Monday, December 21, 2009

NEWS: Polish Police Find Stolen Auschwitz Sign

The Auschwitz sign which had been stolen a couple of days ago has been found in northern Poland. Police detained five men aged between 25 and 39, who are being transported to Kraków for questioning.

The sign was cut into three pieces, each containing one of the words.

A police news conference to explain the issue is planned at 08:00 GMT (3 a.m. EST) Monday. The police refused to divulge any details of the circumstances in which the sign was found or to speculate on the motive.

The sign that topped a main gate at the Auschwitz memorial site was stolen before dawn on Friday. State authorities made finding it a priority and appealed to all Poles for assistance.

More than 1 million people died in the gas chambers or from starvation and disease while performing forced labor at Auschwitz, which Nazi Germany built in occupied Poland during World War II.The camp was liberated by Soviet troops on Jan.27, 1945.

The museum is preparing for solemn observations of the 65th anniversary of liberation.