US commander suspended after using Auschwtiz phrase ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’
The high-ranking official, whose name and unit have not been released, used the term, that means “Work Will Set You Free", in a memo
A U.S. Army commander of a recruiting company in Houston was suspended after he distributed a memo in which he used the phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei” — the phrase that means “Work Will Set You Free,” which was infamously displayed on the gate of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.
The commander, whose name and unit have not been released, used the phrase to headline a section of the memo that explains incentives, including time off, available to recruiters depending on the number of contracts that they are able to complete, the military newspaper the Stars and Stripes reported Friday.
The memo first came to light in a tweet from “Truth of Army Recruiting.” The post includes a photo of the infamous Auschwitz entrance gate, though the memo, which was distributed electronically, reportedly did not include such a photo.
The commander’s use of the term is under investigation, Stars and Stripes reported, citing Kelli Bland, spokeswoman for Army Recruiting Command, based at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The commander was suspended until the end of the investigation and has apologised to his unit.
“Army recruiting leaders will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete and all facts are known,” Bland told the newspaper. “When an individual enters into the military, they are held to high moral and ethical standards — soldiers who choose not to live up to our values will be held accountable for their actions.”
Someone in Houston BN had a "good idea" dum dum dum dum pic.twitter.com/my1n5tiCfs
— Recruiter Times (@RecruitingTruth) August 22, 2019
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
