Oskar Schindler
Rylee Kitts 2nd
Introduction
Oskar Schindler has become a popular hero during the Holocaust. His heroism was showed through saving the Jews and sacrificing everything he had to help them. He once stated, "I felt the Jews were being destroyed. I had to help them. There was no choice." Afterwards he began his journey saving the Jews from mistreatment and death.
Oskar Schindler: His Life
Oskar was born into a German Catholic family in Svitavy, Czech Republic on April 28, 1908. His mother, Franziska Luser and his father, Joahann "Hans" Schindler was a wealthy farm owner. As a child, he was very popular at school and had lots of friends. He had one younger sister named Elfredie, which her and Oskar had a very good relationship despite the 7 year difference. Oskar worked as a German indulrtialist, spy, and a member of the Nazi party. In 1933, the Holocaust began. Oskar started working with Hitler and the Nazi's. Oskar relized something, it was wrong to send these inocent people into death camps, working on farms as slaves and doing exporements on them for no reason. He knew he had to do something. At the age of 31, he moved to Poland and bought a Jewish owned factory. It became known as the German Enamel Works. He uesd the factory as a place where Jews could work for him insted of sending them to death camps. The factory made amuntion and enamel. He recruted Jews to work for him and make the product. He had about 1,200 Jews working for him in his factory. The Nazi's were always suspicious with what Oskar was doig with all those Jews. He bribed and bargined with the SS officers to let him keep his workers. He spent millions of dollars and all of his possesions to keep them. He referred his Jews as "my children". One of his Jews once quoted, "What i'll say is nothing poetic,” said Stella Muller-Madej,” But i will repeat till the end of my days that the first time i was given life was by my parents and the second time by Oskar Schindler. In ‘44 there were around 700 women transported from Plaszòw, 300 of whom were on the list, and he fought for us like a lion, because they didn't want to let us out of Auschwitz. He was offered better and healthier ‘material’ from new groups of prisoners, unlike us, who had spent several years in the camp. But he got us out...he saved us." After the war was over Schindler told his Jews, "My children, you are saved. Germany has lost the war. Prove yourself worthy of the millions of victims among you and refrain from any individuals acts of revenge and terror." Schindler gave each Jew three yards of fabric from the warehouse and a bottle of vidka to set them free.
Film Footgae
Below, is a video of the Holocaust and Oskar Schindler.
Oskar Schindler Video Clip- GT Presentation
Facts About Oskar Schinlder
- He go married to his wife Emilie in 1928.
- His mother was a homemaker.
- The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum presented him with the "metal of remembrance". The award isn't presented often but honors the heroes that did extraordinary deeds during the Holocaust.
- In 1958, Oskar abandoned his wife and returned to Western Germany to live.
- In seven months, the factory produced one single, useful shell.
For Further Information
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Schindlerletter.htm
This link will show you a letter some of the Jews wrote for Schindler.
http://auschwitz.dk/Schindlerslist.htm
This link will show you a list that Schindler wrote of all the Jews he had.
Conclusion
Oskar Schindler died on October 9, 1974 from liver failure. He passed away in Hildesheim, Germany. The life he lived and his story will be carried all through eternity. His heroic work of saving innocent Jews, will always be remembered.
Works Cited
- Fishkin, Rebecca Love. Heroes of the Holocaust. Mankato, MN: Compass Point, 2011. Print.
- "Oskar Schindler Biography." - Life, Family, Childhood, Children, Name, Story, Death, Wife, School. Web. 28 Jan. 2016<.http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ro-Sc/Schindler-Oskar.html
- "Oskar Schindler Video Clip- GT Presentation." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TJc3rThGlw>.
- Stimler, Samuel. Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik. 1940-1945. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Krakow, Poland. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/pa1105035>.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, comp. "Oskar Schindler: An Unlikely Hero." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-features/special-focus/oskar-schindler>.
- Whiting, Jim. The Story of the Holocaust. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane, 2006. Print.