Ten years after Austrian authorities took possession of the house where Adolf Hitler was born, the building in Braunau am Inn will officially open as a police station.

The Austrian government aims to prevent the building from becoming a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazi groups and right-wing extremists.

The three-story house, where Hitler’s family lived for about three years after his birth on April 20, 1889, has for decades been center of public debate.

In 2016, the state confiscated the building after the owner refused to sell it and did not accept projects for its renovation or use.

“It is a very good thing, a good idea, because there have always been a lot of movements here and now things like this cannot happen anymore”, claimed one resident.

When asked if he had noticed the presence of far-right groups or neo-Nazis in this area, the resident said that such visits have happened from time to time.

“From time to time such groups came here, but now this will belong to history.”

Before it was left empty in 2011, the building served as a center for activities of people with disabilities. Some residents would have preferred that this function be preserved in the future.

“Before this was the organization ‘Lebenshilfe’. Due to the owner, who did not allow renovations, the organization was forced to leave. I personally would have liked it to have remained here.”

However, others support the decision of the authorities, considering the police station as the most suitable use for this building.

“I think it is very good that this house is becoming a police station. I hope that it will not be pointed out that this was Hitler’s birthplace. There is no need to attract his admirers”, asserted a tourist.

By turning his birthplace into a police station, the authorities intend to end the symbolic use of this building by extremist groups and turn it into an institution serving the community.

Source: prizrenpost