Berlin to gift Goebbels' decaying villa amid spiraling costs
Authorities in Berlin have announced plans to give away a villa that once belonged to Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's minister of propaganda. "I offer it as a gift to anyone who would like to take over the land," stated Berlin's finance senator, Stefan Evers.
7:18 AM EDT, May 5, 2024
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to sell Joseph Goebbels' sprawling estate, the German government is now prepared to transfer the property for free. However, this offer comes with significant financial burdens due to the estate's vast size and its current dilapidated condition.
"Since 2000, the Joseph Goebbels residence complex has remained unoccupied. Maintaining it costs the capital's budget hundreds of thousands of euros annually," reported the "Bild" newspaper.
"The federal state of Berlin offers the takeover of this land as a gift to anyone interested," announced finance senator Stefan Evers, as quoted by "Deutsche Welle".
Evers remained ambiguous regarding whether offers from private individuals would be considered, leaving the estate's future uncertain. If no one steps forward to assume ownership, the Berlin government may ultimately decide to demolish the villa.
The villa, constructed in 1936 for Joseph Goebbels, one of Adolf Hitler's key allies and the Nazi regime's propaganda chief, boasts 30 bedrooms, 40 study rooms, and even a cinema hall. Additionally, it offers scenic vistas of Lake Bogensee.
Though Goebbels entertained Hitler and other Nazi leaders there, the property was never officially owned by him or his family.
Post-war, the 42-acre estate briefly served as a hospital before being acquired by the youth wing of the East German communist party, which built a training center and several residential blocks on the premises. Despite these developments, the property now sits abandoned.
The estate eventually caught the state's interest, changing hands to Brandenburg and later to the German Ministry of Finance.
Lack of interest in the property
The German government is making a final effort to find a buyer for this historic estate. So far, neither local nor federal authorities have expressed interest, despite some unfounded rumors.
"Russian propaganda falsely claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had purchased the estate," reported the "Nexta" portal.
