When Adolf Hitler shot himself on 30 April 1945 in his bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, blood spattered onto a sofa.

An examination of this biological trace is now being presented by the British TV station Channel 4 in a two-part documentary: Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator.

An international research group, including a team of researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University led by Professor Ditte Demontis, has mapped parts of Hitler’s genome based on the bloodstain that an American officer cut out of the sofa upholstery.

The analysis paints the picture of a man with unusual biology – but also a picture that requires considerable caution in interpretation.

Debunking the myth of Jewish ancestry

The analysis of Hitler’s DNA helps dispel the myth that he supposedly had Jewish ancestry. But it reveals something else: Adolf Hitler stands out genetically when it comes to predisposition for certain psychiatric disorders and brain developmental conditions.

Professor Ditte Demontis and her research group conducted what is known as a polygenic risk score test. This summarizes into a single number the common genetic variants in a person’s genome that increase the likelihood of a disorder such as schizophrenia. By comparing the score with that of other people in the population, one can determine where a person’s genetic baseline lies relative to others in terms of the risk of developing a given disease or psychiatric condition.

And here, Hitler stands out, the researcher explains:

“I was surprised that Adolf Hitler ranks in the top 1 percent for the polygenic score for autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. None of the 37,000 population-based individuals scored as high on all three parameters. He therefore stands out extremely from the general population,” says Ditte Demontis.

Surrounded by mystery and speculation

But the surprising finding does not mean that Hitler necessarily had a psychiatric diagnosis or developmental disorder. Among people in the Danish population with a score equivalent to Hitler’s, the likelihood of being diagnosed with autism, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia is about five percent.

“I want to strongly emphasize that the study cannot be used to diagnose the notorious dictator. And polygenic scores do not say anything about a person’s morals or actions. Making that link is not scientifically valid,” says Ditte Demontis.

“The study has value as a scientific and historical exploration. It can contribute to examining myths and generating scientific information within a narrative that for decades has been shrouded in speculation,” she says, noting that the hypothesis that Hitler had a psychiatric disorder has existed for many years.

“Through his DNA, we now have the opportunity, at a purely genetic level, to shed light on some of the questions that have been raised over time,” she says.

A hidden condition: Kallmann syndrome

One of the most striking findings is that, according to the genetic profile, Hitler likely had Kallmann syndrome – a rare hormonal disorder that inhibits pubertal development. It can lead to underdeveloped genitalia and fertility problems. For some individuals, it can also make sexual relationships difficult.

The finding provides a biological perspective on longstanding historical speculation about Hitler’s sexuality and complex relationships with women.

Professor Ditte Demontis was not responsible for the sequencing of Hitler’s DNA, but she was contacted afterward to perform scientific analyses.

The main figure behind the study is British geneticist and biologist Professor Turi King, known for her work in forensic genetics and historical DNA research.

“I agreed to illuminate Adolf Hitler’s genetic profile regarding predispositions for psychiatric conditions because it was important that it be done scientifically robustly, and that the results be communicated correctly,” says Ditte Demontis.

“The study expands the understanding of Hitler as a historical figure by also including his biology. It provides a glimpse of how we can apply modern genetic technologies to historical individuals – and it raises important questions about how such data should be interpreted responsibly.”

Contact

Professor Ditte Demontis
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Phone: +45 28 53 97 46
Email: ditte@biomed.au.dk