The house in Braunau am Inn, Austria, where Adolf Hitler was born has been officially inaugurated as a police station. The renovation and transformation of the building, located near the German border, aim to prevent it from becoming a site of pilgrimage for those who glorify the Nazi dictator.

"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," said Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner during the opening ceremony. "This entails this house and this address."

Hitler was born in the building on April 20, 1889. His family relocated shortly after. The Nazi regime, fueled by racial fanaticism, was responsible for the Holocaust, in which approximately 6 million Jews and other minorities were killed, and initiated World War II, which resulted in at least 60 million deaths. Hitler died by suicide in April 1945.

Renovation and Transformation

The renovation project took several years and cost approximately 20 million euros ($22.8 million). Following years of debate over its ownership, Austria's highest court ruled in 2017 that the government could expropriate the building after its owner refused to sell. A proposal to demolish the structure was ultimately dropped.

The Austrian Interior Ministry had rented the building since 1972 to prevent its misuse, subletting it to various charitable organizations. The structure had been vacant since 2011 when a care center for adults with disabilities moved out.

Austrian officials stated that establishing a police presence, seen as guardians of civil liberties, would be the building's most appropriate use. However, some critics have noted that the building's current presentation lacks sufficient historical context. A commission of experts had previously advised against turning the building into a museum, instead recommending a redesign that would make it less recognizable.

The building's exterior color was changed from ochre-yellow to white, and its windows were replaced with simple rectangular shapes. The facade was also extended upward. Debris from the construction was reportedly disposed of at a secret location to prevent it from becoming a source for Nazi memorabilia.

Previously, far-right extremists had used the site for homage, taking photographs, collecting souvenirs, and leaving flowers. In one recent incident in 2024, four Germans were apprehended for leaving white roses and posing for photos, including one woman who performed a Hitler salute.

A memorial stone is to remain outside the house with the inscription: “For freedom, democracy and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.”