Schindler's Legacy
"It is only thanks to the ceaseless efforts and interventions of Director Schindler with the authorities in question, that we stayed in Bruennlitz, in spite of the existing danger, as, with the approaching frontline we would all have been moved away by the leaders of the camp, which would have meant our ultimate end. This we declare today, on this day of the declaration of the end of the war, as we await our official liberation and the opportunity to return to our destroyed families and homes. Here we are, a gathering of 1100 people, 800 men and 300 women." From a letter written by Oskar Schindler’s former workers on the day of their release on May 8, 1945.
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By the end of World War II, Oskar Schindler had spent most of his fortune, and created a living legacy, saving over 1,200 Jews from death in concentration camps. These are just a few of their stories. Today there are more than 8,500 descendants of the Schindler Jews.
The youngest of the Schindler Jews was a boy who was only 10 years old. He wrote a book called "The Boy On The Wooden Box", where he describes his life during the war and how Schindler saved his life. He called the book that because he had to stand on a wooden box in the factory to reach his work because he was so small. In the book he says, "Not even the scariest of fairy tales could have prepared me for the monsters I would confront while just a boy of ten. Or for the hero disguised as a monster himself, who would save my life."
The youngest of the Schindler Jews was a boy who was only 10 years old. He wrote a book called "The Boy On The Wooden Box", where he describes his life during the war and how Schindler saved his life. He called the book that because he had to stand on a wooden box in the factory to reach his work because he was so small. In the book he says, "Not even the scariest of fairy tales could have prepared me for the monsters I would confront while just a boy of ten. Or for the hero disguised as a monster himself, who would save my life."
After The War
After the war, Schindler had no money left. He had spent it all trying to save the Jews. He was threatened by former Nazis, so he tried to go to the United States, but he was denied because he had been a Nazi.
Finally, in 1949, he fled to Argentina, where he spent several years trying to live as a farmer, being supported financially by the Jews he had saved. Eventually his farming business went bankrupt and in 1958 he moved back to Germany. For the next 10 years, he had several more unsuccessful businesses and he declared bankruptcy again in 1963. He spent the rest of his life living off donations from the Jewish community.
Schindler died in 1974 from liver failure. He was taken to Jerusalem and buried on Mount Zion. He is the only Nazi to have that honor.
In 1993, Steven Spielberg, who is also a Jew, made a movie based on Schindler's life called Schindler's List. It won the Oscar award that year for best picture.
Finally, in 1949, he fled to Argentina, where he spent several years trying to live as a farmer, being supported financially by the Jews he had saved. Eventually his farming business went bankrupt and in 1958 he moved back to Germany. For the next 10 years, he had several more unsuccessful businesses and he declared bankruptcy again in 1963. He spent the rest of his life living off donations from the Jewish community.
Schindler died in 1974 from liver failure. He was taken to Jerusalem and buried on Mount Zion. He is the only Nazi to have that honor.
In 1993, Steven Spielberg, who is also a Jew, made a movie based on Schindler's life called Schindler's List. It won the Oscar award that year for best picture.