History Extra podcast What does Hitler’s DNA really tell us?
23 snips
Nov 22, 2025 
Turi King, a DNA expert from the University of Bath, and Alex J Kay, a historian focusing on Nazi Germany, dive into the intriguing analysis of Hitler's DNA. They discuss how a swatch from Hitler's bunker led to groundbreaking genetic research and the ethical concerns surrounding it. The duo debunks myths about Hitler's ancestry and emphasizes the importance of understanding genetics as just one piece of a complex puzzle. They stress the need for responsible media coverage and aim to humanize historical figures to better comprehend the roots of atrocities.
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How The Sofa Swatch Was Collected
- Alex Kay recounts Hitler's final days spent mostly in the Berlin bunker leading to his suicide on the sofa in his study.
- Turi King explains Colonel Roswell Rosengren cut a swatch from that sofa which later entered a US family collection and a museum.
Authenticate Historical DNA Rigorously
- Turi King outlines a strict authentication workflow combining provenance checks and Y‑chromosome comparison to known male‑line relatives.
- She advises using two independent labs and population databases to assess rarity and rule out other male relatives.
Age Isn’t The Sole Limit On DNA
- Turi King explains DNA from historical samples is degraded but still usable depending on storage conditions, not just age.
- She notes two separate labs produced enough coverage to analyse Hitler's genome despite degradation.