Ether Features - 12

Ether Features - 13

Austrias Adolfs

Adolf Andel, copyright Lukas Beck

What would it mean if your name were to carry connotations of the most infamous dictator in the history of the world? That every time you shake a hand, address a letter, hand over your credit card, your name causes awkward silences and minds to automatically think of another individual, who long ago infected the name with images of atrocities history would rather forget. What does it mean if your name is Adolf in Austria? Jake Moss investigates.

I spoke with Adolf Andel, a 55 year old Viennese man, about the impressions and enchantments of his name. When I first became aware of what my name meant it was very embarrassing. Often I would be looked at with raised eyebrows when introducing myself. In recent years it tends not to bother me, its absent from my thoughts, but before there were many circumstances in which I felt uncomfortable. One such uncomfortable situation occurred when he was living in Berlin: I was renting a private room in a shared flat. Two or three days after I had moved in, an older lady who lived there told me it was too difficult for her to live with an Adolf and asked if I could move out. Those that know Adolf Andel use nicknames to elude his full name. My family called me Dolfi and so do some of my friends in England - after my favourite aquatic mammal, he explains. Yet Andel refuses to flee from his full identity as Adolf, regardless of the fact that more than anyone, he is fully aware of the loaded disposition it projects.

I have always felt my name has made it almost impossible for me to participate in many topics of political discussion, especially when the topic of the Nazi regime arises - this being a prevalent topic when living in Austria. Also, there was always the anti-Semite connotation attached to me. So, for example, it was very tricky for me to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No matter what my view was on the subject, as soon as I expressed even a faint opposition to Israels policy, it would be tied to my name, and therefore be anti-Semitic. This is already a volatile subject but if your name is Adolf the effect is multiplied. People make prejudgements as soon as they meet me John Steinbrink, a sociology professor at Oklahoma State University specialising in the study of names, explained that ones name is a unique heritage that provides a psychological guidepost for the individual to live up to. What does this mean for an Adolf? The heritage of the name goes much further back than Adolf Hitler. The name is of old Germanic origin and is defined as noble, majestic wolf and sometimes latinised to Adolphus. The female mutation of the name Adolfa was also commonly used before the Second World War, yet suffered the same fate after. Similarly, the French version, Adolphe and the Italian translation Adolfo- previously common names in both countries has virtually disappeared. Rummaging through Andels heritage in search of the origins of his vorname, we discover traditional cultural reasons and a remark by his mother. Andel explains: the name was very popular before Hitler made it famous. I do know that the name was passed on to me by my mothers youngest brother. This was traditional in Austria at the time. I mean, there was never any questions surrounding my parents political standing, my parents were never connected to the Nazi ideas, they were communists. I never really questioned my parents about my name, but I do remember my mother once saying something to me when I was young. What did she say? It would have been Adolf Hitlers greatest victory if I could not have given you this name. Andel is one of over 13,000 Adolfs in Austria, indicating the names resilience. Exactly 5580 of these Adolfs can be found listed in the phonebook indicating that these individuals are not shy of their identity. These we can assume to be part of the ageing population. Nowadays, Adolf as a given name is rare in Germany and Austria.

Intriguingly, 24 of those listed in the phonebook were located in Braunau, the birthplace of Hitler. I often pass through this little town in Upper Austria as it is a connection point along my regular trips to Germany. I decided to stop for a couple of hours in the hope I would be able to speak to some locals. I sat at the bar in a little Gasthaus and waited for the chance to ask the barman if he knew any people by the name of Adolf. He was an old man - this made me somewhat apprehensive but I asked him. His reply was reluctant, he screwed his face up and shook his head. What are you? British? he sneered, No, I dont know any Adolfs in this town. People cant deal with that history here. Too many people like you reminding them of what their name represents. Same as our town - we will forever be connected with that part of history. Sometimes, it doesnt make it easy to live here and its even harder if your names Adolf. I know there used to be many, yet a lot of them moved away. He walked away as bluntly as he had responded. I felt ashamed and left. The Irish painter Francis Bacon once said Name, though it seem but a superficial and outward matter, yet it carrieth much impression and enchantment. Adolf Andel disagrees: I dont think a name is very important. He prefers to align himself with Bob Dylans famous lyrics: My name it means nothing, my age it means less. However, it does seem that if you bear a name steeped in history it tends to project certain images to those you are introducing yourself to, and hence is important. I would never name my kid Adolf, concludes Andel. Did you know? There are 13,046 people called Adolf in Austria. Three-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell made headlines last year when a ShopRite supermarket in New Jersey, USA, refused to inscribe his name on a cake for his third birthday. He and his sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler, were taken into care by child protection officials in January this year. There are more than 500 groups on Facebook dedicated to Hitler including DJ Adolf Hitler, Adolf Hitler speaks Persian, Hitler was an Emo, Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, Adolf Hitler + Satan equals the Jonas Brothers and Get Adolf Hitler off Facebook.