Oskar Schindler, Czech-German businessman (d. 1974)

Oskar Schindler, whose name is pronounced [ˈɔs.kaʁ ˈʃɪnd.lɐ] in German, was a complex figure whose life story stands as a testament to the capacity for human transformation amidst unimaginable horror. Born on April 28, 1908, and passing away on October 9, 1974, this German industrialist and erstwhile member of the Nazi Party became an unlikely hero. He is widely credited with saving approximately 1,200 Jews during the darkest chapter of World War II, the Holocaust, by providing them employment in his enamelware and armaments factories located in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. His extraordinary efforts form the compelling narrative central to Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel, Schindler's Ark (also known as Schindler's List in the United States), and its critically acclaimed 1993 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg. These works vividly portray Schindler's evolution: from an astute opportunist primarily driven by personal profit, he underwent a profound moral awakening, demonstrating immense initiative, unyielding tenacity, profound courage, and unwavering dedication to protect the lives of his Jewish workforce from the Nazi regime's systematic extermination.

A Shifting Path: Early Life, Espionage, and Nazi Affiliation

Born into a German family in Zwittau, a town then part of Austria-Hungary and later Czechoslovakia (now Svitavy in the Czech Republic), Oskar Schindler's early years were characterized by a varied professional life. He explored several trades before a significant turn in 1936, when he joined the Abwehr, the military intelligence service of Nazi Germany. This involvement began even before he formally became a member of the Nazi Party in 1939. His role within the Abwehr saw him engaged in espionage, gathering crucial intelligence for the German government. Specifically, before the German occupation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1938, he meticulously collected information concerning railway networks and troop movements. This clandestine activity led to his arrest by the Czechoslovak government on charges of espionage. However, his imprisonment was short-lived; he was subsequently released under the terms of the Munich Agreement, a pivotal international accord of that year which ceded the Sudetenland to Germany. Undeterred, Schindler continued his intelligence work for the Nazis, notably operating in Poland during 1939, just prior to the devastating invasion that marked the beginning of World War II.

From Entrepreneur to Protector: Establishing Factories in Occupied Poland

As World War II commenced with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939, Schindler seized the opportunity presented by the war economy and the dispossession of Jewish property. He acquired an enamelware factory in Kraków, Poland, which he rebranded as Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik (DEF). Initially, this venture was a pragmatic business decision, allowing him to profit from wartime production. The factory thrived, and at its zenith in 1944, it employed approximately 1,750 workers. Crucially, a significant portion of this workforce, around 1,000 individuals, were Jewish. At first, employing Jewish workers, particularly those confined to the Kraków Ghetto, offered a cheap and readily available labor source for Schindler. However, as the Nazi regime's genocidal policies intensified, targeting Jews for deportation and extermination in concentration and extermination camps, Schindler's motivation began to shift. His earlier connections within the Abwehr became instrumental, allowing him a degree of leverage and influence that he shrewdly used to shield his Jewish employees from the terrifying fate that awaited so many others. Gradually, the financial incentives became secondary to a profound humanitarian drive. Protecting his workers demanded increasingly elaborate and costly measures. Schindler resorted to dispensing ever-larger bribes and luxurious gifts – items often procured through the perilous black market – to placate and co-opt Nazi officials, ensuring the continued safety and survival of his vital workforce.

The Brink of Defeat and the Birth of "Schindler's List"

By July 1944, the tide of World War II had irrevocably turned against Germany. As the Soviet Red Army advanced from the East, the SS began a brutal process of liquidating the easternmost concentration camps, cruelly marching or transporting their emaciated prisoners westward. This grim exodus often led directly to extermination in death camps like Auschwitz and Gross-Rosen. Recognizing the imminent danger to his factory and, more importantly, to his Jewish workers, Schindler embarked on his most audacious rescue effort. He skillfully negotiated with SS-Hauptsturmführer Amon Göth, the notoriously sadistic commandant of the nearby Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp. Schindler convinced Göth to allow him to relocate his factory, now intended for arms production, to Brněnec (known as Brünnlitz in German) within the relative safety of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. This strategic move was nothing short of a miracle, effectively sparing his 1,200 Jewish employees from the near-certain horrors of the gas chambers. The creation of the legendary "Schindler's List" was a collaborative, desperate act. Working tirelessly under immense pressure, Göth’s Jewish secretary, Mietek Pemper, compiled and typed the crucial list of names, utilizing information and suggestions primarily provided by Jewish Ghetto Police officer Marcel Goldberg. In October 1944, these 1,200 individuals, designated as essential war workers, journeyed to Brünnlitz, their lives hanging by a thread. Even after the relocation, Schindler's fight was far from over. He continued to expend his rapidly diminishing resources, lavishing bribes upon SS officials and making expensive black market purchases of food and supplies for his workers, ensuring their survival and preventing their execution until the final cessation of hostilities in Europe in May 1945. By the war's end, the once prosperous industrialist had selflessly spent his entire fortune, sacrificing every penny for the lives of those he protected.

After the War: A Life of Struggle and Enduring Recognition

With the cessation of World War II in Europe, Oskar Schindler's life took another dramatic turn. Financially ruined and politically compromised by his Nazi Party membership, he moved to West Germany. There, he received crucial assistance payments from various Jewish relief organizations, a testament to the lives he had saved. Following a partial reimbursement for the substantial expenses he incurred during his wartime rescue efforts, Schindler, accompanied by his wife Emilie, sought a new beginning in Argentina. They attempted to establish a farming enterprise, but this venture ultimately failed. By 1958, facing bankruptcy once more, Schindler decided to leave his wife and return to Germany. His post-war business endeavors in Germany proved largely unsuccessful, and he found himself reliant on the enduring gratitude and financial support of the Schindlerjuden – "Schindler Jews" – the very individuals whose lives he had so heroically preserved. Oskar Schindler passed away on October 9, 1974, in Hildesheim, Germany. In an extraordinary and profoundly symbolic gesture, he was laid to rest in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion, making him the only former member of the Nazi Party to be accorded such a distinct honor. This final resting place underscores the depth of recognition for his selfless acts. In 1993, both Oskar Schindler and his wife Emilie were jointly honored by the Israeli government with the title of Righteous Among the Nations, a designation bestowed upon non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination. This prestigious recognition cemented his legacy as a beacon of humanity during one of history's darkest periods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oskar Schindler

Who was Oskar Schindler?
Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist and a member of the Nazi Party who, despite his initial opportunism, became a remarkable rescuer during the Holocaust. He is credited with saving approximately 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factories in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, thereby protecting them from Nazi persecution and extermination.
How many Jews did Oskar Schindler save?
He is credited with saving the lives of around 1,200 Jews, often referred to as the "Schindlerjuden," through his efforts during the Holocaust.
What was Schindler's motivation?
Initially, Schindler was driven by profit and business opportunities presented by the war. However, as he witnessed the escalating horrors of the Holocaust, his motivations profoundly shifted. He evolved into a dedicated humanitarian, committed to protecting his Jewish workers, even at great personal financial risk, sacrificing his entire fortune to ensure their survival.
What was the "Schindler's List"?
The "Schindler's List" refers to the compiled lists of Jewish workers deemed "essential" by Oskar Schindler, which allowed them to be transferred from concentration camps or ghettos to his factories in a desperate attempt to save their lives. The most famous list, comprising 1,200 names, facilitated their journey to Brněnec in October 1944, effectively saving them from extermination camps.
What happened to Oskar Schindler after the war?
After the war, Schindler faced financial difficulties, having spent his fortune on bribes and supplies for his workers. He moved to West Germany, then to Argentina with his wife, Emilie, where farming ventures failed. He later returned to Germany, struggling with business failures and relying on support from the "Schindlerjuden."
Where is Oskar Schindler buried?
Oskar Schindler is buried in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion. This is a highly unusual and significant honor, as he is the only former member of the Nazi Party to be interred there, a testament to the immense gratitude for his actions.
What is "Righteous Among the Nations"?
Righteous Among the Nations is an honorific title bestowed by the State of Israel, through Yad Vashem, upon non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination. Both Oskar Schindler and his wife, Emilie, were recognized with this prestigious title in 1993.