Oskar Shindler

Oskar Schindler

Oskar Shindler

Factfile
Name: Oskar Schindler 
Date and place of birth: 28th April 1908, Svitavy, Czech Republic 
Occupation: businessman 
Achievements: saved 1100 Jews from the Holocaust during World War II 
Date of death: 9th October 1974, Hildesheim, Germany 

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Biography
Oskar Schindler was born on 28th April in 1908 in Svitavy now in the Czech Republic. He grew up in a Catholic family. As a child, Oskar and his sister attended a German-language school. In 1924 he left school and started taking odd jobs and tried to find a direction in life. In 1928 he married Emilie Pelzl. After Germany attacked Poland, starting World War II Schindler traveled to Krakow. Wanting to expand his business interests, Schindler obtained a former Jewish enamelware factory. He renamed it to Deutsche Emaillewaren-Fabrik and started to produce kitchenware for the Nazi army and met Itzhak Stern - an accountant who started working in the factory. Oskar started hiring Jews because they were less expensive than Poles. Starting with 45 employees it quickly grew to 1700 people. After seeing how the Nazis treated the Jews his attitude changed. By that time most of his employees were Jewish and were known as Schindlerjuden (Schindler Jews).

Biography
Oskar Schindler was born on 28th April in 1908 in Svitavy now in the Czech Republic. He grew up in a Catholic family. As a child, Oskar and his sister attended a German-language school. In 1924 he left school and started taking odd jobs and tried to find a direction in life. In 1928 he married Emilie Pelzl. After Germany attacked Poland, starting World War II Schindler traveled to Krakow. Wanting to expand his business interests, Schindler obtained a former Jewish enamelware factory. He renamed it to Deutsche Emaillewaren-Fabrik and started to produce kitchenware for the Nazi army and met Itzhak Stern - an accountant who started working in the factory. Oskar started hiring Jews because they were less expensive than Poles. Starting with 45 employees it quickly grew to 1700 people. After seeing how the Nazis treated the Jews his attitude changed. By that time most of his employees were Jewish and were known as Schindlerjuden (Schindler Jews).

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When the German started to relocate Krakow's Jews to concentration camps, he argued with them that all his workers were essential and after several minutes they all went back to the factory. In early 1943 the Plaszow work camp opened and every employee was sent there, however, in 1944 they were supposed to go to the death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Göth - the commandant who ran the Plaszow camp allowed Schindler to make a list of “essential” people for the new factory where they stayed until the war ended. After the war, Oskar and his wife, almost penniless fled to Argentina. They spend the rest of their lives supported by donations by the Schindlerjuden. Oskar Schindler died on 9th October in 1974 at age 66 and was buried in the Mount Zion Roman Catholic Franciscan Cemetery. In 1993 Steven Spielberg brought his story to the big screen with his film Shindler’s List starring Liam Neeson as the brave man. 

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Fig. 2

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Liam Neeson as Oskar Shindler

famous quotes

“If you saw a dog going to be crushed under a car, wouldn't you help him?” 

“We must differentiate between guilt and duty. The soldier on the front, like the common man, who does his duty everywhere, should not be held responsible for the actions of a few who also called themselves Germans.” 

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Made by: Magda Myszko

Janusz Kusociński Primary School Nr. 5 in Świdnik

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