Franz Jetzinger
Encyclopedia
Franz Jetzinger was an Austrian clergyman, academic, politician, civil servant, editor and author. He remains especially famous as author of the book Hitler’s Youth.
. He became a Jesuit priest and professor at the philosophic-theological academy in Linz
. In this capacity he visited, amongst other places, Palestine
in 1908.
During the First World War, Jetzinger served as a military chaplain. In 1918 he began an intensive political career: first in the German People’s Party (electoral district Ried
) and from 1919 on in the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (Socialdemocratic Worker-party). On 14 February 1921 the Catholic Church excommunicated him. From 1919 until 1934, Jetzinger served as social democratic assemblyman in the federal state Diet (electoral district Innviertel
). From 1920 until 1930 he was editor at Tagesblatt. After he had worked as deputy for two years, Jetzinger became District Administrator in 1932 and therefore member of the Upper Austrian federal state government in Linz.
After the ban to take mandates on 12 February 1934, Jetzinger, being a social democrat, was arrested by Dollfuß for five weeks. Afterwards he worked as insurance appointee for the Viennese local government. In 1935 he re-entered the Catholic Church and worked as librarian in the student’s library in Linz.
Having been a member of the federal state government, Jetzinger had secured for himself the Austrian military file of Adolf Hitler
, which included details on Hitler’s arrest in 1914, which took place because he fled from military conscription. After Hitler had annexed Austria in 1938, he repeatedly tried to have the Gestapo
locate and secure the compromising file, but Jetzinger successfully hid it in his attic until 1945, despite his arrest by the Gestapo on 22 April 1944. In 1956, Jetzinger, who hated Hitler and the National Socialist regime, wrote the book Hitler's Jugend (Hitler’s Youth), in which he also published the contents of Hitler’s military file.
, whom Jetzinger accused of spreading falsehoods. While earlier Hitler biographers like Joachim Fest
or Werner Maser adopted Jetzinger’s criticism as their own, Jetzinger’s crushing judgment of Kubizek’s credibility is now challenged by Brigitte Hamann
, author of Hitlers Wien. Hamann asserts personal motives for Jetzinger’s tendency to illustrate nearly every statement in Kubizek’s book as an ex post modification of facts, claiming Jetzinger was economically motivated, because the previous release of Kubizek’s book supposedly undermined the sale of his own work. But has she found any new factual error in the Jetzinger work, and what might be Hamann's motives?
Jetzinger's work continues to inspire. In 2007, the BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio play titled Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mr Hitler, a largely counter-factual work written by a pair of established Jewish screenwriters who freely credit Hitler's Youth for the factual basis which launched their enterprise a decade earlier.
Life and work
After graduating from school, Jetzinger studied at the theological faculty of the university of SalzburgSalzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. He became a Jesuit priest and professor at the philosophic-theological academy in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
. In this capacity he visited, amongst other places, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in 1908.
During the First World War, Jetzinger served as a military chaplain. In 1918 he began an intensive political career: first in the German People’s Party (electoral district Ried
Ried
Ried is a geographical name for:*Places in Germany**Ried, Bavaria in Landkreis Aichach-Friedberg in Bavaria**District of the city Schrobenhausen, Bavaria**Part of Ebersburg in the District of Fulda in Hessen...
) and from 1919 on in the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (Socialdemocratic Worker-party). On 14 February 1921 the Catholic Church excommunicated him. From 1919 until 1934, Jetzinger served as social democratic assemblyman in the federal state Diet (electoral district Innviertel
Innviertel
The Innviertel is a traditional Austrian region south-east of the Inn river. It forms the western part of the state of Upper Austria and borders the German state of Bavaria...
). From 1920 until 1930 he was editor at Tagesblatt. After he had worked as deputy for two years, Jetzinger became District Administrator in 1932 and therefore member of the Upper Austrian federal state government in Linz.
After the ban to take mandates on 12 February 1934, Jetzinger, being a social democrat, was arrested by Dollfuß for five weeks. Afterwards he worked as insurance appointee for the Viennese local government. In 1935 he re-entered the Catholic Church and worked as librarian in the student’s library in Linz.
Having been a member of the federal state government, Jetzinger had secured for himself the Austrian military file of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, which included details on Hitler’s arrest in 1914, which took place because he fled from military conscription. After Hitler had annexed Austria in 1938, he repeatedly tried to have the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
locate and secure the compromising file, but Jetzinger successfully hid it in his attic until 1945, despite his arrest by the Gestapo on 22 April 1944. In 1956, Jetzinger, who hated Hitler and the National Socialist regime, wrote the book Hitler's Jugend (Hitler’s Youth), in which he also published the contents of Hitler’s military file.
Hitler’s Youth
Jetzinger gained fame in 1958 through the English version of his book Hitler’s Youth, in which he could refute many of Hitler’s statements about his early years. Moreover, Jetzinger attracted attention by attacking an earlier published book The Young Hitler I Knew by August KubizekAugust Kubizek
August Kubizek was a close friend of Adolf Hitler when both were in their late teens. He later wrote about their friendship.-Early life:...
, whom Jetzinger accused of spreading falsehoods. While earlier Hitler biographers like Joachim Fest
Joachim Fest
Joachim Clemens Fest was a German historian, journalist, critic and editor, best known for his writings and public commentary on Nazi Germany, including an important biography of Adolf Hitler and books about Albert Speer and the German Resistance...
or Werner Maser adopted Jetzinger’s criticism as their own, Jetzinger’s crushing judgment of Kubizek’s credibility is now challenged by Brigitte Hamann
Brigitte Hamann
Brigitte Hamann Ph.D., is a German-Austrian author and historian based in Vienna.Born Brigitte Deitert in Essen, Germany, she studied history in Münster and Vienna and for a time worked as a journalist in her native Essen...
, author of Hitlers Wien. Hamann asserts personal motives for Jetzinger’s tendency to illustrate nearly every statement in Kubizek’s book as an ex post modification of facts, claiming Jetzinger was economically motivated, because the previous release of Kubizek’s book supposedly undermined the sale of his own work. But has she found any new factual error in the Jetzinger work, and what might be Hamann's motives?
Jetzinger's work continues to inspire. In 2007, the BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio play titled Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mr Hitler, a largely counter-factual work written by a pair of established Jewish screenwriters who freely credit Hitler's Youth for the factual basis which launched their enterprise a decade earlier.