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Adolf Hitler house to be 'neutralised', Austria says | Adolf Hitler house to be 'neutralised', Austria says |
(32 minutes later) | |
Austria has unveiled plans to "neutralise" the building where Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler was born, by turning it into a police station. | Austria has unveiled plans to "neutralise" the building where Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler was born, by turning it into a police station. |
The government bought the building under a compulsory purchase order in 2016 after a lengthy dispute. | The government bought the building under a compulsory purchase order in 2016 after a lengthy dispute. |
Officials announced it would be turned into a police station in November. | Officials announced it would be turned into a police station in November. |
Now an Austrian architecture firm will carry out the changes designed to stop the site, in Braunau on the border with Germany, attracting neo-Nazis. | Now an Austrian architecture firm will carry out the changes designed to stop the site, in Braunau on the border with Germany, attracting neo-Nazis. |
"A new chapter will be opened for the future from the birth house of a dictator and mass murderer," Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told reporters on Tuesday. | "A new chapter will be opened for the future from the birth house of a dictator and mass murderer," Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told reporters on Tuesday. |
The winning company - Marte.Marte, picked from among 12 candidates - submitted a plan which will cosmetically change the façade of the building and give it a new roof. Work is expected to be completed by 2023 and will cost about €5m ($5.6m; £4.5m). | The winning company - Marte.Marte, picked from among 12 candidates - submitted a plan which will cosmetically change the façade of the building and give it a new roof. Work is expected to be completed by 2023 and will cost about €5m ($5.6m; £4.5m). |
"The neutralisation of this whole location was ultimately at the heart of this result," interior ministry official Hermann Feiner told reporters. | "The neutralisation of this whole location was ultimately at the heart of this result," interior ministry official Hermann Feiner told reporters. |
Little marks out the house to suggest it is where the Nazi leader was born. A rock outside which reads "Fascism never again" is to be moved to a museum in the capital Vienna. A local historian however told the BBC that it was very important that the stone should stay in Braunau. | |
The genocidal dictator himself barely spent time at the property. He was born in an apartment in the 17th Century building in 1889, but his family left a few weeks later for another address in the area, and left the town permanently when Hitler turned three. | The genocidal dictator himself barely spent time at the property. He was born in an apartment in the 17th Century building in 1889, but his family left a few weeks later for another address in the area, and left the town permanently when Hitler turned three. |
Neo-Nazis have however travelled to the site, and authorities want to ensure it does not attract others in the future. | Neo-Nazis have however travelled to the site, and authorities want to ensure it does not attract others in the future. |
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, and for decades presented itself as one of the first victims of the regime. | Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, and for decades presented itself as one of the first victims of the regime. |
But many at the time welcomed the move, known as the Anschluss or connection, and Austria has begun to speak about its own complicity in Nazi crimes. | But many at the time welcomed the move, known as the Anschluss or connection, and Austria has begun to speak about its own complicity in Nazi crimes. |
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