‘Place of democracy’: Hitler’s birthplace converted into police station in Austria

The house where Adolf Hitler was born has been converted into a police station, ending years of debate over its future.Located in Braunau am Inn, Austria, the 17th-century building has been renovated to serve a public role and prevent it from becoming a site for neo-Nazi visitors.

Authorities hope the move will reduce interest linked to Hitler’s past.

Hitler was born there in April 1889 but lived in the house only briefly before his family moved. They left Braunau when he was three. He returned once in 1938 after annexing Austria, while travelling to Vienna, according to BBC.The police station opened in a ceremony attended by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and local officials. A police chaplain blessed two crosses that will hang inside.Karner said Austria was taking responsibility for its past, adding: "This house will now become a place of democracy, rule of law, security, freedom and human dignity."

For years, the Interior Ministry rented the property from owner Gerlinde Pommer to prevent misuse. In 2016, the government seized it under a new law and paid €812,000 (£690,000) in compensation. Pommer challenged the amount but lost in court.The building’s future divided opinion. Some wanted it demolished, while others argued that it would erase history.

In 2019, the government decided to convert it into a police station.

The building has been repainted white and fitted with new interiors, while original features like the staircase and entrance hall remain.There is no sign explaining its history. Security cameras monitor the site to deter extremist visitors. A memorial stone outside, placed in 1989, reads: "Never again Fascism; In memory of millions of dead."