Auschwitz-Birkenau was  the largest concentration camp run by the Nazis. From AP-

Polish police and border guards stepped up security checks at airports and border crossings Saturday as the search intensified for the infamous sign stolen from the Auschwitz death camp memorial.

The brazen overnight theft of one of the Holocaust’s most chilling and notorious symbols early Friday sparked outrage from around the world, and Polish leaders declared recovering the 5-meter (16-foot) sign a top priority. The sign read “Arbeit Macht Frei” — work makes you free — a grim Nazi slogan etched in the minds of millions.

Interior Minister Jerzy Miller ordered police to question all possible witnesses and suspects in a nationwide effort to find the sign.

The director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial museum, who was visibly shaken by the dramatic theft, told The Associated Press he believes it was carried out by professionals and that none of the memorial museum’s staff are considered suspects.

“I think it was done by specialists,” Piotr Cywinski said. “It was a very well-prepared action.”

Hauling away the sign had to be no small task. So I believe Piotr Cywinski is right.

The wife and I have been to Auschwitz. In 2000 a Polish priest friend of ours toured us around Poland and the Czech Republic. We spent four days in the Krakow area and that was when we visited the  former concentration camp.

Even 55 years after the war ended, death hangs in the air. It is the gloomiest place I have ever visited in my life. My sister Patty’s in-laws were concentration camp survivors.

On a lighter note, my wife got to take her first pony ride during our time in the city of Gdansk. As the photo shows, Leonita was having a good time. A marching band was going by while the photo was being taken.  We have it on video also and Leonita couldn’t stop laughing.