The birth house of one of history’s most infamous figures has been refurbished and repurposed to prevent it from becoming a site of reverence for neo-Nazi extremists.
Adolf Hitler’s former residence in Braunau am Inn, Austria, has been converted into a police station following a €20 million (£17 million) renovation. Authorities believe this transformation is the most effective way to “neutralize” the building and deter far-right elements.
Previously a private dwelling, the Austrian government took ownership of the property a decade ago after a prolonged legal dispute with the previous owner. The exterior of the building has been altered during the renovation, removing any Nazi-era elements and replacing them with a white facade and a police sign above the entrance.
A memorial stone outside the building now bears the inscription: “For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism. Millions of Dead Warn.” Hitler, born at this location in 1889, only lived there for a few weeks before his family relocated within the same town.
During World War II, the house was modified by the Nazi party to incorporate more “Germanic” characteristics. Following the war, the property was acquired by the Pommer family, who leased it to the Austrian government in the 1970s.
After being used for charitable purposes, a dispute in 2011 over accessibility adjustments led to the eviction of the last occupants. Subsequent refusals to sell by the owner prompted Austrian lawmakers to pass a law allowing the state to seize the property for €810,000 (£690,000).
Experts advised against converting the site into a historical monument due to the potential attraction to extremists. The decision to repurpose it as a police station was announced in 2020, with construction finishing three years later.
The Austrian government aims to deter visitors with Nazi sympathies by establishing a permanent police presence at the site, which will be restricted from public access. However, not all are in favor of this move, with some advocating for a more substantial tribute to the millions of victims of the Nazi regime, including six million Jews.
Ludwig Laher, a member of the Mauthausen Committee Austria, expressed that creating a space dedicated to promoting pacifism would have garnered greater support than the current police station.
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