Brigitte Hamann (1935-2011) was an Austrian historian and writer who is best known for her pioneering work on the life of Adolf Hitler. She was born in Vienna and studied history at the University of Vienna.
Hamann’s research into Hitler’s formative years made her an authority on the life of the Nazi leader. She specialized in the study of Hitler’s personal and political life, and she wrote several influential books based on her research. Her books include Hitler’s Vienna: A Dictator’s Apprenticeship (1989), Winifred Wagner: A Life at the Heart of Hitler’s Bayreuth (2005), and The Reluctant Empress: A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (2008).
Hamann was a passionate advocate for the preservation of historical documents and artifacts, and she was an active member of the Austrian Society for Historical Research. She also served on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals, including the Austrian Historical Review.
In addition to her research, Hamann was also a lecturer at the University of Vienna and a visiting professor at a number of American universities. She was a frequent guest on television and radio programs, and she authored numerous articles for newspapers and magazines.
Hamann was awarded numerous honors for her work, including the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 2000. She was also the recipient of the Austrian Grand Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2004.
Brigitte Hamann’s groundbreaking research on Hitler’s life and times established her as one of the foremost authorities on the Nazi leader. Her books have been translated into many languages, and her research has been widely cited by scholars and historians. She will continue to be remembered for her significant contributions to the historical record of the Third Reich.
