Linz, Hitler’s Childhood Hometown

Linz is a city in Austria with a long and complex history, including its connection as the childhood home of Adolf Hitler. Here are some key historical points about Linz:

 

Early History of Linz

– Roman Origins: Linz was established as a Roman military post called “Lentia.” Its location on the banks of the Danube River made it a strategic trading hub in ancient times.

– Medieval City: During the Middle Ages, Linz grew into an important trade center in Central Europe. Its strategic position along major trade routes contributed to its prosperity.

 

Linz During the Habsburg Empire

– Under the Habsburg Empire, Linz became a significant city, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries.

– Emperor Friedrich III, one of the Habsburg rulers, frequently resided in Linz and even passed away in the city in 1493.

 

Adolf Hitler and Linz

– Hitler’s Youth: Although Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, a small Austrian town, his family moved to Linz during his teenage years. He spent a substantial part of his youth there.

– Attachment to Linz: In his autobiography Mein Kampf, Hitler described Linz as his favorite city. He envisioned transforming Linz into a cultural and artistic hub if the Nazis succeeded in dominating Europe.

– Nazi Plans for Linz: Hitler proposed several ambitious projects for Linz, including building a grand art museum and extensive infrastructure. However, most of these plans were never realized.

 

Linz in World War II

– Linz became a center for military industry during the Nazi era, largely due to its strategic location and efficient transportation networks.

– The city was also the site of forced labor camps and played a role in the Holocaust.

 

Post-War Linz

– After World War II, Linz underwent significant transformation. The city worked to distance itself from its association with Hitler and the Nazi era.

– Today, Linz is a vibrant center for culture, art, and technology. The Ars Electronica Festival, focusing on digital art and innovation, is one of its most famous events.

 

Modern Linz

Linz is now recognized as a modern city emphasizing art and technology. Notable attractions include:

– Ars Electronica Center: Showcasing exhibitions on technological and digital art innovations.
– Lentos Art Museum: Featuring an impressive collection of modern art.
– New Cathedral (Mariendom): The largest church in Austria.

 

Although Linz’s history is tied to controversial figures and events, the city has successfully reinvented itself as a symbol of modernity and creativity. Would you like to learn more about its history or attractions?

 

After visiting the Donau Tower, we drove westward through Austria. From Vienna, we planned to have a picnic in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small town on the border of Austria and Germany. However, before heading there, we took a detour to Linz, another major city in Austria, since it was on our route to Garmisch.

 

This third-largest city in Austria is not typically a popular tourist destination. When I asked ‘Google’ for suggestions on interesting places to visit in Linz, there were very few reviews about its tourist attractions. However, I was curious about the atmosphere of the city, which is surrounded by mountains.

 

Linz has its own history related to Adolf Hitler. The Nazi leader referred to Linz as his hometown. He lived in the city from 1898 to 1907, during his childhood and adolescence. Initially, Hitler’s family lived in the village of Leonding on the outskirts, then he moved to Humboldtstrasse 31, in the heart of Linz. At that time, Linz was still a small city with only 55,000 inhabitants — now it has grown to 200,839.

 

After a two-hour drive, we arrived in Linz. I quickly understood why the city isn’t considered a major tourist destination. As soon as we entered the city and made our way to the city center, there wasn’t much to catch the eye. The city felt rather ordinary. However, Linz was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2009 due to its cultural activities. Its architecture and layout weren’t much different from other European cities I had visited. Hitler had described Linz as more “German” than other Austrian cities.

 

The city center was easy to reach by tram or metro, but we decided to walk, as it was clearly marked on the map we got from the hotel. The city center starts from the end of Landstrasse Street, heading toward the Danube River. Yes, Linz is also divided by the Danube River, which splits the city into two parts, connected by the Nibelungen Bridge built by Hitler. This was the only project Hitler managed to complete out of his many grand plans to rebuild Linz.

 

As we walked through the city in the late afternoon, we found several historical buildings that serve as tourist attractions. We discovered them using the map I was holding. My friend trusted me with the map, as I’m good at reading maps, even though I had made a few mistakes in other cities before.

 

The first historical landmark we came across was Theater Maestro, followed by Martin Luther Church. Then we passed the Atrium City Centre, Church of the Carmelites, and Church of the Ursuline Sisters. Not long after, we reached the city center. Here we found Hauptplatz, the main square, and the Trinity Column. Although it’s called the main square, Hauptplatz is not as large compared to squares in Vienna or Berlin.

 

In this main square, there’s Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall, now used as a tourist information center. On the second floor of Altes Rathaus, there’s a small balcony where Hitler proclaimed the Greater German Reich (Großdeutsches Reich). Next to Altes Rathaus, the Alter Dom, or Old Cathedral, towers above. Then there’s Paris Church Linz, Keplerhaus, and the Linz Genesis and Zahn Museum. All of these places are not far from the Nibelungen Bridge. Besides Altes Rathaus, another historical site worth visiting is Hartheim Castle and Leonding, where Hitler’s parents are buried.

 

After crossing the bridge, I found the Neues Rathaus, or New Town Hall, which looked more like a hotel. It was no mistake, as this is the new town hall. The old town hall, which we passed before the bridge, didn’t stand out as much because it was attached to other buildings. It wasn’t as grand and independent as the Rathaus in Berlin, which is red-bricked, or the Rathaus in Amsterdam, which is large and beautiful. From the bridge, we looked at the mountains surrounding Linz in the distance. We ended our brief exploration of Linz on the Donau River Bridge.

 

We retraced our steps back to the hotel where we had parked the car. Although it was already around 3:00 PM in Linz, we decided to have lunch. We ate at the hotel restaurant, as it offered free parking for up to three hours. If we parked elsewhere, we would have to pay at least 2 euros per hour. Plus, we didn’t have to pay for the restroom, as public toilets in Europe generally require a fee. Even for a quick restroom visit, the charge is usually between 30 cents to 1 euro. After lunch and a quick restroom break, we continued our journey to Garmisch in Bavaria, a neighboring city of Munich at the foot of the Alps.