Braunau am Inn, Austria – In a bold move to erase the site’s dark past, Adolf Hitler’s birthplace has been inaugurated as a police station, effectively dismantling its appeal as a pilgrimage site for those who glorify the Nazi dictator.
Transforming a Troubled Legacy
The historic building, where Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, has undergone a multi-year renovation costing around 20 million euros ($22.8 million). The transformation is aimed at destroying the building’s appeal as a site of reverence for Nazi sympathizers.
According to Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, the Republic of Austria has taken a significant step in acknowledging and addressing its complex heritage. ‘We are facing up to this heritage, the terrible heritage of this time, and commit ourselves to deal with it,’ Karner emphasized during the opening ceremony of the police station.
The building’s renovation was preceded by a prolonged dispute over ownership, which was resolved in 2017 when Austria’s highest court ruled that the government had the right to expropriate the property after its owner refused to sell.
A commission of experts recommended against turning the building into a museum, instead suggesting a redesign that would not make it easily recognizable. The Austrian government has chosen to use the building as a police station, symbolizing the guardians of civil liberties.
Before the renovation, the building stood empty after a care center for adults with disabilities moved out in 2011. The Austrian government has stated that the best use for the building would be the presence of the police, who will serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting democracy and freedom.
However, critics have pointed out that the building’s current presentation lacks historical context. The Austrian government has stated that the building’s new design, which features white walls, simple rectangular windows, and an extended facade, is intended to make it less recognizable.
A memorial stone outside the house bears the inscription, ‘For freedom, democracy, and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.’ The stone serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, where approximately 6 million Jews and other minorities were killed under Hitler’s Nazi regime.
The police station’s inauguration is a significant step towards acknowledging Austria’s complex history and promoting a culture of remembrance and respect. As Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasized, ‘This entails this house and this address.’
The renovation of the building was preceded by a yearslong back-and-forth over the ownership of the house. The ownership question was resolved in 2017 when Austria’s highest court ruled the government was within its rights to expropriate the building after its owner refused to sell. A suggestion it might be demolished was dropped.
The building had been rented by Austria’s Interior Ministry since 1972 to prevent its misuse and was sublet to various charitable organizations. The structure stood empty after a care center for adults with disabilities moved out in 2011.
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The Austrian government has stated that the best use for the building would be the presence of the police, who will serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting democracy and freedom. However, critics have pointed out that the building’s current presentation lacks historical context.
The renovation of the building was a multi-year process, which cost around 20 million euros ($22.8 million). The building’s new design, which features white walls, simple rectangular windows, and an extended facade, is intended to make it less recognizable.
A memorial stone outside the house bears the inscription, ‘For freedom, democracy, and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.’ The stone serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, where approximately 6 million Jews and other minorities were killed under Hitler’s Nazi regime.
Before the renovation, the building stood empty after a care center for adults with disabilities moved out in 2011. The Austrian government has stated that the best use for the building would be the presence of the police, who will serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting democracy and freedom.
The Austrian government has stated that the building’s new design, which features white walls, simple rectangular windows, and an extended facade, is intended to make it less recognizable.
A memorial stone outside the house bears the inscription, ‘For freedom, democracy, and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.’ The stone serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, where approximately 6 million Jews and other minorities were killed under Hitler’s Nazi regime.
The police station’s inauguration is a significant step towards acknowledging Austria’s complex history and promoting a culture of remembrance and respect.
