The Holocaust FAQ

Why did Schindler risk his life to save Jews?

No one will ever know exactly what made this complex man do what no German had the courage to do. A large part of the fascination of Schindler is that not even those who admire him most can figure out his motives. But Oscar Schindler rose to the highest level of humanity, walked through the bloody mud of the Holocaust without soiling his soul, his compassion, his respect for human life - and gave his Jews a second chance at life. He miraculously managed to do it and pulled it off by using the very same talents that made him a war profiteer - his flair for presentation, bribery, and grand gestures.

Oscar Schindler was a sentimentalist who loved the simplicity of doing good. A man full of flaws like the rest of us. An ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances did extraordinary things, matched by no one. The unlikeliest of all role models who started by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended by spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his 1300 Schindlerjews.

Oscar Schindler died in Frankfurt on the 9th of October, 1974, at an age of 66. He wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. A Schindler Jew, Poldek Pfefferberg, asked him shortly before he died, why he wanted to be buried here. He answered :"My children are here ....." In faithful acquiescence with his wishes, Schindler's earthly remains were taken to Israel, where his lead coffin was carried through the streets of Jerusalem. He was buried in the Catholic churchyard on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

The little girl's jacket is red so that she stands out from the masses. When color is used, it makes a point and an impression. And Schindler´s soul is touched by the child, he feels her pain, cries for her. The plight of the one little girl in red touches him in a way the shear numbers make unreal, it is easy to get lost in numbers. He transforms the faceless mass around him into one real palpable human being. This one child is a symbol of all the 6.000.000 victims, exposed to ruthless slaughter. The little girl in the red coat footage gives a feeling of hope. You think that she may be able to get away, that she has a chance. But then you see her later, and she is dead. She has already been killed, and you feel the despair and a lot of anger towards these Nazis. How could they kill something so innocent?

	Why did Schindler risk his life to save Jews? No one will ever know exactly what made this complex man do what no German had the courage to do. A large part of the fascination of Schindler is that not even those who admire him most can figure out his motives. But Oscar Schindler rose to the highest level of humanity, walked through the bloody mud of the Holocaust without soiling his soul, his compassion, his respect for human life - and gave his Jews a second chance at life. He miraculously managed to do it and pulled it off by using the very same talents that made him a war profiteer - his flair for presentation, bribery, and grand gestures. Oscar Schindler was a sentimentalist who loved the simplicity of doing good. A man full of flaws like the rest of us. An ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances did extraordinary things, matched by no one. The unlikeliest of all role models who started by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended by spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his 1300 Schindlerjews. Where is Schindler's original List? An original version of Schindler's List is kept at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and was created a month before the war ended. Yad Vashem researches and honors Gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust. When did Oscar Schindler die? Oscar Schindler died in Frankfurt on the 9th of October, 1974, at an age of 66. He wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. A Schindler Jew, Poldek Pfefferberg, asked him shortly before he died, why he wanted to be buried here. He answered :"My children are here ....." In faithful acquiescence with his wishes, Schindler's earthly remains were taken to Israel, where his lead coffin was carried through the streets of Jerusalem. He was buried in the Catholic churchyard on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Why do people place small stones on Oscar Schindler's grave? The little stones are left on the grave of individuals when visiting the grave of a friend or loved one. This custom dates back to biblical times, when people put piles of stones on graves to mark the grave and to protect it from wild animals, we see this in Movies on TV. Nowadays it signifies that somebody cares and has been there. A stone is more permanent than flowers. Schindler's List - why is the little girl in red? The little girl's jacket is red so that she stands out from the masses. When color is used, it makes a point and an impression. And Schindler´s soul is touched by the child, he feels her pain, cries for her. The plight of the one little girl in red touches him in a way the shear numbers make unreal, it is easy to get lost in numbers. He transforms the faceless mass around him into one real palpable human being. This one child is a symbol of all the 6.000.000 victims, exposed to ruthless slaughter. The little girl in the red coat footage gives a feeling of hope. You think that she may be able to get away, that she has a chance. But then you see her later, and she is dead. She has already been killed, and you feel the despair and a lot of anger towards these Nazis. How could they kill something so innocent? The Little Girl in Red - http://www.auschwitz.dk/redgirl.htm

	www.auschwitz.dk



	Oscar Schindler