The building Adolf Hitler was born in near the Austrian border with Germany officially begins a new life as a police station on Wednesday (July 22), a conversion Austria's government hopes will prevent it serving as a place of pilgrimage for neo-Nazis.

After years of debate about the large, traditional terraced house in the town of Braunau am Inn, which was in private ownership and had housed a charity for handicapped people, Austria made a compulsory purchase in 2017 and announced in 2019 it would be remodelled and turned into a police station.

Even before the conversion, the only sign of its historical significance was a rock on the pavement from the Mauthausen concentration camp with the inscription "Never again fascism" that does not mention Hitler. The rock remains in place. The only sign added to the white facade reads "Police."

"The darkest period in our country's history did not begin at this location. No wars were fought here, no people were persecuted, and no atrocities were ordered here. And yet, a certain symbolism clings to this place—a symbolism that seems to encompass all of that," said Austrian interior minister Gerhard Karner during a speech at the opening of the police station. "For many—far too many—were captivated and seduced by an ideology inextricably linked to this person, who was born in this very area."

Passers-by often stop to take pictures, but their views on Hitler are usually not known. Local officials said there are now only "isolated incidents" involving visitors, fewer than before.

While they did not elaborate, the Hitler salute and other Nazi symbols are banned in Austria.

Asked about the public response to the project, Mayor Johannes Waidbacher told Reuters: "I do not believe it will bother our citizens."

There has been some opposition, including from the Mauthausen Committee, Austria's main Holocaust survivors' group, which has argued both that a police station is inappropriate and that more should be done to draw attention to Hitler's crimes.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Hitler's birthplace begins new life as a police station

VIDEO SHOWS: OPENING CEREMONY FOR POLICE STATION IN BIRTHPLACE OF FORMER NAZI-LEADER ADOLF HITLER, OFFICES AND CELLS INSIDE POLICE STATION, STATEMENTS BY AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, GERHARD KARNER, DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, STEFAN HASLBERGER AND BRAUNAU AM INN MAYOR, JOHANNES WAIDBACHER

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT.

SHOWS: BRAUNAU, AUSTRIA (JULY 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF BRAUNAU AM INN, AUSTRIA

2. ROCK IN FRONT OF POLICE STATION WITH INSCRIPTION READING (German) "FOR PEACE, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, NEVER AGAIN FASCISM, MILLIONS OF DEAD WARN US"

3. VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF POLICE STATION IN BIRTHPLACE OF FORMER NAZI-LEADER ADOLF HITLER,

BRAUNAU, AUSTRIA (JULY 22, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. VARIOUS OF AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, GERHARD KARNER, SHAKING HANDS WITH POLICE OFFICERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, GERHARD KARNER, SAYING:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the darkest period in our country's history did not begin at this location. No wars were fought here, no people were persecuted, and no atrocities were ordered here. And yet, a certain symbolism clings to this place—a symbolism that seems to encompass all of that. For many—far too many—were captivated and seduced by an ideology inextricably linked to this person, who was born in this very area."

6. ONLOOKERS APPLAUDING

7. CLOSE OF EMBLEM OF AUSTRIAN POLICE

8. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICER HOLDING CROSS

9. VARIOUS OF ONLOOKERS LISTENING

10. SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, GERHARD KARNER, SAYING:

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's police force, our Austrian Federal Police force represents the exact opposite of the symbolism attached to this place. As has been mentioned, our police rightly stand for democracy and the rule of law, for freedom, security, and human dignity—and, above all, for their uncompromising defence against all who threaten them. Against any form of extremism or totalitarianism."

11. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS POSING FOR PICTURES

12. PHOTOGRAPHERS

13. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS POSING FOR PICTURES

14. MEDIA

15. CORRIDOR / DOOR WITH WRITING (German) "POLICE"

BRAUNAU, AUSTRIA (JULY 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. POLICE OFFICER SITTING BEHIND GLASS

15. DOOR WITH WRITING (German) "POLICE"

15. VARIOUS OF INTERROGATION ROOM

16. POLICE OFFICER SHOWING OFFICE

17. (SOUNDBITE) (German) DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER STEFAN HASLBERGER SAYING:

"It’s great, because the building is new and excellently equipped and has all the bells and whistles, as we say in Austrian."

18. DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER STEFAN HASLBERGER DURING INTERVIEW

19. (SOUNDBITE) (German) DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER STEFAN HASLBERGER SAYING:

"Well, of course, we do have a bit of a historical burden in the sense that Hitler was born here in Braunau, though he only lived here briefly."

20. HALLWAY

21. VARIOUS OF PRISON CELL

22. (SOUNDBITE) (German) DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER STEFAN HASLBERGER SAYING:

"Well, things have developed in such a way that there has been a massive decline [in incidents]. We’ve hardly recorded any offences in recent years. We maintain on significant days measures such as stepping up patrols in particular to ensure such activities are prevented at all costs."

23. VARIOUS OF SIGN (German) "POLICE DISTRICT POLICE COMMAND BRAUNAU"

24. STAIRS

25. (SOUNDBITE) (German) MAYOR OF BRAUNAU AM INN, JOHANNES WAIDBACHER, SAYING:

"The fundamental idea stems from the expropriation law; the approach was simply to permanently remove the building from private use. And the expropriation law is unique in the history of the Republic of Austria because it is specific to the building—there is no other case like it—and that is how the solution came about. As for whether that solution will truly deliver on its promises, only the future will tell."

26. STONE FROM CONCENTRATION CAMP MAUTHAUSEN

27. (SOUNDBITE) (German) MAYOR OF BRAUNAU AM INN, JOHANNES WAIDBACHER, SAYING:

"I do not believe it will bother our citizens. You have seen it for yourself: the house is constantly being photographed, though it is hard to say exactly what the intentions behind those photos are. There are likely various reasons why people take pictures of the house. But ultimately, it really matters that the memorial stone we are standing in front of now appears in every single photo taken of the house."

28. VARIOUS OF POLICE CAR

29. POLICE STATION