To Deter Far-right Extremism, Austria Changes Hitler’s Birthplace to Police Station  

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

Austria has converted Adolf Hitler’s birth home in Braunau am Inn into a police station to “neutralize” the site.

The renovation, finishing in early 2026, aims to prevent the building from becoming a pilgrimage site for far-right extremists.

The government seized the property in 2016 after a long legal battle to ensure it would never fall into the wrong hands. The redesign cost roughly 20 million euros, a price tag that has sparked local criticism regarding the use of public funds.

Public opinion is split, with some residents hoping the police presence will bring “calm” to the area. Others argue that converting it into a security office avoids a deeper historical confrontation that a museum or peace center could have provided.

Holocaust survivor groups have called the choice “problematic,” noting that the police were instruments of the Nazi regime. They fear using the building for law enforcement ignores the complex symbolic history of the location.

A memorial stone remains outside, warning against fascism and honoring the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust. The government hopes the building’s new, plain appearance will finally strip the site of its dark appeal.

This transformation occurs as far-right politics see a resurgence in Austria, making the site’s “neutralization” a top state priority. While the police will soon move in, the debate over how to handle Nazi-linked landmarks remains unresolved.