The Austrian government says it plans to seize the house where Adolf Hitler was born to stop it being a focal point for Nazi sympathisers.<\/p>\n
Officials say the decision was taken after several years of discussion about how to prevent neo-Nazi interest.<\/p>\n
Hitler was born in the house in the town of Braunau am Inn in April, 1889.<\/p>\n
The property has been leased from its owner by the government since 1972, and it was used for many years as a centre for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
But it fell empty in 2011 following a dispute between the government and the owner, Gerlinde Pommer, who refused to grant permission for renovation.<\/p>\n
The new plan would include an offer of compensation from the state to her, interior ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck told AFP news agency.<\/p>\n
“We are currently examining the creation of a law, which would force a change of ownership and pass the property to the Republic of Austria.<\/p>\n
“We have come to the conclusion over the past few years that expropriation is the only way to avoid the building being used for the purposes of Nazi [sympathisers].”<\/p>\n
He did not say what the government might then do with the property.<\/p>\n
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