Three jailed in Auschwitz sign theft

A Polish court convicted three men for stealing the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign from the front gate of Auschwitz.

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(JTA) — A Polish court convicted three men for stealing the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign from the front gate of Auschwitz.

The Polish men, who confessed last week to cutting the 16-foot metal sign in pieces and stealing it, were given sentences ranging from six months to 2 1/2 years, according to reports. 

Two other Polish men remain in jail in connection with the theft.

The sign, which means "work makes you free," was stolen Dec. 18 and recovered across the country 72 hours later.

Anders Hogstrom, a former Swedish neo-Nazi, is suspected of ordering the men to steal the sign. He allegedly acted as an agent for a British Nazi sympathizer who wanted the sign.

Sweden agreed last week to extradite Hogstrom to Poland.
 

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