The infamous iron sign bearing the Nazis' cynical slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei" that spanned the main entrance to the former Auschwitz death camp was stolen before dawn Friday, Polish police said.

The sign - with the German words for "Work Sets You Free" - is believed to have been stolen from the gates of the Auschwitz memorial between 3:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., when museum guards noticed it was missing and alerted authorities, police spokeswoman Katarzyna Padlo said.