- Gil R. Miranda
URBAN LEGEND: Rizal was Hitler's Father; Jack the Ripper
An Urban Legend, sometimes called Contemporary Legend is a popular story. It is a form of modern folklore consisting of fictional stories with surprising unlikely elements that are deeply rooted in local popular culture. Often used for entertainment and humor, these legends do not necessarily originate in urban areas. The term is used to quite differentiate it from traditional folklore of the olden times.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine’s foremost national hero and a proud son of Calamba was not spared in these fictitious tales. He has his own share of these urban legends. One legend says that Rizal was the father of the Austrian-born dictator of Nazi Germany−Adolf Hitler, and another says that Rizal was the unidentified serial killer who terrorized a London district in 1888.
The first story narrates Rizal’s love affair with Klara Pölzl (Note the similarity of her name with Maria Clara), an Austrian maid. Rizal travelled extensively around the German-Austrian border. On May 11, 1887, the year Hitler was assumed to have been conceived. Rizal lost his diamond stick pin in a hotel in Brunn. The stick pin, found by a maid was returned to Rizal through his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt who forwarded it to Vienna. The legend supposed that Rizal and Klara consummated their love affair in a hotel room in Brunn resulting to the conception of Adolf Hitler, and Rizal losing his diamond stick pin, which was later returned by a maid (Klara Pölzl?) through Ferdinand Blumentritt.
If so, Adolf Hitler was an illegitimate child, how did he acquire his last name Hitler? According to the legend, Klara Pölzl married Alois Hitler who at that time was 40-years old, more than ten years older than Klara. Klara bear five more children to Alois who all died during childhood. Adolf carried the name of his step father Alois Hitler.
Of course the story is ridiculous. It contains conflicting information. Hitler was born April 20, 1889. If Rizal was indeed Hitler’s natural father, he should have been in Austria in July 1888, but then Rizal was in London until September of the same year. It is therefore impossible for Rizal to be the natural father of Adolf Hitler.
Another story says that Rizal was Jack the Ripper, the notorious serial killer that prowled a London district in 1888.
On May 24, 1888, Rizal arrived in Liverpool then went to London. He stayed at No. 37 Chalcot Crescent with the Becket family. While in London Rizal went to the Library of the British Museum to copy the book “Sucesos de las islas Filipinas.”by Antonio de Morga. In the absence of photocopying machines during the period, he did it by hand. During this time, Jack the Ripper began to terrorize the White chapel district. His first victim was Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols. On September 8, 1888, Jack the Ripper killed his second victim Annie Chapman. Jack the Ripper killed two more women on the same day on September 30, 1888. Rizal left London on January 1889. Jack the Ripper’s last victim was killed November 9, 1888.
Jack the Ripper killed more than 5 women victims while Rizal was in London. When Rizal left London, the killings stopped. The identity of Jack the Ripper remained a mystery until the present time.
There were a number of suspects linked to the crime, but Rizal was never included. However, the legend says there is a list of clues and speculations that may implicate Rizal in the murderous spree.
Rizal and Jack the Ripper have the same initials “JR.”
The intricate method used in the killings (Removal of organs) made authorities suspect that the murderer was a doctor.
Rizal was known to like women and all the victims were women.
Rizal was busy during day time copying by hand the book of Morga. The killings were done at night.
The killing stopped when Rizal left London.
Was this coincidence? The story seems plausible but with no tangible proof and with tons of speculations surrounding the case, it will likely remain an interesting urban legend.
