Cambridge college accused of ‘sick joke’ for using picture of Auschwitz on welcome leaflet

A CAMBRIDGE college has been blasted for using a picture of Auschwitz on a pamphlet for a chapel service to welcome students.

The Nazi death camp appeared on the cover of the programme for the event to greet arrivals at Emmanuel.

One second year student said many freshers were “very upset” by the picture of the gates at the notorious World War Two concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

They bear the slogan “arbeit macht frei” — German for “work sets you free” — and were used at entrances to several death camps.

The student said before Thursday’s service: “Quite a lot of Jewish students will see this.

“I’ve no idea what the possible aim of it is. Is it some kind of sick joke about entering university and having to work hard?”

College Dean the Rev Jeremy ­Caddick said the image tied in with a sermon comparing the sacrifice of Polish priest Maximilian Kolbe, who asked to take the place of ­a doomed prisoner at Auschwitz, with that of Jesus.

Rev Caddick added: “The point of putting the picture there is that it’s an iconic image of evil.

“It is a sermon about our response to gross evil.”

He denied suggestions that the cover was a “sick joke” about how hard students will have to work at the prestigious university.

The college later apologised for the use of the image.

A spokesman said: "We understand that without context this image may have upset people and we apologise for its use in a way that’s caused distress.”

He said its use was “explained” in the service.