Hitler’s Birthplace in Austria Transformed Into Police Station

In Austria, Adolf Hitler’s birthplace has been repurposed into a police station. This change aims to remove the site’s attraction for individuals who admire the Nazi leader. Despite the building’s transformation, a memorial stone remains outside, bearing the words: “For freedom, democracy, and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.”

Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, near the German border, on April 20, 1889. His family soon relocated within the town before moving to Passau in southern Germany. Under Hitler, the Nazi regime perpetrated the Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of about 6 million Jews and other groups. World War II, initiated by Hitler, caused at least 60 million fatalities. He died by suicide in April 1945, shortly before the war ended.

Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasized the country’s commitment to confronting this dark history during the police station’s opening. Renovations took years and cost around 20 million euros ($22.8 million), according to Austrian news agency APA. The building’s ownership had been contentious until 2017 when Austria’s highest court allowed the government to expropriate it after the owner resisted selling. Previously, there was discussion about demolishing the structure, but it remained leased to the Interior Ministry to prevent misuse. After a care center’s departure in 2011, the building stood vacant.

The Austrian government believes police presence in the building reinforces civil liberties. Some critics, however, argue it lacks historical context in its current state. Experts opposed turning it into a museum, suggesting a redesign to avoid recognizable references. The building underwent changes such as repainting its exterior white and altering its windows. Construction debris was secretly discarded to prevent it from becoming Nazi memorabilia, according to APA.

In recent years, far-right groups have visited the site, leaving flowers and photographing themselves. In 2024, authorities caught individuals performing Nazi salutes and attempting to collect souvenirs from the building. These incidents underline the need for the site’s new function.