Swedish neo-Nazis stole Auschwitz death camp sign to fund terror plot

A Swedish neo-Nazi group planned to sell the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign stolen from the Auschwitz death camp to fund an attack on the prime minister, The London Times reported.
"We are aware of the information about the alleged attack plans," Patrik Peter, a spokesman for the Swedish security police told The Times.
The sign, which means "Work Makes You Free," was stolen Dec. 18 by five men and was later found in three pieces several hundred miles from the camp in Oswiecim, Poland.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/12/25/2009-12-25_swedish_neonazis_stole_auschwitz_death_camp_sign_to_fund_terror_plot_report.html#ixzz0aoZkQbP1

Poland's first Ferrari dealership to open

Twenty years after Poland ditched the dowdy austerity of communism the country will welcome Ferrari's prancing horse with the opening of the glamorous sports car company's first showroom in the country.

The showroom, due to open next year on Warsaw's premiere shopping street, will offer Polish car enthusiasts a chance to tap into an Italian line of luxury once inconceivable for a country that became synonymous with poverty and shortages during the dark days of socialism.

But with the Polish economy, buoyed by foreign investment and EU membership, now rapidly catching up on those in the west, Ferrari feel that the time is ripe to set up shop.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6885310/Polands-first-Ferrari-dealership-to-open.html

More Money for Auschwitz After Theft of Sign

The Polish Cultural Ministry, in an effort to save face after the embarrassing theft eight days ago of the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” metal banner that hung over the entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp, has said it will help pay for more security at the site.

Bogdan Zdrojewski, the culture minister, said late Wednesday that the government would contribute about $138,000 after a furor over the lack of security at the camp, which covers over 500 acres.

Read more:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/europe/26poland.html

Auschwitz sign stolen for Swedish Nazis?

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Swedish neo-Nazis arranged the theft of the "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign at Auschwitz to sell it to finance terrorist attacks, investigators said.

Patrik Peter, a spokesman for the Swedish security police, said the Nazis allegedly planned to disrupt next year's national election, The Times of London reported.

The Stockholm newspaper Aftonbladet said a Nazi source claimed the sign was stolen on order from a collector.

"The sign was to be delivered to Sweden, since it was here the deal should be made," the source said. "My role was to find a buyer. We had a person who was willing to pay millions but he had no political agenda. These things have a huge collector value.... The biggest collectors are from England, the United States and France."

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2009/12/24/Auschwitz-sign-stolen-for-Swedish-Nazis/UPI-98801261702271/

Mucha to stay with Legia Warsaw

WARSAW, Poland. Dec 24 — The best goalkeeper in the Polish Ekstraklasa Jan Mucha is set to stay with Legia Warsaw FC. The Legion's club owner Mariusz Walter persuaded the Slovakian FIFA World Cup 2010 representative to extend his contract with the Polish vice-champions. Mucha has yet to receive any concrete offers from abroad, but is a popular player from Poland and is expected to leave especially after the World Cup this summer.

The heads of Legia Warsaw appreciated his big contribution to the club's fall season results and offered him a contract extension which is believed to be the highest salary earned in the league.

Read more: http://www.polishsoca.com/newswire/ekstraklasa/1984-mucha-to-stay-with-legia-warsaw

Civic Platform Clearly Favoured in Poland

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The governing party of Poland continues to enjoy a high level of support, according to a poll by PBS DGA published in Gazeta Wyborcza. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Civic Platform (PO) in the next legislative election, up one point since early November.

The opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS) is a distant second with 26 per cent, followed by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) with nine per cent, and the Peasant’s Party (PSL) with seven per cent.

In October 2007, Polish voters renewed the Diet, or lower house of Parliament. Final results gave the PO 41.51 per cent of the vote and 209 seats, followed by the PiS with 32.11 per cent and 166 seats. In November, the PO and the PSL—who together hold 240 seats in the 460-member Diet—agreed to form a coalition government. PO leader Donald Tusk was sworn in as prime minister.

Read more: http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/34728/civic_platform_clearly_favoured_in_poland

Poland looks for foreign link in Auschwitz sign theft

Polish authorities say the mastermind behind the theft of the iconic sign at Auschwitz is a foreigner based outside of Poland.

A Polish state prosecutor says it was very likely the men responsible for the theft of the "Arbeit macht frei" sign from the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz were acting on behalf of a third party outside of Poland. Polish media have speculated that the third party is a Swedish collector.

State prosecutor Artur Wrona told a press conference that "The main person behind this crime was somebody living outside Poland who does not hold Polish citizenship." However, he did not confirm or deny if the third party was a Swedish citizen. Investigators are now seeking assistance from Interpol to find the party responsible.

Read more: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5048059,00.html

Winter freeze kills 79 in Poland

WARSAW - Ten people have died of cold in Poland over the past day, taking the toll since winter set in earlier this month to 79, police said Tuesday.

A national police spokeswoman told AFP that 10 people had been found dead since Monday.

The majority of the victims were homeless men who died while drunk, police said.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Winter+freeze+kills+Poland/2370272/story.html

Poland Probes Foreign Link In Auschwitz Theft

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) - The mastermind behind Friday's theft of the metal sign above the entrance to the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz is a foreigner living outside Poland, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Polish police recovered the German language sign, which reads "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work makes you free"), and seized five men early on Monday over the theft, which had triggered widespread outrage, especially from Israel and Jewish groups.

"The main person behind this crime was somebody living outside Poland who does not hold Polish citizenship," prosecutor Artur Wrona told a news conference after the five suspects took part in a reenactment of the robbery at the camp.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/22/world/international-uk-poland-auschwitz.html

Desperate Poland search for a football star

WARSAW — After seeing Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski get snapped up by the likes of Germany, Poland's football association (PZPN) is now scouting the globe's vast Polish diaspora for talent.

Polish fans and the PZPN alike dream of reviving a long-lost golden age, with their sights set on glory on home turf at Euro 2012, after failing to make it to the 2010 World Cup.

Getting budding internationals to opt for Poland is part of the strategy.

"The goal is to never again to have cases like Podolski or Klose," said Maciej Chorazyk, 35, the PZPN's diaspora pointman.

The duo were born in Poland and emigrated to Germany as youngsters. Called up by Germany, they turned Poles into nervous wrecks during the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, when twists of fate drew Germany and Poland together.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ip6VQB4A0Hh-Xt5A3XNgQfWWma-A

Polish bank recapitalisation scheme cleared

The European Commission authorised a Polish scheme to strengthen financial stability on 21 December. The scheme underwrites, via preferential shares or subordinated debt instruments, up to 100% of capital increases of financial institutions that are unable to obtain the required financing from the market.

Read more: http://www.europolitics.info/business-competitiveness/polish-bank-recapitalisation-scheme-cleared-art258474-8.html

U.S. to train Polish soldiers on Patriot

STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Training for Polish soldiers on the U.S. Army Patriot Missile will get under way soon, military officials in Germany say.

U.S. Army Europe said Monday that while no specific units have been designated for the mission, about 100 American soldiers will be deployed to Poland to conduct anti-missile missile system training early next year, the military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported.

Read more:  http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/21/US-to-train-Polish-soldiers-on-Patriot/UPI-91401261407450/

Benedict XVI names new primate for Polish Catholics

Vatican City, Dec 20, 2009 / 12:33 pm (CNA).- After Sunday's Angelus in Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI congratulated the new primate of the Polish church, Archbishop Henryk Muszynski. The archbishop takes the place of Cardinal Jozef Glemp.

Cardinal Glemp served in an interim role as the primate of the Polish church, but as of his 80th birthday on Friday, the reigns have been handed over to Archbishop Muszynski. Commenting on the new appointment for the Archbishop of Gniezno, Benedict said, "This honorary title returns to the oldest Metropolan Diocese in Polish lands, tied to the devotion to Saint Adalbert, Patron of Poland." Until 1981, the primate of the Polish Church had always been the Archbishop of Gniezno.

Read more: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/benedict_xvi_names_new_primate_for_polish_catholics/

Cold snap wreaks havoc across Europe

Snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures have killed at least 30 people across Europe as well as severely disrupting air, rail and road transport.

At least 29 people froze to death in Poland as temperatures fell far below freezing, while in southern Germany a figure of -33C (-27F) was recorded.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8423442.stm

Police in Poland find sign stolen from Auschwitz gate

The "Arbeit macht frei" sign stolen from Auschwitz in southern Poland has been found in the north and five men have been arrested, police say.

They said the metal sign from the main gate, which symbolises for many the atrocities of Nazi Germany, had been cut into three pieces.

A major search was launched after the sign was stolen before dawn on Friday.

Its theft, the motive for which was not being reported, caused outrage in Israel and among Polish politicians.

Five men in their 20s or 30s were detained and were being taken to Krakow for questioning, a police spokeswoman said.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8423827.stm

A simple act of kindness saved lives

Woman repaid gesture by sheltering Jewish couple during Nazi occupation

NEW YORK–In 1941, a poor Polish farmwoman travelled from the countryside to Israel Rubinek's village store, but found she didn't have enough money to pay for the things she needed.

Rubinek, a gregarious 21-year-old who sold kerosene, soap and shoelaces, told Zofia Banya not to worry: They'd settle up the next time she came to Pinczow, in German-occupied Poland, to sell butter and eggs.

It was wartime and hardly anyone offered credit. Who knew what life would be like a day later, let alone a week?

Read more:  http://www.thestar.com/actsofkindness/article/741113--a-simple-act-of-kindness-saved-lives

Storm causes chaos in Poland and Germany

Frigid temperatures, heavy snow and icy roads are causing major problems for travelers in Europe. The bad weather is causing traffic and train delays in Poland and Germany.

Slippery roads led to numerous accidents in parts of Germany overnight Friday into Saturday. Bad weather on Friday caused miles-long traffic jams on the Autobahn near the city of Hanover.

Trains to Warsaw and Poznan were delayed by at least an hour. The Polish Meteorological Institute forecast more snow in central and northeastern parts of the country for Sunday. Temperatures are expected to remain at below minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Read more: http://english.cctv.com/program/worldwidewatch/20091220/101503.shtml

Poland offers reward for return of Auschwitz sign

The Auschwitz museum has announced a reward of 115 000 zlotych (27 500 euro) for the return of the sign that hung over the gates of the concentration camp.

The cruelly ironic sign, 'Arbeit Macht Frei', that greeted prisoners destined for the death camps at Auschwitz, was stolen on the morning of December 18 2009.
The office of the Polish prime minister announced a special investigation into the theft has been started.

Read more: http://www.sofiaecho.com/2009/12/20/833092_poland-offers-reward-for-return-of-auschwitz-sign