Due to the high cost of maintenance, the government of Berlin has chosen to give away a villa that belonged to a prominent Nazi, for free, according to The Telegraph (UK). The subject property is a lakefront villa with an unsettling past. The estate was formerly owned by Adolf Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, and is situated in rural areas to the north of the German capital.
The report stated that the villa will be given away for free by the Berlin government.

High-ranking Nazi Germany official Goebbels was a member of Hitler’s inner circle and had a significant influence on the propaganda of the Nazis.

He was known for his skill in using media platforms like newspapers, radio, and films, to spread Nazi propaganda and control information flow within Germany. He, along with his wife and six children, died by suicide towards the end of World War 2, reports History.com.

Goebbels’ 17-hectare estate and villa was built in 1936 and used for various purposes, including his affairs with actresses.

Today, the property is owned by the state of Berlin, which is facing difficulties in maintaining it due to high costs, and its disturbing history associated with the Nazi regime.

According to Stefan Evers, Berlin’s Finance Minister, whoever wants to “take over the site” can have the property as “a gift from the state of Berlin.”

The villa, which is roughly ten miles north of Berlin, has greatly deteriorated since it was left empty in 2000. The property needs renovation and currently has broken windows and missing parts.

A number of plans have been put forth regarding the estate, including the federal government or the neighboring state of Brandenburg taking control of it. A private owner may also purchase it.

But rather than renovating, the state of Berlin might have to destroy the property if no suitable proposals are made.

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