Plans to convert the house where Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was born into a police station have sparked mixed reactions in his Austrian hometown of Braunau am Inn.
Sindh Govt Plans New Buses for Karachi, Orders Faster Progress on Red Line BRT
The building, located near the German border, has long been a sensitive historical site. Austrian authorities say the move is intended to “neutralise” the location and prevent it from becoming a gathering point for far-right extremists.
Austria’s government passed legislation in 2016 to take control of the deteriorating property from its private owner, amid ongoing criticism that the country had not fully confronted its historical responsibility during the Holocaust. Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938.
Residents remain divided over the decision. Some believe converting the building into a police station will discourage extremist activity, while others argue the site could have been used for educational or peace-building purposes.
Author Ludwig Laher, a member of the Mauthausen Committee Austria representing Holocaust victims, said turning the building into a police facility was “problematic,” suggesting it could send the wrong symbolic message. Earlier proposals to transform the site into a centre focused on dialogue and peace had gained considerable support.
Local business owner Jasmin Stadler said placing Hitler’s birth in a broader historical context through educational exhibits might have been more meaningful, while also criticising the renovation cost of approximately €20 million ($24 million).
However, some residents support the project. Electrical engineer Wolfgang Leithner said the redesign could help prevent the site from becoming a shrine for extremist groups and bring a sense of normalcy to the town.
Workers are currently completing renovations, with Austrian interior ministry officials stating that police officers are expected to move into the building during the second quarter of 2026.
The debate reflects wider discussions across Austria about how the country should address its Nazi-era past. During Nazi rule, around 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed and approximately 130,000 were forced into exile.
