Hitler's birthplace in Austria reopens as police station to deter Nazi pilgrimages

Adolf Hitler's former birthplace in Braunau am Inn, Austria, has officially opened its doors as a police station, a move intended to strip the building of its symbolic appeal to neo-Nazis and prevent further pilgrimages. The site, located near the German border, now features a memorial stone outside with the inscription, "For freedom, democracy and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us."

Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated during the opening ceremony that the Republic of Austria is confronting its "terrible heritage" and is committed to dealing with it, emphasizing the building's address as part of this process. The renovation project spanned several years and incurred costs of around 20 million euros ($22.8 million). The government acquired ownership of the building in 2017 after a lengthy legal battle, as the previous owner refused to sell.

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The Republic of Austria, the state, the county is facing up to this heritage, the terrible heritage of this time, and commits itself to deal with it.

While demolition was considered, the Austrian government decided the building's best use would be as a police station, symbolizing the guardianship of civil liberties. Critics, however, argued that the building lacked sufficient historical context in its current presentation. A commission of experts recommended against a museum, advocating instead for a redesign that would make the building less recognizable.

Consequently, the building's distinctive ochre-yellow facade was painted white, arched windows were replaced with simple rectangular ones, and the facade was extended upwards. Construction debris was disposed of at a secret location to prevent it from becoming a source of Nazi memorabilia. In the past, far-right extremists have frequently visited the site, taking photos, collecting souvenirs, and leaving flowers.

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This entails this house and this address.