Anti-extremism centre opens in former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss

A man visits the barracks at the former camp (Oded Balilty/AP)

The former home of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss has been transformed into a research centre devoted to fighting extremism, with the building officially opening to the public on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp.

The house, which sits beside the former death camp, belonged to a local military family before the invasion of Poland by Nazi forces in 1939.

It has since been acquired by the Counter Extremism Project, a non-government organisation that combats extremist groups by pressuring financial support networks, countering the narrative of extremists and their online recruitment, and advocating for stronger laws, policies and regulations around the world.