bombing their houses as part of the training exercises. In World War II the facility was home to the 392nd Infantry Division and the site of several prisoner-of-war camps including Stalag XVII-C and Oflag XVII-A (from June 1940) near the abandoned village of Edelbach. Upon implementation of the 1945 German Instrument of Surrender and the Allied occupation of Austria, the training ground was seized by the Soviet Army and, despite raised claims for restitution, has remained a military exclusion zone (renamed Truppenübungsplatz Allentsteig) to this day, now operated by the Austrian Armed Forces. Since 1981, however, the main square, the ruins of the Romanesque parish church of Saints Peter and Paul, and its surrounding graveyard have been made accessible to visitors. In 1986, the church was reconsecrated as a "church of peace" by the Bishop of Sankt Pölten. The expelled inhabitants were not compensated until 1955. Notes References Bibliography Reference works External links Döllersheim official website Populated places in Lower Austria Hitler family Ghost towns in Europe Former populated places in Austria