Man Discovers Heinrich Himmler Is His Grandfather
In 2024, Henrik Lenkeit, aged 47, discovered that Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS and a principal architect of the extermination camps under the Final Solution, is his grandfather. This revelation came through his maternal grandmother, Hedwig Potthast, who was Himmler’s mistress and worked as his private secretary at the Berlin secret police headquarters. The affair reportedly occurred around 1935 to 1938, while Himmler was married to someone else at the time Henrik's mother was conceived.
Himmler’s name was added to Henrik’s mother’s birth certificate, indicating a genetic or legally recognized connection. Henrik suspects his parents kept this information from him for 47 years. His reaction to the discovery is one of feeling that his life has been a lie, and he struggles with being related to a mass murderer. Henrik has expressed his intention to seek forgiveness from Himmler’s victims and to fully dissociate himself from his grandfather's crimes.
It is also noted that Hedwig Potthast was aware of Himmler's crimes. Letters exist showing Himmler affectionately referring to Hedwig, sometimes calling her "Mutti" or similar terms. Additionally, there is an unverified claim that Hedwig had a copy of Mein Kampf bound in human skin; this detail is presented as a reported claim rather than a confirmed fact.
