"...
that my story
is told truthfully ..."
About the life and work of Emilie Schindler
is told truthfully ..."
About the life and work of Emilie Schindler
Board 4
Encounter with Horror
The Second World War began on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland. Thanks to his connections from his time as a secret agent, Schindler managed to avoid military service and instead secured a civilian job. In Kraków, he leased a bankrupt enamelware factory. At first, it produced kitchen items, but later it began manufacturing shell casings. The factory was soon classified as a key armaments plant for the war effort. Initially, the number of workers rose from 40 to over 1,750. However, the Jewish workers were imprisoned in the nearby Plaszow concentration camp.
Schindler witnessed the anti-Jewish terror first-hand. Although he had joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1939, he began to distance himself more and more from the regime.
During his time in Kraków, Oskar Schindler changed — from a pleasure-seeking businessman to a humanitarian and saviour.
Emilie’s role during the Kraków years remains unclear. It appears that she kept their apartment in Moravian Ostrava and only lived with her husband in Kraków from time to time. She also suffered from health problems, which led to long stays in hospitals and recovery clinics.
Despite this, during her visits to Kraków, she met the notorious concentration camp commander Amon Göth and witnessed the suffering of the persecuted with her own eyes. Even though she was deeply afraid, she tried to help wherever she could.
The Second World War began on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland. Thanks to his connections from his time as a secret agent, Schindler managed to avoid military service and instead secured a civilian job. In Kraków, he leased a bankrupt enamelware factory. At first, it produced kitchen items, but later it began manufacturing shell casings. The factory was soon classified as a key armaments plant for the war effort. Initially, the number of workers rose from 40 to over 1,750. However, the Jewish workers were imprisoned in the nearby Plaszow concentration camp.
Schindler witnessed the anti-Jewish terror first-hand. Although he had joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1939, he began to distance himself more and more from the regime.
During his time in Kraków, Oskar Schindler changed — from a pleasure-seeking businessman to a humanitarian and saviour.
Emilie’s role during the Kraków years remains unclear. It appears that she kept their apartment in Moravian Ostrava and only lived with her husband in Kraków from time to time. She also suffered from health problems, which led to long stays in hospitals and recovery clinics.
Despite this, during her visits to Kraków, she met the notorious concentration camp commander Amon Göth and witnessed the suffering of the persecuted with her own eyes. Even though she was deeply afraid, she tried to help wherever she could.
