Adolf Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn, Austria, has officially been inaugurated as a police station. The move comes as part of a deliberate government effort to eliminate the building's appeal as a site of pilgrimage for individuals who glorify the Nazi dictator. Hitler was born in the structure on April 20, 1889, though his family relocated to another residence in the town after only a few months before moving temporarily to Passau, Germany.
To ensure the site is not associated with the atrocities of the Nazi regime—which, fueled by racial fanaticism, was responsible for the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews and millions of others, as well as the outbreak of World War II that claimed at least 60 million lives—the building underwent a significant transformation. The renovation, which took several years and cost approximately 20 million euros ($22.8 million), included changing the building's ochre-yellow exterior to white, replacing arched windows with simple rectangular shapes, and extending the facade toward the roof. Construction debris was disposed of at a secret location to prevent it from becoming a source for Nazi memorabilia.
The ownership of the property was the subject of a long-standing legal battle, which was resolved in 2017 when Austria’s highest court ruled that the government had the right to expropriate the site after the owner refused to sell. While demolition was once suggested, that option was abandoned. The building had been rented by the Interior Ministry since 1972 to prevent misuse, though it had stood empty since 2011 when a facility for adults with disabilities moved out.
Despite the conversion, a memorial stone remains outside the house with the inscription: “For freedom, democracy and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.” The government maintains that the presence of police serves as a guardian of civil liberties, though some critics argue the site lacks sufficient historical context. A commission of experts had previously advised against turning the house into a museum, favoring a redesign that would make the building less recognizable. These measures are intended to prevent further displays of homage by far-right extremists, such as an incident in 2024 where four Germans were caught posing for photos and performing a Hitler salute at the site.
