BRAUNAU AM INN, Austria (AP) – Four German nationals faced legal consequences after attempting to commemorate Adolf Hitler’s birthday at the house where the Nazi leader was born, according to Austrian authorities. The incident occurred on Saturday, April 20th, marking the 134th anniversary of Hitler’s birth in this small town near the German border.
The group, consisting of two sisters in their 20s and their partners in their early 30s, traveled from Germany to Braunau am Inn with the intent of laying white roses at the former residential building, officials stated. Witnesses reported the individuals posing for photographs in front of the infamous site, with one woman defiantly raising her arm in a Nazi salute.
Law enforcement patrolling the area quickly intervened, detaining the four Germans and transporting them to a local police station for questioning. An investigation revealed Nazi-themed messages and imagery shared among the group via a mobile chat.
“While one suspect claimed the salute was not serious, the evidence from their digital communications suggests otherwise,” said Police Chief Markus Kaplaner. “Such brazenly offensive conduct referencing the Nazi regime will not be tolerated.”
All four now face charges of violating Austria’s laws prohibiting the display of Nazi symbols and rhetoric. If convicted, they could receive prison sentences along with substantial fines.
The house at Salzburger Vorstadt 15, where Hitler spent his earliest years until the age of three, has been a point of contention for decades. After years of legal battles, renovations began in 2023 to convert the property into a police station and remove its allure as a pilgrimage site for Nazi sympathizers.
“The Repurposing of this building represents Austria’s stand against honoring the Nazi past and its darkest figurehead,” stated Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. “Zero tolerance will be shown for those glorifying Hitler’s twisted ideology.”
Braunau’s mayor, Johannes Waidbacher echoed the government’s position, stating, “We do not want this birth house to be a cult site for neo-Nazis anymore. Its new role should firmly counteract any fawning over the Nazi regime.”
The arrests serve as a stark reminder of how sites connected to Nazi history remain flashpoints of controversy. As Germany and Austria continue efforts in atoning for humanity’s darkest chapters, incidents like this illustrate the persistent need for education and staunch opposition to extremist ideologies.
