Austrian government wants to seize Adolf Hitler's birthplace to prevent it becoming a neo-Nazi shrine after owner refuses to sell the landmark building 

Austria's government has announced it wants to pass a law so it can seize Adolf Hitler's birthplace from its owners to prevent it becoming a neo-Nazi shrine. 

Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in the town of Braunau am Inn, less than 500 metres from the German border. 

The large house, which was owned by Hitler's family for more than a century before the Nazi leader's birth, is currently owned by Gerlinde Pommer, a resident of the town. 

The Austrian government wants to seize Hitler's birthplace, pictured, to prevent it becoming a neo-Nazi shrine

The Nazi dictator was born in the former pub, pictured, which was owned by his family for more than a century 

This is the room, left, where the dictator, right, spent his early days on the Austrian - German border 

Hitler was born in the town of Braunau am Inn on April 20, 1889, just 500 metres from the German border 

Since the 1970s, the Austrian government has rented the building from Pommer and used it as a centre for people with disabilities. 

However, five years ago, Pommer refused permission for authorities to renovate the interior of the building and bring it up to current standards. 

Austria's interior ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grudenboeck said the government needed to act to prevent the building becoming a shrine for extremists. 

He told AFP: '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.

'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,'

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Austrian authorities fear the building, pictured ��will once-again become a popular tourist spot for Nazis��

Hitler, centre, visited his birthplace after declaring anschluss with Austria, making it a popular Nazi location 

During the Second World War, the building, which was a guest house, became a popular Nazi tourist spot 

Grudenboeck stressed the current owners  would be fully compensated if the state appropriated the property.

The building has been empty since 2011 as a result of the row between Pommer and the government. 

Austrian authorities have made attempts to buy the building from Pommer, but these have been rebuffed, leading to the plans to change the law. 

The issue has sparked heated debated among Braunau's 17,000 residents. Some want it to become a refugee centre, others a museum dedicated to Austria's liberation.

There have been even been calls for its demolition - but the house is part of the city's historic centre and therefore under heritage protection.

Every year on Hitler's birthday, anti-fascist protesters organise a rally outside the building at number 15 Salzburger Vorstadt Street, next to a memorial stone reading: 'For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism, Millions of Dead Warn.' 

Austrian authorities said they would compensate Pommer for the property because of the Hitler link 

Each year, on the anniversary of Hitler's birth, anti-fascist protesters demonstrate outside the building