Town’s new sign blasted over likeness to notorious Nazi death camp gates
A NEW sign designed to “brighten up” the entrance to the High Street of an Angus town has been mocked online – for its likeness to one outside a Nazi death camp in Poland.
The Royal Burgh of Arbroath Community Council spent around £22,000 on the ornate metal signage welcoming visitors to its main shopping thoroughfare.
But an image of the sign shared on Facebook was quickly criticised for resembling the entrance to the Auschwitz camp, which infamously bears the slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates as “Work Makes You Free”.
It was reported that funding for the sign came from a government drive called “community choices”.
The Community Council posted a statement in response to complaints from residents about its location and cost, as well as the decision not to have it made by a local blacksmith.
A Facebook statement read: “The community council wanted to provide clarity to recent comments on Facebook regarding the Applegate sign.
“The £22,000 cost of the sign, was not just for the sign itself. This figure is inclusive of the design and fabrication of the sign, planning permission, legal documents with both business and property owners.
“We were given professional advice for the chosen contractors and decided to go with them.
“The omission of any blacksmiths from Arbroath was not deliberate, nor a reflection on any individual or business. The chosen contractors are from the Angus burgh.”
The “Arbeit Macht Frei” slogan was also used at the entrances to other German Nazi camps, including Dachau and Sachsenhausen, although the one at Auschwitz is perhaps the best known.
Hundreds of thousands of prisoners passed under the sign into the camp during the Holocaust, but the majority were murdered or worked to death.
Auschwitz, which receives more than a million visitors a year, has been run as a state museum since 1947.
In 2009 the sign at the entrance to Auschwitz was stolen. It was unscrewed and pulled down from its position above the gate.
Polish authorities denounced the theft, while Israel’s Holocaust museum branded it an “act of war”.
Last month the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was commemorated. A service was held at the camp attended by survivors.