FAQ About Oscar Schindler

Oscar Schindler was a German industrialist and a member of the Nazi party who is best known for saving the lives of more than 1,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. His story became widely known through the book "Schindler's Ark" and the subsequent film "Schindler's List".

During World War II, Oscar Schindler used his position as a factory owner to save Jews from Nazi concentration camps by employing them in his factories. He convinced Nazi officials that these workers were essential for his operations, which allowed them to avoid deportation and potential death.

Oscar Schindler saved Jewish lives by listing them as essential workers needed for his enamelware and ammunitions factories. This "Schindler's List" ensured that over 1,100 Jews were spared from deportation to concentration camps, effectively saving their lives.

While some of Schindler's motives remain debated, it is believed that over time he was deeply affected by the suffering of Jews under Nazi persecution. Witnessing their plight, he felt compelled to act against the horrors of the Holocaust and utilized his resources and influence to save as many lives as he could.

Oscar Schindler's factories were located in Kraków, Poland, and later in Brünnlitz (now Brněnec), in the then Sudetenland. The Kraków factory produced enamelware, and the Brünnlitz factory focused on munitions.

Yes, Oscar Schindler faced significant risks for saving Jews. As a member of the Nazi Party, his actions were considered treasonous, and he had to use bribes and his personal charm to keep Nazi officials at bay. His activities could have led to his arrest or execution.

Oscar Schindler's story was first popularized by the novel "Schindler's Ark," written by Thomas Keneally and published in 1982. The story gained further attention through Steven Spielberg's 1993 film adaptation "Schindler's List," which brought global recognition to his heroic efforts.

Oscar Schindler was partly recognized for his efforts during his lifetime. In 1963, he was named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. However, he largely lived in obscurity and poverty after the war until his story became widely known.

After World War II, Oscar Schindler struggled financially and lived in relative obscurity. He moved to Argentina with his wife, but returned to Germany in 1958. His business ventures failed, and he relied on financial support from the Jewish organizations and the people he saved. Schindler died in 1974 in West Germany.

Oscar Schindler's actions had a profound impact on those he saved, as he directly prevented their deaths in concentration camps. The survivors and their descendants, numbering around 8,000 to 12,000 today, owe their lives to his courageous efforts.

"Schindler's List" refers to the list of Jews whom Oscar Schindler saved by employing them in his factories. It symbolizes the lives he rescued during the Holocaust, representing hope and humanity amidst immense atrocity. The story also became the basis for the acclaimed film that highlighted Schindler's heroism worldwide.

Schindler faced numerous challenges, including the constant risk of exposure and arrest by the Nazi regime, the need to maintain his ruse, and the financial burden of keeping his bribes and factories running. He also dealt with the suspicion and oversight of Nazi officials.

Oscar Schindler is remembered today as a hero who took significant personal risks to save lives during one of history's darkest periods. His legacy is honored at Yad Vashem, and the survivors and their descendants continue to celebrate his life-saving actions. The film "Schindler's List" remains a poignant reminder of his courage.

Before the war, Oscar Schindler was a businessman involved in various ventures, including owning a machinery factory. Born on April 28, 1908, in Moravia (present-day Czech Republic), he had joined the Nazi Party for opportunistic reasons, seeking to benefit from business opportunities during the German occupation of Poland.

Initially, Oscar Schindler profited from his wartime manufacturing businesses, which supplied enamelware and munitions to the German army. However, the costs associated with his efforts to save Jews, including bribes and maintaining his workers, eventually drained his resources, and he ended the war largely penniless.

Oscar Schindler is credited with saving more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust by protecting them from deportation to concentration camps, thus sparing them from certain death.

Oscar Schindler joined the Nazi Party primarily for opportunistic reasons, aiming to capitalize on the business opportunities available to party members during the German occupation of Poland. His initial motivations were not aligned with the party's ideologies.

Schindler's factories primarily produced enamelware and later munitions. His Kraków factory was known for enamel pots and pans, while the factory in Brünnlitz focused on producing armaments for the German war effort.

Oscar Schindler's legacy is preserved through Holocaust education where his story is used to illustrate individual valor and resistance against tyranny. Museums, memorials, and films like "Schindler's List" continue to educate people about his humanitarian efforts and the broader context of the Holocaust.

Oscar Schindler is buried in the Catholic cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. He is one of the few members of the Nazi Party to be honored in this way, as a testament to his extraordinary efforts to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust.