A small town in France has unexpectedly gained widespread internet fame due to its mayoral election. The incumbent mayor, Charles Hittler, who is seeking re-election, shares his surname with the infamous German dictator. Adding to the peculiar circumstances, one of his two primary opponents is named Zielinski.
Charles Hittler, the mayor of Arcis-sur-Aube, a town with a population of 2,785, described the situation as “completely crazy” when speaking with the BBC. He noted that while his name has always been a mild source of occasional jokes and even defaced posters throughout his life, the current level of attention is overwhelming. He expressed distress over online articles falsely suggesting a significant portion of Arcis’s residents support “Hitlerites,” a claim that has caused his wife considerable upset.
French social media platforms have been flooded with posts humorously comparing the electoral contest to a battle between the historical figure Adolf Hitler and Ukraine’s current president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Hittler stated that the intense focus on names rather than the town’s policies is becoming excessive. He wishes the discussion were centered on Arcis and its governance, but lamented that the public’s interest is solely on the candidates’ surnames.
The Origins of the Hittler Name
The question of how a retired French laboratory head came to bear the name Hittler, and why he has retained it, is a pertinent one. Hittler explained that his family originated from northern Alsace, a region bordering Germany. His father, a shepherd, was sent to Germany for forced labor during the war. Upon his return, his father met his mother. Despite advice to change the name in 1949, when the war was still a vivid memory for many, the administrative burden and financial cost proved prohibitive, leading them to keep the surname.
He mentioned that very few members of his family line remain in France. His Hittler cousins in Alsace all have daughters, contributing to the name’s gradual disappearance in that area. One of his sons has adopted a pronunciation of the name, “Hit-lay,” in an effort to avoid the associated embarrassment, and his grandchildren have taken their mothers’ surnames. However, Hittler pointed out that he has a Hittler daughter and daughter-in-law who are themselves running as councillors in municipal elections in other French towns.
Hittler believes that once an individual is recognized, the name itself becomes less significant, with people focusing on the person behind it. He shared that among his close acquaintances, he was simply known as “Monsieur Charles,” which contributed to his decision to keep his surname.
Political Landscape and Electoral Dynamics
In Arcis-sur-Aube, Charles Hittler leads a center-right electoral list. His opponent, who shares the surname Zielinski, is affiliated with the far-right Patriot movement. This political alignment aligns with trends in national elections, where the far-right National Rally party consistently performs well in this region, located approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Paris.
Antoine Renault-Zielinski, a 28-year-old customs officer and a recent arrival in Arcis, derives the latter part of his surname from his Polish mother. He frequently clarifies that he is not related to Volodymyr Zelensky, noting the difference in the spelling and origin of the names: the Polish form ends with an ‘i’, while the Ukrainian ends with a ‘y’.
Zielinski recounted beginning to notice messages about their names circulating on the social media platform X on Sunday, initially dismissing them as a trivial joke. However, he gradually realized the widespread discussion their names had generated. He acknowledged the amusement others might find in the situation but stated that it neither makes him laugh nor bothers him. He expressed a preference for Arcis to be recognized for reasons beyond the candidates’ surnames, though he conceded that the town has at least gained some visibility.
Historical Connections and Local Significance
Interestingly, a town in Ukraine, near Odesa, bears the name Arcis, derived from Arcis-sur-Aube. In 1814, Napoleon engaged in a battle at Arcis-sur-Aube against invading Austrian, Prussian, and Russian forces. Two years later, German immigrants, invited by the Russian government, established a settlement they named Artsyz, in honor of the battle.
The town of Arcis-sur-Aube also holds significance as the birthplace of Georges Jacques Danton, a prominent figure of the French Revolution. The electoral contest in Arcis-sur-Aube on Sunday involves Hittler, Renault-Zielinski, and a third candidate, Annie Soucat. In the initial round of voting, Hittler secured a narrow lead over the other two candidates.
The surname “Hitler” was relatively uncommon in Germany even before the dictator’s rise to prominence and has all but vanished since the conclusion of World War Two.