Hitler's Austrian Visit: Exploring Sankt Florian's History

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889. He only lived in the country for three years before his family moved to Germany. However, Hitler maintained a connection to his native land, visiting his birthplace in 1938 after annexing Austria to Nazi Germany. Hitler also had a holiday home in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, near Berchtesgaden, Germany, from which he could see Salzburg's castle in Austria. In addition, the St. Florian Monastery in Austria is linked to Hitler, as he and Joseph Goebbels visited the tomb of Anton Bruckner located there during the Nazi period.

Hitler visited Sankt Florian in 1938

Adolf Hitler visited Sankt Florian in 1938, the same year that Nazi Germany held a fake referendum on Austria joining them. Hitler's visit to Sankt Florian took place after the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany.

Hitler was born in the Austrian town of Braunau am Inn in 1889. His family rented rooms in a 17th-century former inn, and he lived there for just a few weeks before they moved to another address in Braunau. They left the town for good when Hitler was three years old.

Hitler returned to Braunau in 1938, briefly stopping there on his way to Vienna. During his rule in the 1930s, the house where Hitler was born became a shrine to his cult of personality. German schools would recite his date and place of birth, and some people claimed he was born in the stable rather than the house.

In Sankt Florian, the monks left the monastery during World War II, and the Gestapo took over, using it as a radio and TV broadcast centre for Nazi Germany. After the war, the monks returned to the monastery.

Hitler's holiday home, the Berghof, was located in the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Germany. He spent more time at the Berghof than anywhere else during his rule as Führer of Nazi Germany. The house became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with the German-controlled press portraying Hitler's life at home in a positive light.

The Berghof was demolished in 1952 by the Bavarian government, who wanted to discourage tourists and prevent the site from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine.

Sankt Florian Monastery was used by the Gestapo during WWII

The St. Florian Monastery, founded in the early ninth century, is an Augustinian monastery in the town of Sankt Florian, Austria. It is named after Saint Florian, who is believed to be buried beneath the monastery church. Saint Florian is one of the first and most famous Catholic saints in Austria and is considered the patron saint of Austria, Poland, firefighters, and bakers.

During World War II, the monastery was seized by the Gestapo, and the monks were expelled. From 1942 onwards, the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft ("Radio Society of the Third Reich") operated from the monastery, using it as a centre for radio and television broadcasts in Nazi Germany.

The Gestapo takeover of the St. Florian Monastery is a significant event in the history of the site, representing the interruption of its long-standing monastic traditions and its utilisation for Nazi propaganda purposes. The expulsion of the monks and the transformation of the sacred space into a broadcasting centre exemplify the disruption caused by the war and the imposition of Nazi rule.

The monastery has a rich history and is renowned for its impressive Baroque architecture, beautiful guest rooms, and unique attractions. It is one of the largest and most important monasteries in Austria, housing a community of Canons Regular. The monks returned to the monastery after the war ended and resumed their religious practices and cultural activities.

The St. Florian Monastery is closely associated with Anton Bruckner, a famous Austrian composer and organist. Bruckner lived and created music at the monastery, and his connection to the site attracts music enthusiasts from around the world. He is buried beneath the organ inside the monastic church, which was elevated to the rank of a basilica minor in 1999.

Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn is now vacant

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889. The house of his birth, a three-story yellow building, has been vacant since 2011. The building has served many purposes over the years, including a school, a bank, a public library, and a centre for the disabled.

The Austrian government has faced a challenging question: what should be done with Hitler's birthplace? Some suggested turning it into a museum or an international meeting place dedicated to peace, while others called for its complete demolition. The government initially planned to renovate the building and turn it into a police station, with construction slated to begin in 2020 and finish in early 2023. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the restoration, and costs increased significantly. As of 2023, the plan is to use the building as a police station and a training centre, with completion expected in 2025.

The controversy surrounding the house's future has been ongoing. Locals in Braunau am Inn are frustrated by the constant association with Hitler and want to move forward. They are divided over the government's decision to turn it into a police station, with some believing it downplays the history of the site. The government's goal is to neutralise" the history and symbolism of the house to prevent it from becoming a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis.

To deter neo-Nazis, a memorial stone was installed in front of the house in 1989, two weeks before Hitler's centenary. The stone, made from granite from the Mauthausen concentration camp, commemorates the victims of World War II and serves as a warning against fascism. It reads, "For peace, freedom and democracy. Never again fascism: millions of dead remind us."

Despite efforts to prevent it, the house continues to attract tourists and neo-Nazis. Locals report that dozens of people stop by daily to take pictures, and some have even left bouquets of flowers or burning candles.

Hitler's holiday home, Berghof, was destroyed in 1952

Adolf Hitler's holiday home, Berghof, was located in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany. Hitler spent more time at Berghof than anywhere else during his rule as Führer of Nazi Germany, and it was one of his most well-known headquarters.

Hitler first visited the area in 1923 and was so impressed that he rented Haus Wachenfeld in 1928, a pretty, alpine-style vacation home. In 1933, he purchased the house with funds from the sale of his political manifesto, Mein Kampf, and began renovating and expanding it. The house was renamed Berghof, or "Mountain Court", in 1935 and served as Hitler's holiday residence for ten years.

Berghof became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with the German and international press portraying Hitler's life at home in a positive light, softening his image by depicting him as a man of culture, a dog lover, and a good neighbour. The house was luxuriously furnished with valuable paintings, tapestries, statues, and antique furniture, and included a large terrace with colourful canvas umbrellas. Hitler's study had a telephone switchboard room, and the library contained books on history, painting, architecture, and music. A large picture window could be lowered into the wall to give a sweeping view of the snow-capped mountains in his native Austria.

Berghof was damaged by British bombs in April 1945 and again by retreating SS troops in early May. It was looted after Allied troops arrived in the area. The Bavarian government demolished the burned shell of Berghof in 1952, fearing that the ruins would become a neo-Nazi shrine and tourist attraction. More than 50 Obersalzberg Nazi buildings were destroyed, including the houses of other high-ranking Nazi officials, SS barracks, and a teahouse.

Hitler's old house in Braunau am Inn was rented by the Austrian interior ministry to prevent misuse by neo-Nazis

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889. His family lived in an apartment in the building, which was a former inn. They moved to another address in Braunau before leaving the town for good when Hitler was three years old.

Hitler's old house has been a source of controversy for the town and the Austrian government. In 1972, the Austrian Interior Ministry began renting the property from its owner, Gerlinde Pommer, to prevent it from being used as a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis. The ministry paid Pommer approximately €4,800-€5,000 per month in rent. For many years, the house was used as a daycare centre for people with special needs. However, in 2011, the tenants had to move out, and the building has been vacant since then.

The future of the house has been the subject of much debate. Various proposals have been put forward, including turning it into flats, a centre for adult education, a museum, or a centre for confronting Austria's Nazi past. In 2016, the Interior Ministry considered expropriating the house, and a special law was required in the Austrian parliament. Ultimately, it was decided that the building would be restored to its 1790 configuration, with all Nazi-era additions removed. As of 2020, it was announced that the house would be used as a police station and training centre, with restoration expected to be completed by 2025.

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