Schindler – Not a Natural Rebel
Industrialist Oskar Schindler was initially a Nazi spy who took over the factory in Krakow after the German invasion of Poland. When Jewish forced laborers were assigned to him, he gradually began to protect them from further persecution and violence. He had the factory classified as war-important production and later, through his good relations with the SS, was able to negotiate its own satellite camp with improved living conditions. Together with his wife Emilie, he saved the lives of about 1,200 Jews. The Yad Vashem memorial in Israel awarded Schindler the status of Righteous Among the Nations in 1962.Schindlers List (or Lists?)
The title of Steven Spielberg's film adaptation 'Schindler's List' is no coincidence. Oskar Schindler falsified lists in order to employ unqualified Jews and thus save them from being murdered.
As far as we know today, there were seven such lists made at the factory for administrative purposes, four of which are known today. A complete list of the rescued Jews can be found in Schindler's enamelware factory in the room of the memorial to the Schindler Jews.Location Filming
The exterior and office shots set at Oskar Schindler's enamelware factory in Krakow were filmed at the original location. Today you can visit Schindler's office in the factory building.Schindler's factory as a memorial for all victims of the Holocaust
Today, Schindler's factory serves as a memorial and museum that not only commemorates Oskar Schindler, but also the countless victims of the Holocaust.Original Enamel Factory Building
The original factory building still stands today. It was used as a factory by a telecommunications company until 2002, when it was divided into two museums, Schindler's Factory and MOCAK. Schindler's office is furnished with the original furniture, the rest of the exhibition rooms have been restructured for visitors.Oskar Schindler's legacy
Although Oskar Schindler was financially ruined after the war, his humanitarian work is still recognised worldwide today. Many of the people he rescued and their descendants regard him as a hero and lifesaver. His legacy lives on in numerous books, films and works of art that tell his story and that of those he saved. The Schindlerjuden have started families and become ambassadors of his story to ensure that his deeds are never forgotten.