did not dare show itself."
Raubal was found dead from a gunshot wound to the heart in Hitler's Munich apartment on the morning of September 19, 1931, at the age of 23. The official cause of death was listed as suicide. It cannot be known how objective the Munich police were in the investigation though, as Hitler already had considerable influence with them. There were many rumours, including one that Hitler shot her (or had her shot) for infidelity since she was killed by a bullet fired from his gun. By all accounts they argued intensely in the days leading to her death.
After her death Hitler threatened to commit suicide (he had made similar threats during past moments of personal crisis or defeat, most notably after the failed Beer Hall Putsch). Many historians believe Hitler was deeply in love with her and that after she died he was a changed man (for the worse).[2] The many sketches of his which survived the war included some ordinary nudes and at least one of these depicted Raubal.
Before Raubal's death however, Hitler was also seeing 19-year-old Eva Braun whom he had known for two years (and who would attempt suicide at least twice before marrying and committing suicide with him in the space of a day and a night 14 years later). Most historians surmise Raubal was distraught over her incestuous relationship with Hitler, could not escape it and killed herself as a result.
Geli Raubal is buried in Vienna's Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof).
[edit] References
- ^ Giblin, James Cross, "The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler", Clarion Books, New York (2002)
- ^ Success and a Suicide, The History Place
[edit] Fiction
Author Ron Hansen's 1995 historical fiction novel Hitler's Niece follows Hitler's and Raubal's relationship from the time of her birth throughout her life, with most of the story occurring during Hitler's rise to power in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Author Michael Moorcock used the theme of her alleged suicide as the basis for his short story, The Nazi Canary, featuring his Sexton Blake-a-like character, 'Sir Seaton Begg'. The story was written for the short fiction collection, McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales, edited by Michael Chabon.
[edit] Film
In the 1944 US propaganda movie The Hitler Gang Raubel is portrayed by Poldi Dur.[1] Her suicide is depicted as the consequence of having been raped by Hitler. The 2003 TV miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil portrays the relationship between Hitler and Raubal, albeit briefly. In the series, Raubal is portrayed by Jena Malone. In the 2005 film Uncle Adolf, she is played by Elaine Cassidy
