The myth persists to this day that possibly the most evil man who ever lived, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was really called Schicklgruber. But it is, in fact, wholly untrue.

Like so many misconceptions of this kind, there is a grain of fact in the story. His father, Alois, was illegitimate, and originally known by his mother's surname which was, indeed, Schicklgruber. But he took the name of his stepfather (who may quite possibly have been his real father) "Hitler" long before Adolf was even born, and he was never known by any other surname. Claims that there were variant spellings of the name are also untrue. On a psychological level it is entirely understandable that the allies leapt on the notion that the notorious dictator had such a ridiculous name.

On the subject of Hitler myths, it has now been more or less disproven that he was part Jewish (though perhaps more telling is the fact that HE may have believed it) and that he survived the war.

On the matter of his testicular deficiencies, the jury is still out.

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