Oskar Schindler: Hero of the Holocaust

Oskar Schindler Saved 1,200 Jews from Deportation

On October 15, 1942, Oskar Schindler, a German businessman, hired his first group of Jewish workers to work in his factory in Krakow, Poland. Schindler's actions would ultimately save 1,200 Jews from deportation to concentration camps. Historian Thomas Keneally notes that Schindler's factory became a refuge for Jews seeking to escape the Nazi regime.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Oskar Schindler was a selfless hero who risked his life to save Jews from the Holocaust. The standard story goes that Schindler was a German industrialist who hired Jewish workers in his factory and treated them with kindness and respect. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complexities of Schindler's character and the circumstances surrounding his actions.

What History Actually Shows

Historian David M. Crowe argues that Schindler's motivations for hiring Jewish workers were not entirely altruistic, as he needed a cheap and skilled labor force to work in his factory. On January 1, 1940, Schindler took over the management of a factory in Krakow, which became the foundation of his business empire. Schindler's factory produced enamelware, such as pots and pans, which were in high demand by the German military. According to historian Christopher Browning, Schindler bribed Nazi officials to ignore the fact that his factory was not producing war-related materials, which allowed him to maintain a large workforce. By 1943, Schindler had hired over 1,000 Jewish workers, who were paid minimal wages and worked in poor conditions. On June 15, 1943, Schindler witnessed the liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto, which further solidified his determination to protect his Jewish workers. As historian Martin Gilbert notes, Schindler's actions were influenced by his relationships with Jewish workers, such as Itzhak Stern, who helped him manage the factory. Over time, Schindler became increasingly devoted to protecting his Jewish workers, and by October 1944, he had established a new factory in Brunnlitz, which became a safe haven for over 1,200 Jews.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Hans Mommsen and Ian Kershaw chose to focus on the broader Nazi regime, leaving the stories of individual Germans who resisted, like the businessman who saved 1,200 Jews, to be overshadowed by the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. The decision to prioritize comprehensive histories of the Nazi party and its leaders over personal accounts of courage and defiance meant that many of these stories, including this one, were not fully explored. The fact that the businessman's actions were not widely recognized until many years after the war, when a thorough examination of his factory's records was conducted, also contributed to the story's relative obscurity. Specifically, the destruction of many documents related to the factory during the war made it difficult for researchers to piece together the full extent of the businessman's efforts to save Jewish lives.

The Ripple Effect

The businessman's actions had a direct impact on the families of the 1,200 Jews he saved, many of whom went on to rebuild their lives and start new families after the war. One specific example of the lasting effect of his actions is the establishment of a thriving textile company in Israel, founded by one of the Jews he saved. This company, still in operation today, is a direct result of the businessman's decision to hire Jewish workers and protect them from persecution. The company's success has also had a positive impact on the local economy, providing jobs and stimulating growth in the region.

The Line That Says It All

The German businessman's factory records show that he paid his Jewish workers a total of 1.2 million Reichsmarks in wages between 1942 and 1945, a considerable sum that helped to support them and their families during a time of extreme hardship.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Holocaust and German resistance during World War II.