Adolf Hitler, or Addie, as he became known to his many fans was a famous Liverpudlian street artist and First Division socccer player in the years before WW1.
Arriving in Liverpool in June 1910, Addie Hitler lodged with his half-brother Alois and sister-in-law Bridgit (
nee Williams) in Stanhope Street, Toxteth.
Originally he gained employment as a painter and decorator but became unpopular with his customers and neighbours when he would run up and down the street in the middle of the night shouting that the Jews had left the tops off of his paint tins.
His initial claim to fame was his series of huge murals adorning buildings all over Liverpool. Executed in the middle of the night and initially anonymously, the murals were considered to be a form of graffiti, but later recognised as early examples of revolutonary and popular "street art" capturing the mood of working class liverpool of the period, unfortunately Municipal philistinism and the destruction of WW2 has left only a single example.
Addie is though best known for his meteoric carreer with Liverpool FC. Found kicking a paint can and a Jewish shopkeeper in an alleyway by legendary talentspotter "Scouse" Lennon, a trial for Liverpool reserves soon landed Hitler the slot as centre-forward for the first team in a grudge match against Everton in November 1910 where he scored an impressive three goals, including one from a controversial scissors-kick against the goalie from inside the penalty box.
By 1913 Addie Hitler was the darling of the city and had become Captain, pround of his unusual armband. Even the fans chant of "E-I-Addio!" remains to this day in his honour. With fame came controversy. Some team members compalined of his "dictatorial attitude" and his personal design of new team strip that included thigh-length boots and a black and silver strip was never popular.
At the outbreak of WW1, Addie Hitler returned to his native Austria where he joined the military. After the war he never resumed his sporting or artistic careers and it is believed that he became a public speaker and government functionary----and invaded Poland.