Edmund Hitler was born on March 24, 1894. He was born in Passau, a town in the German state of Bavaria. This was a period during which the Hitler family had temporarily moved from Braunau am Inn in Austria to Passau in Germany, likely due to the father, Alois Hitler’s, work as a customs official.
In this article, we’ll highlight Edmund’s every detail that we could gather so far.
Edmund’s Death
Edmund died on February 2, 1900. It’s widely accepted that Edmund died of measles, a common childhood disease at the time. Measles, especially in the era before vaccinations, was known to be fatal for many children. He was only 5 years old at the time of his death.
Impact of Edmund’s Death on His Family
The Hitler family had previously faced the deaths of three children (Gustav, Ida, and Otto) before Edmund’s birth, making his death yet another tragedy for the family.
It’s conceivable that such a series of family tragedies could have had emotional and psychological effects on the surviving members, especially the children. Adolf was almost 11 years old at the time of Edmund’s death, an age where such an event could have left a significant imprint.
However, detailed personal accounts or documents detailing Adolf’s feelings on the matter are scarce, so while historians can speculate on the potential impact, definitive conclusions are challenging to draw.
Personal Life
Edmund Hitler’s life was quite short, and therefore, specific details about his daily life and experiences are limited. Most of what we know about the Hitler family during Edmund’s lifetime comes from broader sources that discuss the family dynamics or the life of Adolf Hitler.
Siblings
At the time of his birth, Adolf (born in 1889) was the only surviving sibling, as Gustav and Ida had already passed away. Paula was born two years after Edmund in 1896.
Considering the close age range between Adolf, Edmund, and later Paula, it’s conceivable that they might have shared childhood games and other sibling interactions typical for their age, although specifics are not well-documented.
Daily Life
Life for Edmund, like other children of his time and socioeconomic status, would have been simple. The family might not have been wealthy, but they were not destitute either.
Children of this era played with simple toys, helped with household chores, and were often looked after by older siblings. Being the younger brother, Edmund might have looked up to Adolf, and they could have shared common games and activities.
Schooling
Given his young age at the time of his death, it’s unclear if Edmund had begun attending school. However, if he had, it would have been a basic village school, which typically emphasized rote learning and discipline.
Edmund’s Home
The Hitler home during Edmund’s lifetime was likely a modest one, with basic furniture and amenities. Klara, their mother, was known to be devoted to her children, and given the family’s history of losing children at young ages, it’s possible that she was particularly protective of her younger children.
Conclusion
By the time of Edmund’s birth, the Hitler family had already experienced the deaths of two children, Gustav and Ida, who died young. As the fifth child of Alois and Klara, Edmund had an elder brother, Adolf, who was five years older than him.
