Oscar Schindler Is a Hero to the Jews - Essay Example

Oscar Schindler, a Hero I. Introduction Oscar Schindler is a hero to the Jews - a man who rose to fame for having saved them in the holocaust of World War II. But that is not easily accepted as he does not fit the hero template of many. Secondly, the holocaust story is under debate and talking about it can land anyone in prison in some parts of the globe. Nevertheless, whatever happened is part of history and will be talked about for generations - the events having been resurrected in the form of a film - and Schindler, though gone from the world - will remain dear to those whose hearts are captured for his act of compassion, questionable or not. But this is exactly where the problem lies. The events have been resurrected for the present - as well as for the future - generations. There are issues here like Jew hatred, and now freedom of speech, when holocaust is being discussed even from a historical point of view. These have provided fires to Oscar Schindler's story. This paper gives a brief description of the event and then make a stand that Oscar Schindler is indeed a hero. II. The Story On April 28, 1908 in Zwittau, Czechoslovakia, Oscar Schindler, a man destined to be great, was born. His life and accomplishments during the war became the subject of a best selling book by Thomas Keneally. Then Steven Spielberg made it into a powerful film, winning many Academy Awards and other honors from the movie industry (Klein n.d.). But how did a member of the Nazi party, war profiteer of slave labor, womanizer, alcoholic and compulsive gambler end up being honored Through "Schindler's List," the true story of a German businessman and Nazi sympathizer is revealed (Scileppi 2003). Poldek Pfefferberg, a black market trader was said to have initiated this incredible story, him who had business links with Schindler and who gave him goods which the latter used as gifts to impress Nazi officers. The whole thing worked, and Schindler became friends with some of the highest ranking officers in the German army (Ibid). Schindler was then doing business in 1938 in Poland and found the Nazis' rise to power as his chance to make money. He had started a cookware and utensil company, and to be able to get a series of Nazi military contracts, he applied his natural skills in socializing, flattering and bribing his way (New Internationalist 1994). Itzhak Stern became accountant and financier to assist him in his factory but the more important role was to liaison for Jew workers that Nazi troops herded into Crakow's ghetto by (Scileppi 2003). Kracow's Jews soon filed into Schindler's factory to work. Unknown to the workers, Schindler helped his Jewish employees by falsifying the factory records. For example, their ages were adjusted so that old people were recorded as being younger; juveniles were listed as adults. Professionals were registered as metalworkers, mechanics, and draughtsmen, considered essential to war production. The workers were protected from the extermination commissions that looked into Schindler's records from time to time (Steinhouse 1994) His workers did not know that at the same time, Schindler spent his evenings entertaining many of the local SS and Wehrmacht officers, cultivating friendships and strengthening his position wherever possible. .With an easy charm, Schindler became popular in Nazi social circles in Cracow {Steinhouse 1994). In 1942, when Krakow's Jews are assigned to Plaszow, a Forced Labor Camp run by Commandant Amon Goeth, the survival of the Jews were put in jeopardy. Schindler placed efforts in pleasing Goeth and was able to arrange the continued use of Polish Jews in his plant. (New internationalist 1994). Events that followed made Schindler realize that only he and his factory were what came between his workers and the Nazi death camps. From there he completely gave up generating wealth, and began using his remaining finances as bribes to procure more Jewish workers and maintain the factory's current staff. By the time the allies defeated Germany, his fortune was used up, but by then he had saved 1200 people from imminent death - by buying them and employing them in his factory (Ibid.). With the turn of events, Oscar Schindler was transformed from a womanizing, materialistic playboy into a selfless, dedicated and philanthropic hero. (Scileppi 2003). Schindler died of liver failure on October 9th 1974 in Frankfurt, Germany at the age of 66 (Klein n.d.). The systematic annihilation of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II is referred to as the Holocaust that stood as the background of Schindler's heroism (HolocaustFAQ n.d). In 1933 about nine million Jews lived in the 21 countries of Europe that would be occupied by Germany during the war. Two out of every three European Jews had been killed by 1945. The European Jews were the primary victims of the Holocaust. But Jews were not the only group singled out for persecution by Hitler's Nazi regime (Ibid.). III. The Motive Schindler was a shameless womanizer of the worst sort, an alcoholic (Bulow 2003), a briber who paid his ways to get through, someone who loved to score where others did not, someone hardy to mundane things but touched when weak little things get crushed. No one can second guess this very complex man to figure out why he did it. A war profiteer who earned his millions from wise contacts from under the table influence, Schindler had spent his last pfennig to save his Jews (Ibid.). Whether he had the motive of a Samaritan or simply had brotherly love, he was hardly the model of one to spend something like 4 million German marks to keep his Jews out of the death camps. During those times, that amount was big, but he had risked his life to rescue them in the shadow of Auschwitz. To the 1200 Jews who lived during the dark years of the Nazi genocide, this German was a hero who "had risen to the highest level of humanity" to give them a second chance at life (Bampt 2003). People would ask him why he did it because "goodness does not drink, womanize, wear big Nazi-badges" (Ibid.) like he did. The last to look like an angel, Oscar Schindler had "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." (Ibid.). While the motive of Schindler is suspect to some, his story even while on screen is also suspect. The National Reporter of Australia said it was only a ploy to promote or strengthen the Zionist/Israeli cause. It also said there was increasing doubts about the extent of the so-called Holocaust which are emerging throughout the world, and Schindler is only the latest of Holocaust heroes presented (Heretical.com.n.d.). In the same vein, viewers are reminded that Schindler's story was only a fiction created by Tom Keneally, and directed by Spielberg (Ibid). The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, in fact, placed all three books of Thomas Keneally under fiction, including a supposedly World War history book. The implication is that Keneally knitted well his stories as historical renditions but actually was riding along the vehicle of fiction from behind, therefore was not exactly believable. The Library's entries (Heretical.com.n.d.) is as follows - Keneally, Thomas. Schindler's List. 1. Schindler, Oscar, 1908-1974--fiction. 2. Holocaust, Jewish, 1939-1945--fiction. 3. World war, 1939-1945--fiction. IV. History Significance. Holocaust happened because Hitler and the Nazis were racists (HolocaustFAQ n.d.). They believed the German people werea 'master race,' who were superior to others. They even created a league table of 'races' with the Aryans at the top and with Jews,Gypsies and black people at the bottom. These 'inferior' people were seen as a threat to the purity and strength of the German nation. When the Nazis came to power they persecuted these people, took away their human rights and eventually decided that they should be exterminated (Ibid.). The story of Schindler resurrected something in the past that should be corrected - and if only for correction - Schindler is important for having performed a role of compassion to show that people should be treated as people, no matter what race. The National Reporter of Australia, however, puts to task Hollywood for suddenly converting "a traitor, a black-marketeer, thief, extortionist and paedophile who molested young children of his slaves." More appropriately, the newspaper said, the case of Schindler should be termed 'the nightmare factory (Heretical.com.n.d). Accordingly - "[Schindler's] activities were the subject of discussion by SS General Heinrich Mueller, head of the Gestapo and that charges of official corruption, theft, brutality towards prisoners, indecent assault towards females and a charge of sodomy under paragraph 175 of the German criminal code were all being prepared against Schindler before the war ended. A letter from the file of Himmler's security chief, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, confirms this." Schindler's story is ever significant in that it touches the very core of the lives of most people. Regardless of one's religious affiliation, all people can be touched and deeply saddened by the tragic events of the Holocaust. Millions of innocent people had died simply because of their religious beliefs, as well as cultural or political differences. (Katz 2003) It then becomes proper that a tragedy of this magnitude be taught, studied and prevented from ever happening again. More than that, the story has provided emotional lessons with the purpose of teaching, remembering, and showing how one's compassion could save many lives (Ibid). Development of story. Director Spielberg did much to present Schindler's story in the film, heightening the consciousness of people in the process - making them aware of the holocaust story and the meaning of "final solution." The term Final Solution (Die Endlosung) refers to the Germans' plan to physically liquidate all Jews in Europe. The term was used at the Wannsee Conference held in Berlin on January 20, 1942, where German officials discussed its implementation (HolocaustFAQ n.d). In fact, the terms "Holocaust deniers" and "Holocaust revisionists" came about because of the debate the story has bankrolled. There are those who would like to hide a hateful ideology (Widmann n.d.). The Spielberg film had resurrected the terrible scenes of the atrocities meted out to the Jews (New International 2004). In here, Schindler slips into the role of hero. The question is asked, is it right to recreate scenes from the Holocaust The debates around the film are said to be similar to those around Holocaust museums in Washington and Los Angeles using theme-park-style effects to recreate the experience of death camps (Ibid). As recorded by Heretical.com, comments of British Film Critics to Amistad, claims the Schindler story has historical distortions and doesn't tell the truth. Another source claims this presentation merely makes a sopa opera out of the holocaust, a tool of ethnic cleansing (FilmEducation.org n.d). Schindler supposedly had more flaws than Spielberg dares to suggest, and therefore the movie may not stand the test of time. In other words, the story is more fiction than truth - mere work of artists than history. Influence on History. Schindler's story is actually about treatment of Jews (FilmEducation.org n.d). Paul Hilberg, a historian, states that, in fact that since the fourth century after Christ, there have been three anti-Jewish policies: Jews were either to be converted, expelled and annihilated. The film had recorded actually historical events and widened and deepened audiences to these atrocities. (Ibid). The remembrance, history and lessons of the Holocaust must be preserved so future generations will act to prevent reoccurrence. (Zazzi 2005) As this was pure prejudice, fuelled by that notion of being Aryan, out of these should be a fight to be fought against prejudice in all levels. She mentions three moral imperatives that should arise out of the holocaust story. One of these is that people should study the history of these events that over-powered man's sense of reason "buried by the mob mentality of racial superiority."(Ibid). Events and atmosphere. It is said, fascism is on the rise again (New International 2004). Statistical surveys show that, since German reunification in 1990, right-wing terrorism has increased dramatically, both in the Western and the Eastern parts of Germany. (Niven, n.d.). No one can tell what events may happen in the future but Schindler's story on film may have served to preserve the memory of events of such significance. That it may have served as a warning remains to be seen. Holocaust which was the main event that Schindler's story tackled is banned from being discussed and debated on in seven countries (Widmann n.d.), particularly in Jewish universities. The persecution of a writer named German Rudolf who published a book on Foundations of Contemporary History: A Handbook on controversial questions of the Twentieth century is a classic example. He had published his own scientific analysis of the Auschwitz gas chambers, but in May 1996 Rudolf had to be arrested without delay, and all copies of the book be burned (Ibid). For his "thought crime," he was ultimately deported from the United States. V. Conclusion The greatest issue surrounding the Holocaust today is the issue of intellectual freedom. Without an open and honest discussion of the events of this human tragedy, people are bound to feed the fires of extremism on both sides of the debate and to repress honest historical inquiry through fear of persecution and imprisonment. As debates go on, there is only one thing that remains with the Jews. There was a man who showed them compassion: the flawed hero who saved hundreds of Jews from Hitler's gas chambers. He was "a saint walking through hell." (Bulow 2003). There are two parts to any definition of compassion. It not only involves a deep awareness of suffering but also a desire to do something about it. Perhaps one of the finest models of compassion is Oscar Schindler (Currents 2005). Generations will remember Oscar Schindler for what he did - for surfacing from the chaos of madness, spending millions bribing and paying off the Nazis and eventually risking his life to rescue the Jews in the shadow of Auschwitz. The Schindler legacy will never be forgotten. The tree that he planted upon invitation still grows in the. streets named after him in the USA and Israel. He may have been a failure in business, a traitor to Germany, alcoholic and compulsive gambler - but there are many thousand descendants of Schindler Jews that would not has been, if it wasn't for him. References Primary Sources "Compassion." Currents. St. Mary's High School, Lancaster, NY 14086 (716) 683-4824 Vol. 14, Issue 4. Dec. 2005. 10 Jan 2006. "One tiny glimmer." Posted by Bamapt. wildbillguarnere.com 17 Apr 2003. 9 Jan. 2006. [Bamapt identifies himself as member, Honorary Lions of the Lowlands Atlanta, Georgia]. "Oscar Schindler." HolocaustFAQ. 9 Jan. 2006. "Schindler's List." Directed by Steven Spielberg. Reviews. New Internationalist. issue 254. Apr 1994. 9 Jan. 2006 "The Real Schindler." Swindler's List. The Heretical Press. Heretical.com, 9 Jan. 2006. Blow, Louis. (2003). "Oscar Schindler." Oskarschindler.org. 9 Jan. 2006. December 2005ember 2005 Hansen, Suzy. (2002). "Rethinking the Nazi nightmare." israelblog.org. 10 Jan 2006. Katz, Joanna. "Sparking Education, Preserving Memory, and Tackling the Future: Representations of the Holocaust in Film. history.ucsb.edu. 6 Jun 2003. 9 Jan 2006. Klein, Joe. "The later years of Oskar Schindler." I Survived the 20th Century Holocaust. Isurvived.org. 9 Jan 2006. Malcom, Derek. "Schindler's list." FilmEducation.org. 9 Jan. 2006. Niven, William J "The Reception of Steven Spielberg's 'Schindler's List' in the German Media." 10 Jan 2006 Scileppi, Jim. 'Schindler's List: The "Rant" That Received 7 Academy Awards.' Review Summary. Epinions.com Last update 19 Mar192003. Jan 9, 2006 Steinhouse, Herbert. "The Real Oskar Schindler." Literature of the Holocaust. April 1994. 10 Jan 2006. CNewsl Widmann, Richard A. With regard to your article "Don't Even Think It." Holocaust Revisionism. Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust. CODOH.com. (Reply letter). 9 Jan 2006 http://www.codoh.com/newsite/index2.html Zazzi, Sasha.(2005). "Save the World Entire." Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, Inc. holocaust.hklaw.com. 9 Jan. 2006. Read More