Oskar Schindler

Oskar Schindler (wikipedia ())

The Holocaust was one of the most tragic events that ever happened in history. It truly showed how evil people could get. Though there were a lot of evil acts shown in that time period, there was also a lot of good shown during the Holocaust. One of those people was Oskar Schindler. Although he was a very greedy, self-centered, and selfish person at times, he proved that people like him could change into someone very different than what they were before. Oskar Schindler was a hero to many people because he was caring and by his acts of intelligence and courage.

Though Oskar Schindler and many other people in Germany were taught to hate the Jewish people, he stood up for what he believed was right. From 1942-1944, Oskar Schindler hired over 1,100 Jews in his factory because of the cheap labor and he knew they were hard workers. His main purpose at first was to make a great profit because he wouldn't have to pay them much to work. After a couple of months they were taken away and sent to concentration camps. Schindler was angered by this and wondered why his workers were taken away. In 1942 he witnessed German raid on the Jewish ghetto and saw many people murdered and packed into trains bound for certain death. That was the moment that he realized how evil his country was and wanted to help as many Jewish people as he could. He bribed many German generals into transferring the Jews to his factory that sometimes involved money. When the war ended, over 1,100 Jewish people were saved and were free to go back to their homes. His actions showed that he was caring to everyone no matter what race they were. It didn't matter to him that he was going against his country. He knew what the consequences were and he focused on what he thought was right.

Sometimes people have to be wise or intelligent to bear characteristics of a hero. Oskar Schindler was a very intelligent person and was also a successful businessman. He knew how to convince people to agree with him. He convinced most generals to send Jews to his factory instead of them being sent to Auschwitz and he spent millions of dollars in bribes and paying off the SS to save Jewish people. Another great example of his intelligence is how he convinced Amon Goeth, who was the Commandment of the Plazcow camp, that power is not shown through murder and discipline but that a person with great power is known to have the ability of evil but chooses to not be. Amon normally would kill any Jews who did not do their job right but after Oskar talked to him about power he decided that killing right away was not the best way to show power.

Many people in Germany during World War II were taught to hate the Jewish people and didn't have the courage to stand up for what they believed in. There aren't many stories about German people going against what their country was striving for. Many of these people weren't brave enough to do that because they knew what the consequences were. Oskar Schindler knew the consequences and still pulled through with what he thought was right. He showed great courage in what he did. It must have been tough for him to save those people because he had to lie to generals and other soldiers. He knew that all those Jewish lives would be lost if anyone ever found out what he was doing. Being brave a rare characteristic especially during this war. He is a hero to me and is a hero to millions others.

Oskar Schindler's actions during World War II inspired many people. He is one the few people who would risk his life and career for others. He spent millions and gave everything he possessed to save the people whose lives were in danger. He died penniless, but earned the everlasting gratitude from the Jewish people. He proved that there are good people in a world of brutality. He is a hero who saved hundreds of lives. He died on October 9, 1974 and was buried in Jerusalem as he said, "My children are here".