Oskar Schindler Quotes

A collection of quotes by Oskar Schindler.

Oskar Schindler (1908-1974) was a German industrialist and member of the Nazi Party during World War II. Born in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary (now part of the Czech Republic), Schindler initially joined the Nazi Party with the intention of profiting from the war effort. He moved to Kraków, Poland, where he acquired an enamelware factory and employed Jewish laborers.

However, as he witnessed the horrific persecution and mass extermination of Jews under Nazi control, Schindler underwent a transformation. He realized the immense suffering and injustice inflicted upon innocent people and resolved to use his factory as a haven for Jews, saving them from deportation to concentration camps. He managed to convince Nazi officials of the importance of employing Jewish workers for industrial purposes.

Schindler went to great lengths to protect his Jewish workers, often risking his own safety and using his connections to secure their safety. He spent his personal fortune bribing SS officials, providing food, shelter, and medical care for his employees. By the end of the war, his efforts had saved the lives of approximately 1,200 Jews.

After the war, Oskar Schindler faced financial difficulties and moved to Argentina, where he worked as a farm machinery salesman. In 1963, he was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. His story gained wider recognition following the release of Steven Spielberg's acclaimed film "Schindler's List" in 1993. Schindler's extraordinary efforts to save lives continue to serve as a symbol of hope and compassion amidst one of history's darkest periods.