The birthplace of Adolf Hitler in Braunau am Inn, Austria, has been officially transformed into a police station. This change aims to eliminate the building’s attraction as a pilgrimage site for Nazi sympathizers. A memorial stone remains outside the premises inscribed with the words, “For freedom, democracy, and liberty. Never again fascism. Millions of dead remind us.”

Hitler was born at this location on April 20, 1889. His family relocated within months, later moving to Passau in southern Germany. Hitler’s regime was responsible for the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews and others during the Holocaust, initiated World War II, which resulted in at least 60 million deaths. He ended his life in April 1945 before the war concluded.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner addressed this historical legacy during the police station’s opening ceremony. “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,” he stated. Renovations cost around 20 million euros ($22.8 million), taking several years and resolving a lengthy debate over the building’s ownership after a court ruling in 2017.

For decades, Austria’s Interior Ministry rented the building to prevent its misuse, after charitable organizations previously occupied it. The government considers the police presence the most suitable way to honor civil liberties on the site. However, some critics argue that the current appearance lacks historical context. Experts advised against a museum conversion, favoring an inconspicuous redesign instead.

The building underwent significant changes, such as changing its ochre-yellow facade to white and altering its windows. Construction debris was secretly disposed of to prevent it from becoming memorabilia. In the past, the site attracted far-right extremists who commemorated Hitler there, including a notorious 2024 incident involving Germans performing Nazi gestures.