History Sets U.S. Premiere For Headline-Making Documentary ‘Hitler’s DNA’

EXCLUSIVE: The headline-making documentary that examined the DNA of Adolf Hitler is finally coming to U.S. TV. History will show Hitler’s DNA on September 7.

The UK-produced doc claimed to reveal the dictator suffered from a form of Kallmann Syndrome, which affects how sexual organs develop. It also seemingly debunked any notion that Hitler had Jewish ancestry, and claimed he was predisposed to autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Entitled Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator in the UK, it first went out on British network Channel 4 last November as a two-parter. History will air it as a 90-minute special.

Produced by UK indie Blink Films, the factual film unpacks where the sample of Hitler’s DNA came from, how it was obtained, and how it was tested – as well as what that analysis purported to reveal.

Experts including Professor Turi King, a geneticist with expertise in ancient and forensic DNA, and Alex Kay, an expert on Nazi Germany at the University of Potsdam, contribute. The topline findings were the stuff of headlines around the world, but it also stoked controversy with some commentators questioning the ethics of testing the DNA of a dictator as well as some of the findings of the doc.

History is a co-producer of the project, which is distributed internationally by ITV Studios.

Deadline was first with the news the doc was happening. When it bowed in the UK, its producers also revealed they hope to test the DNA of other famous figures, with projects already in the works.