Hitler’s birthplace is stirring fresh controversy in Austria. Adolf Hitler was born in the small northern Austrian town of Braunau am Inn in 1889.

Hitlers left Braunau am Inn when Adolf was only three years old, so his connection to the town is very limited. But, he did briefly visit Braunau am Inn on his way to Vienna in 1938 during the Nazi Annexation of Austria.

The house where Hitler was born is still privately owned, but has been rented out by the Austrian government to avoid having the house used as a shrine by neo-Nazi groups. The future of Hitler’s birthplace is now uncertain, leading to somewhat nervous discussions of possible solutions.

This historical site definitely raises numerous problematic issues of historical memory and commemoration.

The BBC reports on Hitler’s birthplace online.