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-171- r , • \ th* hypothesis plausible. Only rarely do we find a fir* conviction of this ktM ID adulthood and then only when there van extenuating circumstances in childhood which nade such & belief neosppftry and cODTlncln£* In Hitler's case the extenuating circumstances are relatively clear* Mention has already been made of the fact that hia mother had given birth to at least two and padaibly three children, all of whon bad died prior to his own birth* He* h l u e l f j wad a frail and rather sickly infant. Under the&e oixovnatance^, hia aother undoubtedly heraslf to the utmost to keep him alive* Ho was ablj spoiled during thift period and hi a survival W«P probitblj tha great concarn of the fauilj AS veil AH of the neighbors. From his earliast days there was, no doubtt considerable talk in the household about the. death of the other children and constant comporlaona between their progress and hip own. Children first become aware of death B.3 a pheiiOBerio « r y early in Ufa and In view of thaw ununuol circuu&t&ncee i t say hare dawned OD Hitler even earlier than with children. The thought of death* in Itself, 1P to a amoll child and they upually or* able to fora the Tacuept conception of what i t ttean^ or tapliea befor* they push i t out of their n±n4ak for later consideration* In Hitler1 a case, howror,, i t u s a living issue and th* fears of the rather were In all Likelihood communicated to REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES