The original iron gate of the Dachau Concentration Camp memorial, famously bearing the phrase "Arbeit macht frei" (Work sets you free), was stolen on November 2, 2014. The identity of the thieves remained a total mystery for years, as the heist was carried out in the middle of the night despite security patrols. In December 2016, following an anonymous tip, Norwegian police recovered the 225-pound (100 kg) gate under a tarp in a parking lot near Bergen, Norway. Despite the recovery, the specific individuals or group responsible for the theft were never caught or publicly identified. There has been significant speculation by historians and authorities that the theft was commissioned by a Neo-Nazi collector or a far-right extremist group, similar to the 2009 theft of the Auschwitz sign (which was orchestrated by a Swedish Neo-Nazi). In 2026, the original recovered gate is kept in a secure, climate-controlled room inside the Dachau Museum behind armored glass, while a replica stands at the actual entrance for visitors to see.