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Auschwitz death camp sign stolen Auschwitz death camp sign stolen
(20 minutes later)
The infamous Arbeit Macht Frei sign at the entrance to the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Poland has been stolen, officials there say.The infamous Arbeit Macht Frei sign at the entrance to the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Poland has been stolen, officials there say.
The sign was taken from above the gate overnight. Police are looking for the culprits. The metal sign was taken from above the gate overnight. Police are looking for the culprits.
It is the first time the sign, made by prisoners, has been stolen since it was erected in the early 1940s.It is the first time the sign, made by prisoners, has been stolen since it was erected in the early 1940s.
More than a million people - 90% of them Jews - were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II.More than a million people - 90% of them Jews - were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II.
"It's a terrible thing," Auschwitz official Pawel Sawicki told the BBC."It's a terrible thing," Auschwitz official Pawel Sawicki told the BBC.
"It had to be planned - it's obvious it wasn't someone who just came along to do it," he said. "The sign means everything - it's a symbol of what Auschwitz stands for. But a place where hundreds of thousands of people died obviously doesn't mean anything to the thieves," he said.
Mr Sawicki said the theft was probably planned.
The missing sign, which is occasionally removed by officials for conservation work, has been replaced by a replica.The missing sign, which is occasionally removed by officials for conservation work, has been replaced by a replica.
During the Holocaust, hundreds and thousands of prisoners passed under the sign, whose words mean "Work Sets You Free", but the vast majority were murdered or worked to death. During the Holocaust, hundreds of thousands of prisoners passed under the sign, whose words mean "Work Sets You Free", but the vast majority were murdered or worked to death.