Schindler

A detailed Summary of Schindler

As a heavy drinker, womanizer, and crook, Oskar Schindler does not fit the typical characteristics of a hero. Nevertheless, this deceiving Nazi member is seen as a savior to over eleven hundred Polish Jews. Before World War II, Schindler accomplished practically nothing in his life and little can be said about his actions afterward. Yet in between, what he did was astonishing. At a time of little hope and tremendous suffering in the lives of millions of Jews, one man, an alleged enemy, risked his life and the lives of over eleven hundred people for an unknown reason. "Don't worry, you are now with me" (Roberts, 10). These simple words echoed through Schindler's pot and pan factory, and the people all felt assured that they would be saved.

Schindler was born April 28, 1908, in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary. His parents were both German and devoted Roman Catholics. His childhood was very peaceful and full of love; he was brought up without an attitude of hate. Schindler married Emilie Pelze at the age of twenty in 1928; neither knew that their marriage would last for over forty-five years. Nine times out of ten, Schindler usually got his way. His good looks, charm and easy-going manner were the key to Sc

hindler's ability to protect so many Jews from death, along with himself. In 1938, Schindler joined the local Nazi Party, charming his way into the lives of extremely important people who he would later use in saving so many Jewish lives without them knowing it. His party membership was strictly business related and had little to do with politics, he was actually deeply troubled by the Nazis' policy of hatred and persecution toward Jews (Roberts, 25). Schindler remained free from any kind of racial or national prejudice and counted Jews as his friends. Schindler's main focus at first was on making money. His factory hired Jews as slave labor and it was by accident that Schindler discovered that he could protect these people in his factory. In 1942, Schindler met with a Zionist rescue organization and became a spy, delivering information about what was happening to the Jewish community. The end of World War II left Oskar Schindler almost penniless, having spent the majority of his wealth on saving as many lives as possible from Nazi authorities. Schindler and Emilie escaped to Switzerland after the war by disguising themselves as former prisoners of a labor camp. During the loathsome years of World War II, Oskar Schindler proved to be a hero in the eyes of thousands of desperate people. He mesmerized many people with his charm and had an extraordinary ability to captivate them to do what he wanted.

Oskar Schindler's motives to risk his life for others are questionable. Many people have doubted this self-centered, high-spirited womanizer's motives. Jack Roberts, the author of the book, Oskar Schindler, strongly supports that Schindler's actions came straight from his heart: "He was, in fact, the only German in the history of the war to save more than a thousa

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Approximate Word count = 1202
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History