Austrian Hitler birthplace reopened as police station

Austrian officials announced on Tuesday that the house in Braunau am Inn where Adolf Hitler was born will be demolished and replaced with a memorial site, ending decades of use as a pilgrimage destination for neo‑Nazis and far‑right extremists. The two‑storey building at Salzburger Straße 15, constructed in 1904, has long attracted extremist groups who gathered there to commemorate the dictator, prompting repeated calls from local and international observers for the property to be repurposed. After a series of legal challenges and public hearings, the Braunau am Inn city council voted unanimously to raze the structure and develop a “peace and education” park that will include an information centre on the dangers of totalitarian ideologies.

The decision follows years of controversy, including previous attempts by the Austrian government to purchase the property and convert it into a museum dedicated to anti‑fascist education, which were stalled by ownership disputes and funding issues. Authorities plan to begin demolition in the coming weeks, with the new site slated for completion by 2028. The move is intended to prevent the house from serving as a rallying point for extremist activity and to provide a public space that promotes historical awareness and democratic values.