Nazi Consulate once called the Whittier Mansion in San Francisco home Hitler's right hand man once lived in a Pacific Heights Mansion

Fritz Wiedemann, once considered Adolf Hitler's right-hand man, lived in the Nazi Consulate in San Francisco, prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Fritz Wiedemann, once considered Adolf Hitler's right-hand man, lived in the Nazi Consulate in San Francisco, prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle Archives Photo: San Francisco Chronicle Archives Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Nazi Consulate once called the Whittier Mansion in San Francisco home 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

It may seem hard to believe now, but the Nazi Party once held offices in San Francisco.

The Whittier Mansion, located on Jackson Street at Laguna Street, was once home to the Nazi consulate. Fritz Wiedemann, once a top aide to Adolf Hitler, lived in the house until shortly before the bombing at Pearl Harbor, when he fled the country.

According to a San Francisco Chronicle article from Jan. 30, 1950, the original owner's daughter, Mrs. W.B. Weir, sold the house to the Nazi government in April 1941 for $44,000.

"A black limousine, once the property of Adolph Hitler, drew up at the curb and a dapper, heavy-browed man named Fritz Wiedemann took over the house," read the article.

The German Consul General set up desks and safes, barred doors and piled file cabinets in the old dining room, and moved his consular staff into suites of rooms on the second floor. Wiedemann, his wife and children took up residence on the third floor. In July of 1941, Wiedemann was ordered to leave San Francisco before the middle of the month. He booked passage east on the Japanese liner, Yawata Maru. But as the ship sailed through the Golden Gate on July 14 Wiedemann was still in the house on Jackson Street, awaiting a guarantee of safe conduct from the British.

The next day, the limousine took Wiedemann and his family and consular staff to the San Francisco Airport. There they boarded chartered planes and took off for New York, where the consular party sailed for his Nazi homeland via Portugal.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government seized the mansion and everything left inside. The mansion remained bolted shut during the war years. In 1947 it was turned over to the Attorney General, who put it up for sale. The 1950 article announced the sale of the contents in an auction. The headline read, "A Treat for Souvenir Hunters. German Consulate Up for Auction."

In an earlier San Francisco Chronicle article, dated Dec. 11, 1937, Wiedemann was interviewed during a visit to the city. The headline read "Hitler's War Captain in S.F., Tells of Association in New Regime." Wiedemann was dressed in "pin-striped tailored flannel, brown suede shoes, fancy tab collar, blue and red silk handkerchief and monocle." The article stated "this Beau Brummel, although he looked right out of Hollywood, tall, well knit, handsome, is no mere fashion plate. He probably knows more about Adolf Hitler than any man living."

This was due to the fact that "Captain Fritz Wiedemann is top personal aid in the chancellery household, a super private secretary who handles all Der Reichsfuehrer's most confidential matters, a longtime friend of the German leader."

Wiedemann was Hitler's superior during World War I, barking orders. Hitler addressed him as sir. When World War I ended, Wiedemann retired to his Bavarian farm in the foothills of the Alps. He "watched in amazement the development of the Nazi movement and the young soldier he knew so well," read the 1937 article.

The video below was filmed in San Francisco on March 07, 1941.

Wiedemann stated that he took no part in Nazi activities during that time, and never once heard from Hitler. But, in 1933, when Hitler rose to chancellorship, a messenger "appeared straight from Der Fuehrer, requesting Captain Wiedemann's presence in Berlin." He was one of the soldiers Hitler remembered from the war days, according to Wiedemann's account. Wiedemann went to Berlin immediately, and had "been there ever since in a position of trust."

During the interview in San Francisco, Rudolph Hubner asked Wiedemann about the Hitler household through an interpreter. Wiedemann stated that "Der Fuehrer likes American movies, has seen the film, 'San Francisco' three times, and likes Shirley Temple best of all. His hobby is architecture, and on this pleasure visit to America, Captain Wiedman is collecting pictures and data of American architecture and engineering achievements for him."

Captain Wiedemann stated that "He thinks Der Fuehrer, should he ever come to America, would be tremendously impressed, particularly with technological achievements."

Wiedemann never regained his status with Hitler. The mansion itself is not on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bob Bragman is a producer for SFGATE. His writing reflects his love of the Bay Area, in addition to his passion for vintage pop culture, ephemera and vernacular photographs. To see more of his content, please click here.