Auschwitz 'Arbeit Macht Frei' Sign Stolen

"BERLIN — The Polish Cultural Ministry, in an effort to save face after the embarrassing theft eight days ago of the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” metal banner that hung over the entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp, has said it will help pay for more security at the site.

"Bogdan Zdrojewski, the culture minister, said late Wednesday that the government would contribute about $138,000 after a furor over the lack of security at the camp, which covers over 500 acres. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/europe/26poland.html?ref=global-home

Dave

 

Glad they were caught- sickos for sure!

 

I'm not going to jump up and down with rage as it's pointless, just reflects on the world we live in today.

Nothing is to low for some people these days.

 

I would venture this was a "commissioned" crime: a private collector wanted that sign for his/her collection. We'll see.

 

what idiots

 

And neo-nazis needed money for their action which they´d get from the private collector....

 

New York Daily News (tabloid, I know) reported that the crime was commissioned by a neo-Nazi group in Sweden to finance terrorist activities. According to the report, Sweden's law enforcement authority confirmed that they have received threats from the said neo-Nazi group against the lives of several prominent parliamentarians. Has anyone else heard about this?

 

Yes, I read the same news a couple of days ago in the Finnish newspapers, but that´s practically all there is, and nothing new after that....

 

Poland turns to Sweden in probe of Auschwitz theft - Yahoo! News

Boguslawa Marcinkowska, a spokeswoman for Krakow prosecutors, says her office will send a formal request for help Wednesday to the Swedish Justice Ministry in Stockholm.

Polish media have been reporting that the theft was commissioned by a collector living in Sweden, but investigators have not confirmed that.

 

I suppose justice wants some discretion and that we"ll hear the whole story when/if they catch the guy . Soon or late the supposedly collector will be caught. What did he think? that he could just display the sign in his living-room or what? I can't wait they bust him. again this Swedish collcetor story has not been confirmed yet.

 

It is shameful that people would do such a thing.

 

Well wealcome to the 21st century this takes the whole "do any thing for money thing" to far.well I geuss it wasn't neo-Nazis after all on the bright side or it wasent destroyed or somthing.

 

Auschwitz sign was stolen for wealthy British Nazi - mirror.co.uk

Now a Sunday *Mirror investigation has *revealed that the sign – recovered in three pieces by police – was destined for a rich UK collector of Nazi memorabilia, via an extreme-right group in Sweden.

Had the British buyer gone ahead with the deal, his cash could have funded dissident Nazi *sympathisers in Sweden who are advocating terrorist acts to disrupt this year’s elections there.

 

Ex-Nazi: 'I was Auschwitz sign middleman' - The Local

A Swede suspected of involvement in the theft of the "Arbeit Macht Free" sign from Auschwitz has spoken out about his role in the raid on the former Nazi death camp.

• Three in Sweden sought for Auschwitz sign theft (7 Jan 10)
• Swedish Auschwitz sign suspect contacts lawyer (5 Jan 10)
• Brit hired Swedish Nazis for Auschwitz raid: report (4 Jan 10)

"My role was to go get the sign in Poland. I was the middleman and was supposed to take care of the sale," the man, a former neo-Nazi whose name was not disclosed, told Swedish daily Expressen.

The paper referred to the man only as "a former Nazi leader."

The Polish daily Fakt identified the man as Anders Högström, who in 1994 founded the National Socialist Front, a Swedish neo-Nazi movement he headed for five years before quitting.

Another Polish newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, referred in its article to "Anders H."

After leaving his party, Högström, 33, claimed he distanced himself from the movement and joined an association called Exit which helps youths quit far-right movements, according to Swedish media.

Polish prosecutors said on Wednesday they wanted to question three Swedish residents over the December 18th theft of the death camp sign, without revealing their names.

Five Poles have already been arrested.

The men are charged with theft and damage and face up to 10 years in prison.

According to Expressen, the "former Nazi leader" claimed the sign was to be sold for several million kronor (hundreds of thousands of dollars) which was to be used to finance bombings against the Swedish parliament and government.

"But that was not something I wanted to be involved in or carry out, in any way," he told the paper.

"I contacted the police immediately, as soon as the sign was stolen, and gave them all the information I had. I haven't committed any crime. I was the one who saw to it that the sign was found," he added.

Police recovered the five-metre metal sign -- which means "Work Will Set You Free" in German -- on December 20th in northern Poland and arrested the five Polish men. The sign had been cut into three pieces.

The sign above Auschwitz's gateway has long symbolised the horror of the camp, created by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland in 1940 and in operation until Soviet troops liberated it in 1945.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

 

Well its great they got the sign back. They should have put a replica up in the first place and put the real one in a museum.

 

Polish prosecutors say they have identified the Swedish mastermind of the theft from Auschwitz of the "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign and will seek his arrest and extradition to Poland.

Prosecutor Artur Wrona said Wednesday that Swedish prosecutors have confirmed the identity of the suspect as Anders H.

Polish prosecutors withheld the suspect's last name, as required by Polish law.

Wrona said the man must be brought to Poland before charges can be filed and said prosecutors will issue a European arrest warrant.

Poland seeks to arrest Swede in Auschwitz theft - Yahoo! News

 

Nahh ..at least it wasnt Mr Nowak

 

Well thats good....

 

Stolen Auschwitz sign returned to museum - Yahoo! News

The infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign stolen last month from Auschwitz and broken into three pieces was returned to the museum at the site of the Nazi death camp Thursday.

 

I have always considered that detestable sign to be a bizarre and very black joke by the camp authorities. The sign is actually a warning to those in 'the know' as to the real purpose of 'work' in Auschwitz.

The only way anyone was 'freed' from this facility was as a corpse. Inmates were, literally worked to death, so, by it's very nature, the sign actually informs the incoming inmate that 'work' inside the camp will lead to his death....setting him 'free', as it were.

Knowing the mentality of Auschwitz guards, as we do, they must have looked up at this despicable sign and laughed for all they were worth.

How could modern Poles do such a thing?....hope they throw the book at these prize fools.....