Oskar Schindler

Oskar Schindler

Oskar Schindler was born in 1908 into a catholic family with German origins in a small town in Austria-Hungary. Schindler was a heroic figure to many around the world. When the Holocaust began, Schindler brought multiple Jews into his factory for work, to save them from being sent on to extermination camps. Because he was German, the Nazis didn't question Schindler's requests. A hero is not always considered a rich guy wearing tights, a hero is someone who puts them self in your perspective, who helps others, and risks their own safety for yours. A perfect definition of a hero is Oskar Schindler.

Oskar Schindler rescued hundreds of Jews from the Nazis and took the time out of his own life to provide shelter and safety. Schindler put together a labor factory to bring in Jews that were going to be harmed: "In 1939, Schindler acquired a bankrupt factory that made enamel products. By paying bribes to the right people, Schindler was able to get army contracts and his factory soon began turning old pots and pans for the German army. By the end of 1942, Schindler was employing 370 Jews." From the beginning of the war Schindler fought for the Jews against his own race to bring safety and equality. He also persuaded the SS and Nazi watch guards that the Jews he gathered up were important to his business and must remain unharmed. Schindler also went out of his way to protect his workers and the Jews that were still on the street: "The liquidation of the Plaszow camp began that October. Shortly after, around eight hundred men were shipped out in boxcars bound for Brunnlitz. Three hundred women and children, who were supposed to join them there, were mistakenly routed to Auschwitz instead. Schindler immediately rescued these women and children, and they were sent on to Brunnlitz." After the Factory was in its new designation, Schindler noticed how the Nazis were sending women and children away to harsh labor or extermination camps. Even though his factory was moved and women and children were being killed, he set out to find and save their lives. Oskar Schindler is a hero because of the remarkable things he does, and how he proves that even though he's German, that doesn't mean he agrees with their actions.

As the war came to an end, and the Jews prevailed over the Nazis, Schindler thought nothing of it and didn't hold a grudge. He asked his workers to remember what happened, but to not seek revenge: "On May 8, 1945, the war came to an end after Germany surrendered. Schindler gathered all of his workers together on the factory floor to pass along the good news. He asked them not to seek revenge for what had been done to them and called for a moment of silence in memory of those who had died. He also thanked the members of the SS who were present and encouraged them to go home peacefully and without further bloodshed." Schindler is an inspiration because even though the Nazis were evil and demonic towards them, he asked his workers not to take revenge because what had happened was now in the past and holding grudges would be immature. Because of his loyalty and the affection towards his staff, the Jews obeyed Schindler and moved on. As a result of his leadership, his workers repaid him with much gratitude and loyalty: "As Schindler prepared to leave, his workers gave him a letter they had written attesting to his good deeds in case he was captured and needed it to defend himself. In addition, they presented him with a special gift, a gold ring inscribed in Hebrew with a verse from the Talmud,'He who saves one life, it is as if he saved the entire world.'" Schindler is an inspiration because of how many lives he saved. Although the SS were not easily fooled, Schindler tricked them into letting him keep his workers to maintain his factory, and secretly saved over 300 Jews. Oskar Schindler is a world known hero and will never be forgotten, he saved so many lives by risking his own and yet expected nothing in return.

Oskar Schindler proved not only to his workers, but to everyone that witnessed his acts of kindness, that even someone as normal as himself can make a huge impact on a single person's life. Throughout his lifetime Schindler rescued over 300 Jews and protected them from the wrath of the Nazis. He would go out of his way to rescue stranded people scattered along the ghettos or lines into the extermination camps. I consider Oskar Schindler a hero, because of the way he handled situations, fought for human/equal rights, and how he went against a higher power to help save hundreds. Heroes will come and go, but the memories they brought will live on forever. As Christopher Reeve once said, "A hero is an ordinary individual, who finds the strength to persevere and endure, in spite of overwhelming obstacles."