The incredible story of Oskar Schindler

Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist, is known worldwide for his heroic actions during the Holocaust. His story is an incredible tale of courage, compassion, and selflessness that saved the lives of over a thousand Jewish people.

Born on April 28, 1908, in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary, Schindler came from a privileged background. He was a member of the Nazi Party and initially profited from the war effort, using Jewish laborers in his enamelware factory in Kraków, Poland. However, witnessing the horrific treatment of Jewish individuals under Nazi rule deeply affected him.

As Schindler witnessed the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto in 1943, he realized the extent of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people. Determined to make a difference, Schindler decided to protect as many Jewish lives as possible.

He used his connections within the Nazi Party and his charm to secure the release and relocation of up to 1,200 Jewish workers from a Kraków concentration camp to his own factory. Schindler labeled these workers as essential to the war effort, ensuring their safety and shielding them from deportation to extermination camps.

Despite the risks involved, Schindler went to great lengths to protect the lives of his “Schindlerjuden” (Schindler’s Jews). He regularly bribed Nazi officials, using his wealth to ensure that his workers were not harmed. At times, he even risked his own life by standing up to sadistic SS officers and risking their wrath.

The wellbeing of his workers was always at the forefront of Schindler’s mind. He provided them with better accommodation, food, and medical care than they would have received if left in the concentration camps. Many of the Jewish workers credit Schindler with saving their lives, describing him as a savior and a beacon of hope during those dark and harrowing times.

In 1944, as the war drew to a close, Schindler risked everything to relocate his factory and his workers to Brünnlitz, in what is now the Czech Republic. He spent vast sums of money to ensure their safety and prevent their deportation, employing every means at his disposal to keep them safe from the advancing Soviet forces. Schindler even convinced the infamous SS officer Amon Göth, who was responsible for ordering the execution of thousands of Jews, to allow him to relocate his workers.

The war ended in 1945, and Schindler’s actions during the Holocaust remained relatively unknown for decades. However, in 1982, Steven Spielberg released the critically acclaimed film “Schindler’s List,” based on the true story of Oskar Schindler. The film brought Schindler’s incredible story to the attention of the world, forever cementing his place in history as a righteous gentile and a symbol of hope.

Following the war, Schindler faced financial difficulties and struggled to find stable employment. However, despite his own challenges, he continued to support the Jewish people who had once been under his care. He lived a modest life, spending his remaining years in Germany, Argentina, and his home country of Czechoslovakia.

Oskar Schindler passed away on October 9, 1974, in Hildesheim, Germany, leaving behind an unmatched legacy of heroism and compassion. His incredible story serves as a reminder of the power of one individual to make a difference and stand up against injustice, even in the darkest of times.

Today, Oskar Schindler is honored as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. His story continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the importance of empathy, courage, and the belief that every life has value, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity.