Hitler Living in Liverpool

Hitler Living in Liverpool

Hitler's brother Alois living in Liverpool

The story of Hitler Living in Liverpool begins with his half-brother called Alois.

Alois had a bad reputation and spent many years in prison for theft. He left prison in 1909 and moved to Ireland. Here he met his future wife Bridget Dowling.

Alois and Bridget moved from Ireland to Liverpool.  They moved to 102 Upper Stanhope Street in Toxteth.

Alois worked in Liverpool as a waiter. German waiters were common in Britain at this time. So much so that during World War One, British soldiers shouted “Waiter” over the trenches at Germans.

In the 1911 Census, Alois was listed as Anton Hitler. There is also a son listed (written as ‘sohn’ on the census). Perhaps this is Alois' German spelling of Son? The census also shows he worked at the Jewish-owned Lyons Café in Toxteth.

It is unknown if Alois shared the same chilling views of Jewish people that his half-brother Adolf had.

Adolf Hitler first arrived in Liverpool in November 1912. When Alois invited some of his family from Austria over to visit him in Liverpool.

It is thought that Adolf was escaping Austria because he didn’t want to be drafted into their army.

Hitler the Art Student

Adolf was an out-of-work painter when he decided to move in with Alois and Bridget. He may have known that Liverpool was popular with artists and art schools?

It is a fact that Adolf Hitler was rejected from Art schools across Austria. This supports the idea that he did indeed travel to Liverpool to study art.

Alois Hitler in Liverpool

Adolf's brother Alois who lived in Liverpool between 1910-1914

Young Adolf Hitler Student

A Young Adolf Hitler just before arriving in Liverpool

Roman Liverpool

Hitler's Life in Liverpool

In later interviews, Bridget said that her brother-in-law Adolf spoke little English. She said that he spent most nights wandering the streets of Liverpool alone. Bridget also claimed that Adolf never found a job in Liverpool, but instead spent many nights in the city's Poste House pub.

Bridget claimed that she told Adolf to shave off the sides of his moustache. She also said that she introduced him to Astrology which he later became fascinated with. This could be true as lots of Hitler’s later war decisions would be based on astrology and fortune readings.

Adolf is thought to have lived in Liverpool until April 1913. This is when returned to Austria. Bridget said that Alois was sick of living with him and bought him the ticket to leave.

Soon after, Alois left his wife Bridget and returned to Germany. She took their scouse son William Hitler and went to live in America. William Hitler later changed his name to Houston and joined the Army to fight against his Uncle Adolf! In January 1942, during the war, the Hitlers’ old home in Liverpool was destroyed by German bombers.

We know about Hitler’s visit due to the diaries of Bridget Hitler, who wrote all about his visit. However, some people believe Bridget could have invented some of the stories about Adolf's time in Liverpool.

Art Student Hitler Living in Liverpool

An 'imagined' Hitler selfie outside the Liver Building.

Roman Liverpool

The myths of Hitler living in Liverpool

The ‘Hitler in Liverpool’ story is clouded in mystery.

This is because, after the horrors of the war, many of Hitler’s relatives changed their names to avoid being associated with him. This has made it difficult to establish true facts about him.

Some unsupported stories are that Hitler was banned from the Walker art Gallery, or that he drank in Peter Kavanagh’s Pub.

Other unsupported stories are that he worked in the Adelphi and watched Everton Football Club.

Another tale is that Hitler loved the Liver Building so much, that during the Blitz bombings he ordered his Luftwaffe bombers not to destroy it.

The Cartoon story of Hitler in Liverpool