Since you needed to look it up, how about you give the author the benefit of the doubt rather than act so offended?
Now, if the quote had been "Arbeit macht frei" I would understand the outrage, but
to me the English translation sounds more like a reflection of the Calvinist/Protestant work ethic from the time when the saying was minted, at least 100 years before the Nazis rose to power. To some people the quote in itself holds appeal, and why shouldn't it? If read without context it is actually quite inspiring.
Now, if the quote had been "Arbeit macht frei" I would understand the outrage, but to me the English translation sounds more like a reflection of the Calvinist/Protestant work ethic from the time when the saying was minted, at least 100 years before the Nazis rose to power. To some people the quote in itself holds appeal, and why shouldn't it? If read without context it is actually quite inspiring.