On April 28, 1908, Oskar Schindler was born, a German businessman who went down in history as the man who saved about 1200 Jews from concentration camps during World War II. Many learned about his feat after the release of the famous film by Steven Spielberg "Schindler's List". Recently, however, historians have increasingly stated that such an interpretation of events is too far from reality. According to this version, Schindler was not only not a hero, but also profited from the grief of the prisoners.
Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, 1993
Photo: kino-teatr.ru
In 2001, the author of Schindler's alternative biography, deputy of the Czech parliament, Jitka Gruntova, made sure that her compatriot was excluded from the list of prominent figures in the Pardubice region. She declares: "He was a Nazi, a scoundrel and a traitor to the Motherland." What was the reason for such serious accusations?
Oskar Schindler among Nazi friends
Photo: liveinternet.ru
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Oskar Schindler was born in the Czech town of Svitavy into a German family. Even in his youth, he received the nickname "swindler" for his participation in dubious transactions and adventurous money transactions. In the late 1930s. he was accused of cooperation with the German military intelligence "Abwehr". He spent several months in prison, and then was released under an amnesty, but later denied the accusations of espionage in favor of the Third Reich. However, later, in 1956, he confessed in a letter to an acquaintance: "As a German, I was interested in joining the German borderlands of Czechoslovakia to the Empire."
Oskar Schindler, who the Jews call the Righteous One of the World
Photo: cdn2.list25.com
After his release, Schindler moved to Poland, where he became the owner of a factory for the production of enameled dishes and began to acquire new connections in the Gestapo. According to the official version, Schindler received bribes from the Nazis for permission to hire Jews to his factory, doomed to death in concentration camps. He bought Jewish prisoners from the Nazis, ostensibly to expand his business.
Still from the movie * Schindler's List *, 1993
Photo: kino-teatr.ru
When the Red Army approached the borders of Poland, the Nazis, retreating, destroyed the camps. But Schindler got permission to move his factory with the workers to the Czech Republic. It was then that the famous Schindler's List was compiled, which saved the lives of hundreds of Jews. And in the last months of the war, he demanded another 200 people for his factory "in the form of an urgent need for production."
Oskar Schindler
Photo: liveinternet.ru
The American historian D. Crowe put forward a version that there was no Schindler's list, and that the businessman was in prison at that time for trying to bribe an SS man. Allegedly, in fact, there were about 9 lists for transporting prisoners from Krakow to Brnenets, but they were compiled by someone Goldberg, who shared the booty with Oscar. Schindler's ex-wife Emilia confirms this version, stating that the prisoners paid for the opportunity to be included in the list of rescued with money and jewelry.
Still from the movie * Schindler's List *, 1993
Photo: moviemir.com
Schindler himself claimed that he literally went broke, helping prisoners, buying food and medicine for them. Gruntova also refutes this version: by hiring Jews to a factory in Krakow, Schindler pursued his own profit - it was the cheapest labor force, which he mercilessly exploited, bringing workers to hungry faints. He needed working hands in a new place, moreover, there was an opportunity to earn extra money for those who wanted to be saved. At the same time, the rescued Jews deny the accusations against him.
Still from the movie * Schindler's List *, 1993
Photo: kinohall.club
Although Gruntova opposes the mythologization of Schindler that takes place in Spielberg's film, she is far from demonizing this character. Without denying his role in the salvation of Jews, the historian claims that he did not have a serious impact on the compilation of the lists, the maximum that was in his power was to add 50 people.
Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, 1993
Photo: kinowar.com
D. Crowe claims that Schindler himself created the myth of the heroic savior, since he went bankrupt after the war and intended to receive compensation for the losses he suffered during the war. The myth was picked up by T. Kenally, who published in 1982 the book "Schindler's Ark". It later formed the basis for the film Schindler's List.
Oskar Schindler, who the Jews call the Righteous One of the World
Photo: persons-journal.com
Obviously, Schindler was neither a righteous man, nor a fiend. Despite all the contradictory nature of his nature, he nevertheless saved a large number of people from inevitable death, no matter what motives he was guided by.