HITLER AS A BOY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 19

HITLER AS A BOY

YOUNG Adolf Hitler, now dictator of Germany, was apparently a normal boy during his childhood in an Austrian village, states the Berlin correspondent of the London Observer." New light is thrown on this stage of the Fuhrer's career by a book recently published in Munich. The book deals with the future political leader's formative years between the ages of 10 and 18 (18991907), when he lived at Linz, Upper Austria, and for four years attended the Linz Secondary School. Before Hitler's father died in 1903, his family lived at Leonding, some distance from Linz. Those years seem to have been the happiest of his youth. People say that the young Adolf was full of life and up to all sorts of pranks during the days at Leonding. The author quotes Karl Karning, who lived in a neighbouring village:— "His only game, which he played almost with passion, was the Boer War. Enjoying great respect among the boys, Adolf became their leader and was always the leader of the Boers. The Boers were always recruited from the Leonding lads, while the hated English were represented by the boys from the neighbouring village." His "Workroom" Every morning at 6 young Hitler would leave home to walk several miles to school at Linz. In winter it was dark in the morning and dark when he returned home in the afternoon. He ate his lunch in Linz. But he kept somewhat aloof from the Linz lads in those days, preferring to play with the boys of Leonding. Under the roof at home he had a tiny room he proudly called his "workroom." Young playmates would often be invited up during rainy days. During these years he also displayed his talent for drawing. Often, at night, when others were asleep, he would light a candle and draw landscapes, animals, and people.

Games in an Austrian Village

For the Easter festival he painted Easter eggs with his own special designs. • Although he did not look very strong, the young Adolf was both a good swimmer and gymnast. He swam with other boys in the River Danube, and he certainly was not mollycoddled. Until he was 11 he went barefooted in summrr. After his father's death, when young Adolf was almost 14, things

became more difficult. When his mother was ill during the last two years of her life, 1905-1907, the doctor's bill ate up much money. But the lad did not complain. He became very reserved and kept away from his former schoolmates, taking solitary walks.