Poland declares state of emergency after 'Arbeit Macht Frei' stolen from Auschwitz

[Rejected Again]

A state of emergency was announced in Poland today involving tightened border controls and random police checks as a nationwide hunt was launched for the infamous bronze sign to the former German Nazi death camp Auschwitz after it was stolen.

The discovery this morning that the sign had been wrenched from the top of the entrance gate posts prompted international reactions of outrage from Washington to London and urgent calls for its return.

The sign, cast by camp prisoners, which offered the cynical welcome to new inmates "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work sets you free) and stands as a potent symbol of the suffering millions endured at the camp, is believed to have been removed by a gang in what authorities called a meticulously planned robbery.

Source

Now, the question to be had here is WHY they would steal the sign. Do they think they could sell it? Did they have family that died in there and did it out of a misguided sense of justice?

[bluestarultor]

I'm thinking it could even be a group of Holocaust deniers. I can't think of anyone else who would do something like that. See, selling it is no good. You can't find a buyer for that kind of thing any more than you could for the Mona Lisa. If you have a famous piece of history, you end up with it sitting around, because everyone knows about it, and if they don't, you generally would have to tell them to make the sale. Doing that exposes you to legal retribution.

On the other hand, if you steal it and hide or destroy it, you remove a piece of history, either potentially for a long time or quite simply forever. With a pretty vocal number of people trying to bury the Holocaust as the last of its survivors begin to age and die, I can see some of them go to this length to try to damage what's left of the proof of it.

[Green Spanner]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

I'm thinking it could even be a group of Holocaust deniers. I can't think of anyone else who would do something like that.

Originally Posted by BitVyper

Stupid vandals?

Same thing?

[bluestarultor]

I think it goes beyond stupid vandals, given that the authorities seem to think it was an organized effort. Vandals generally don't plan stuff well in advance. They just break shit. Also, I think someone would have to be REALLY effing stupid to vandalize a frickin' concentration camp on a whim. I mean, maybe if they were blind drunk, but then the best idea would probably be to leave it somewhere and leave an anonymous tip where it is. Or even own up to it and turn it in in hopes of a lighter sentence. Granted, this is probably the point where that kind of person would still be shitting their pants and sitting on the thing, but still.

[BitVyper]

I can't think of anyone else who would do something like that.

Stupid vandals?

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Were your childhoods all spent locked up in windowless attics?
I'm sure it was a bunch of teenagers who stole it b ecause they could and thought it would be funny. That's what teenagers do. I've stolen famous things in my youth as has pretty much everyone. And the authorities show the typical lack of clue by saying "Oh yeah it had to be a gang. And it had to be organised. That thing was welded steel."
That's just a challenge. People I know have stolen entire statues during the night- a steel sign is no big problem.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

Were your childhoods all spent locked up in windowless attics?
I'm sure it was a bunch of teenagers who stole it b ecause they could and thought it would be funny. That's what teenagers do. I've stolen famous things in my youth as has pretty much everyone. And the authorities show the typical lack of clue by saying "Oh yeah it had to be a gang. And it had to be organised. That thing was welded steel."
That's just a challenge. People I know have stolen entire statues during the night- a steel sign is no big problem.

Well then it's just a matter of time before their parents rat them out, now isn't it? "A little time in federal prison will do the shits good!" Actually, I'm only half joking with that. If someone is really that stupid to steal from a piece of not only national, but world history of a caliber pretty much without rival, they deserve to rot in the tank and reconsider their ideas of "funny."

Edit: It would also discourage others from trying similar. I mean, some things are just sacred. Even though some teenagers have no respect for the sacred, it would be a good reminder that they need to be halfway decent anyway. "Yeah, let's go steal a piece of world history!" "Dude! Didn't you ever hear about Jimmy McSignthief? He stole a little sign once. The thing was like the size of a street sign. You know where he ended up? Tossing the salad with Vladimir McPresidentialassassin! Do YOU want to end up with your salad tossed by Vladimir McPresidentialassassin?" "Uh, dude, no, let's go play video games."

[Kim]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Well then it's just a matter of time before their parents rat them out, now isn't it? "A little time in federal prison will do the shits good!"

No offense intended, but holy fuck you are naive if you actually believe that. Even if their parents found out, which there is almost no reason to think that they would, if something is a big enough deal to cause a "State of Emergency" they aren't turning their kids in unless they really don't like their kids or are stupid.

[P-Sleazy]

I wouldn't be surprised if in a few days when the security dulls down at auschwitz, they replace the fake sign with the real sign and no one notices till several weeks/months later.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by NonCon

No offense intended, but holy fuck you are naive if you actually believe that. Even if their parents found out, which there is almost no reason to think that they would, if something is a big enough deal to cause a "State of Emergency" they aren't turning their kids in unless they really don't like their kids or are stupid.

That's just me wearing my imaginary sunglasses and pretending I'm a badass. I started the post being cynical and just kind of delved into "man, that would totally stop theft forever" idiotic idealism mode. Fuck, if my kid did something like that, I'd have words to no end, but no parent in any civilized nation on EARTH is going to rat their kid out. Maybe wait for things to die down and then drop it somewhere convenient, since having it around means deep shit if you actually get caught.

That said, no fucking way teenagers would be smart enough to case the joint well enough to avoid guard detection AND all the security cameras. They'd just go and grab it like idiots. Being able to pull off a heist like that requires an intimate knowledge of the place that teens are, in general, too impulsive and lacking enough forethought to gain.