Jailed for Nazi sign theft

The infamous sign over the entranceway to Auschwitz concentration camp. Photo / AP

A Polish court has convicted three men for stealing the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign from the former Auschwitz death camp, the BBC is reporting today.

The three were given jail sentences ranging from 18 months to two-and-a-half years.

The court in Krakow said the men had admitted the theft, and so the case did not have to go to trial.

Two other Poles remain in custody over the theft of the 5m (16ft) wrought-iron sign, which was quickly recovered.

It had been half-unscrewed, half-torn from above the memorial site's gate and cut into three pieces to ease the thieves' getaway, according to the BBC report.

* The sign's translation is "Work sets you free".