The Night my Grandmother Met Adolf Hitler

The Twin Debutantes in 1937 aged 18

At the age of three, identical twins Margit (my grandmother-on left) and Dritzi (on right) and their mother Maria (my great-grandmother) were uprooted from their Hungarian homeland and transported to the United States, to Springfield, Massachusetts with a freshly issued divorce decree in hand. It was here that Maria established a European "spa" in an unassuming white ranch house, where she offered her services to the local elite and curious adventurers alike. She had been promised by the twins’ father that when they turned 18 (in 1937), they would return to Hungary to be presented as debutantes to society, carrying the hope of a brighter future. Their extraordinary lives began in Kaposvár, Hungary, where their mother had prematurely given birth to them at the tender age of 17.

Family lore has it that the twins only survived due to being warmed on the stove in a cast iron skillet packed with cotton batting! The twins' biological father, a man of minor nobility, had taken steps to ensure their legitimacy. He had manipulated the courthouse records, creating an illusion of marriage between himself, and the twins' mother to protect their honor. He was a widower, much older than their mother, and the scandal surrounding their birth had threatened to tarnish his name. In a desperate attempt to shield the family from disgrace, he made the difficult decision to send them away. Maria worked tirelessly to save enough money to send the twins to their debutante season in style-they would have the best clothes, hair and makeup to match their status in Magyar society.  Unfortunately, fascism under the leadership likes of Benito Mussilini, General Francisco Franco, Adolf Hitler and others had spread throughout Europe at this time and sympathizers were everywhere. In 1937, Hungary was under the authoritarian rule of Miklós Horthy, who led the country as Regent from 1920 to 1944. During this time, Hungary exhibited several characteristics of fascist regimes, although it did not fully embrace fascism in the same manner as Italy or Germany.

My family history and “real” history intersect when Adolf Hitler visited Hungary in 1937. He made a state visit to Hungary from April 15 to April 18, 1937. To the history books, the Fuhrer’s visit was significant in solidifying the alliance between Hungary and Nazi Germany, as both countries shared similar nationalist and anti-communist ideologies. During his visit, Hitler met with Miklós Horthy and other Hungarian officials. The visit also aimed to reinforce Hungary's alignment with the Axis powers, particularly Germany and Italy, which would become increasingly significant in the lead-up to World War II. But not only did Hitler have these diplomatic meetings on his itinerary but he attended my grandmother and my great aunt’s debutante party (their coming out to society party). What has been passed down in our family stories isn’t that Hitler was in attendance, which would be scandalous enough for someone’s family, but that the twins refused to give the “Heil, Hitler!” one armed salute as he entered the ball. At this hour, minute, moment, day in time in spring of 1937, this would be deemed the highest form of rebelliousness.

I love this story from my heritage because it shows guts and spunk by my grandmother and her sister. I often imagine the scene and can’t help but wonder what I would have done in their place. No doubt, this family story has captured my imagination and is a large reason why I specialize in this time. Until next time!