German authorities have caused controversy by deciding to gift the deteriorating luxury villa of Joseph Goebbels, a close associate of Hitler, at no cost. Known as “Goebbels’ Love Nest,” the expansive estate located 25 miles north of Berlin was a clandestine meeting place for Goebbels and his lovers.

Despite being dubbed a “Nazi relic,” Berlin officials have chosen to give away the property after prolonged deliberation. The maintenance of the estate, costing around £240,000 annually, will still be covered by Berlin taxpayers even after the transfer. Critics have condemned the decision as “a moral disgrace” and “historical whitewashing.”

Historian Stephan Malinowski criticized the estate as a symbol of indecision and forgetfulness. German historian Hans-Christian Lange, who led the Holocaust Memorial campaign in Berlin, expressed concerns about the trend of transforming such sites into memorials for Nazi nostalgia enthusiasts.

Katrin Guse, a Green Party district council candidate, suggested demolishing the property, citing the insignificance of preserving dictatorial worldviews. The villa, constructed in 1939, evolved into a 30-room mansion with various amenities, including a private cinema and a bunker built in 1944.

Following World War II, the site served briefly as a hospital before being taken over by the East German Communist party’s youth wing. After German reunification in 1990, ownership reverted to Berlin but remained unused. The site now attracts visitors exploring the dilapidated grounds and peering into the villa’s windows.