More importantly why is Schindler considered one of the greatest heroes of this century

        Schindler started saving Jews in 1939, when he came to Krakow during the German invasion.  Looking for his own power in Krakow he opened up a small enamel shop near the Jewish ghetto.  He employed mainly Jewish workers, which saved them from being deported to Labour camps.  In 1942 Schindler found out through some of his workers that many of the local Jews were being sent to the brutal Plazow labour camp.  Schindler had connections with the German government, which came in handy.  He convinced the S.S. and the Armaments Administration to let Schindler set up a portion of the camp in his factory.  He then took the unfit and unqualified for work, which spared 900 Jewish lives.

        In October of 1944 he approached the Russian army to receive permission to re-establish his once defunct business as an armament production company in Bruunlitz.  After negotiating with S.S. officials Schindler was allowed to take some Jews with him.  He took 700 Jews from the Grossrosen camp, and 300 women from Auschwitz.  These workers were given the best food, clothing, shelter and medical care that Schindler could afford.  He then heard that a train of evacuated Jews from the Golezow camp were stranded nearby.  Schindler once again pulled some strings and got permission to take his workers to the station and rescue the stranded.  They removed about 100 half frozen Jews.  Schindler spent large amounts of money paying for the upkeep of his workers, and also the government.  He was arrested a few times during his saving operations but did a little talking and gave a little more money.  He risked his life as well as his family’s lives, to save a race of people he never even knew.  Now why did he do this?

        There is no answer to why he did this, maybe because he was just a caring man.  Schindler never wanted to comment on why he did what he did.  Ludwik Feigenbaum gave the good description that made some sense of Schindler’s actions.  “ I don’t know what his motives were, even though I knew him very well.  I asked him and I never got a clear answer and the film doesn’t make it clear either.  But I don’t give a damn.  What’s important is that he saved our lives” Another survivor, Johnathan Dresner suggests “ He was an adventurer.  He was like and actor who always wanted to center stage.  He got into a play and couldn’t get out of it.”

        Would you give up all your comforts and money for nothing in return?  Would you have the courage to give up your life for a bunch of strangers?  Well Schindler did, and didn’t want the hero status, and didn’t once brag about his accomplishments.  He never saw a reason to, it meant something to him and the people he saved, and that’s all that mattered.  His last few years were indeed rough.  He had given up everything he owned, literally and didn’t think anything of it.  Schindler was definitely a hero for many reasons.  Most importantly he helped save a race of human beings.