Berlin offers Goebbels' villa for free amid costly upkeep challenges

Authorities in Berlin are looking to give away a villa that once belonged to Adolf Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. "I offer it as a gift to anyone who would like to take over the land," said Stefan Evers, Berlin's finance senator.

The German government has tried several times to sell Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels's large estate. Now, it is taking a different approach by offering to transfer the property for free. However, given the estate's size and current condition, this decision comes with hefty costs.

The residential complex of Joseph Goebbels has been unused since 2000. Every year, the capital's budget is burdened with hundreds of thousands of euros for its maintenance – as reported by the German newspaper "Bild".

"I offer the takeover of this land as a gift from the federal state of Berlin to anyone who would like to take it over," announced Stefan Evers, Berlin's finance senator, as quoted by "Deutsche Welle".

Evers did not specify whether proposals from private individuals would be considered. Uncertainty about the estate's fate persists. Should no one be willing to take over the property, the Berlin government will have to decide to demolish the villa.

In 1936, a significant property was constructed for Joseph Goebbels, one of Adolf Hitler's closest allies and the chief of German propaganda during the Nazi regime. The villa houses 30 bedrooms, 40 study rooms, and a cinema hall. It overlooks Lake Bogenesee.

This was where Goebbels welcomed Hitler and other key figures of the Nazi regime. Despite its long association with Goebbels, he or his family never officially owned the property.

After the war, the estate, covering approximately 42 acres (17 hectares), was briefly used as a hospital. It was then taken over by the youth wing of the East German communist party, which aimed to build a training centre. Several large residential blocks were erected to fulfil young people's educational and training needs, but the site is now abandoned.

The German government is finally attempting to find a suitable buyer for this historic estate. Neither local nor federal authorities have shown any interest in it, but there have been some false rumours.

Russian propaganda falsely claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had purchased it - as reported by the "Nexta" portal.