While sitting around the dining room table discussing everyday matters, Philippe Loret and his six siblings were interrupted by their father, Jean-Marie, who had shocking news to share.
“Out of nowhere, my father said, ‘Kids, I’ve got something to tell you. Your grandfather is Adolf Hitler,’ ” recalls Philippe.
“There was complete silence; no one knew how to respond. We were all at a loss for words.”
Though it was 40 years ago, Philippe, now 56, still grapples with how to process that revelation.
He has never publicly addressed that conversation nor the possibility of being the grandson of history’s most notorious dictator.
Once a plumber for the French air force, he has concealed it from all but his closest friends, never revealing it to his colleagues or even his partner’s family.
This marks the first occasion Philippe has spoken out about his lineage publicly, agreeing to do so only with new evidence that supports his father’s claims.
The narrative surrounding Hitler’s secret offspring has polarized historians for many years.
Jean-Marie passed away in 1985 at the age of 67, but two months ago, compelling evidence came to light through his lawyer, Francois Gibault, in Paris’s Le Point magazine.
Tests confirmed that Jean-Marie shared the same blood type as Hitler and exhibited similar handwriting.
Hitler did not have any officially recognized children and never met or acknowledged Jean-Marie.
However, records from the German army indicate that officers delivered envelopes filled with cash to Charlotte during World War II.
After Charlotte’s death, Jean-Marie discovered paintings in her attic that were signed by Hitler, and a portrait of a woman painted by Hitler bore an uncanny resemblance to Charlotte.
Most notably, the striking likeness… a likeness that Philippe undeniably inherits.
It manifests in his dimpled chin, square jaw, and intense eyes.
Philippe emphasizes that he does not take pride in his potential connection to Hitler, yet he admits he feels no unhappiness about it either.
There is an oddly unsettling aspect to his swept-back hairstyle and moustache, features most people would likely avoid if they were said to be related to Hitler.
Upon entering his spacious one-bedroom flat in the tranquil town of Saint-Quentin in Picardy, northern France, visitors are drawn to two portraits of the Fuhrer flanking an oil painting of a vase of flowers on the wall.
The rest of the flat, however, is inviting, adorned with warm yellow walls and antique furnishings. Philippe’s partner, Veronique, 46, a school caretaker, busily prepares tea while chatting. Their paths crossed shortly after Philippe’s wife, Rosalyn, passed away in 1991; they had three children together.
Veronique clearly cherishes Philippe, who is currently not working due to a heart condition, stating that his possible lineage to Hitler changes nothing. Like Philippe, she believes in the authenticity of the claims.
Philippe seems remarkably unfazed by the notion of being a direct descendant of the architect of the death camps and Holocaust.
Speaking softly while chain-smoking Belgian cigars, Philippe asserts: “I believe I am Hitler’s grandson. Without a doubt, I am. The evidence supports this. If people doubt it, that’s their concern.
“My father communicated this to me. My mother is still living and believes it too. He is part of who I am as a family member, hence him being on my wall. Hitler is family to me. It’s not my fault that I became his grandson or that the war unfolded as it did. His actions do not define me. To me, he will always be family.
“When I first received this news, my main focus was on girls, so I didn’t ponder it deeply. I was aware of who Hitler was.”– Although I studied him at school, I kept it from my classmates. My personal life was none of their business.
“I married Rosalyn in 1977, at 21 years old while she was just 19. Initially, she resisted accepting it, but eventually she adapted. Veronique also found it hard to accept at first, yet she doesn’t mind now because her love for me prevails.”
Philippe’s optimistic outlook contrasts sharply with Jean-Marie’s struggle to reconcile what his mother had passed down to him—the knowledge of his father.
Philippe remarks: “When my father finally revealed to us that Hitler was his father, he felt a sense of pride in being Hitler’s son. Initially, he struggled with this revelation. He was uncomfortable with it, but over time, he managed to come to terms with it.”
In 1981, Jean-Marie authored a book titled Your Father’s Name Was Hitler, wherein he recounted his mother’s narrative shared with him in his 20s. Charlotte disclosed that his conception occurred during a “tipsy” night with Hitler in June 1917.
She recounted a brief affair with the Fuhrer while he was on leave in the town of Fournes-in-Weppe near Lille. It was an unorthodox pairing, given that she was 16 and Hitler was 28; he was unable to speak French, and she had no knowledge of German.
They would stroll together, but Charlotte recounted to Jean-Marie: “Most of these walks ended poorly. In fact, your father would often start grand speeches inspired by nature, which I couldn’t really grasp. He ranted in German to an imaginary crowd, despite not being able to speak French.”
by Mike Hansom
