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Media Essay

Oskar Schindler (Abridged Article) - Photographs

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Oskar Schindler rescuers industry Kraków

During the Holocaust, businessman Oskar Schindler protected more than 1,000 Jews from deportation to Auschwitz. 

Entrance to Oskar Schindler's enamelware factory

Gated entrance of a concrete and brick building with many windows. A person is standing to the left of the entrance.

View of the entrance to Oskar Schindler's enamelware factory in German-occupied Kraków. As part of the German authorities' expropriation of property, Schindler took over the factory, which became known as "Emalia." At Emalia, Schindler employed Jewish forced laborers from the the Kraków ghetto and the Plaszow forced labor camp. Eventually, a Plaszow subcamp was established on the factory complex grounds. At Emalia, Schindler treated his Jewish forced laborers well. Poland, 1943–1944. 

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Honoring Oskar Schindler at Yad Vashem

An older man in a suit uses a farm tool to plant a tree. A group of men surround him, including one man filming the entire scene.

Rescuer Oskar Schindler plants a tree on the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem, Israel's national institution of Holocaust commemoration. May 8, 1962, Israel.

In the 1960s, Schindler was invited by Yad Vashem to plant a tree in his honor. His planting ceremony took place on May 8, 1962. In 1993, Oskar and Emilie Schindler were named Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jewish individuals honored by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to aid Jews during the Holocaust.

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Schindler with some of the people he rescued

Oskar Schindler standing (second from right) with some of the people he rescued. [LCID: 03411]

Oskar Schindler standing (second from right) with some of the people he rescued. Munich, Germany, May–June 1946.

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Scene during the building of Schindler's factory

Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. [LCID: 03387]

Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. Czechoslovakia, October 1944.

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Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Brünnlitz

View during the construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. [LCID: 03386]

View during the construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory at Brünnlitz, a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp. This photograph shows the construction of a rail line to the factory. In fall 1944, Schindler relocated his factory from German-occupied Kraków to a village near his hometown in the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia annexed to Nazi Germany). At Brünnlitz, Schindler devoted himself to saving its approximately 1,000 Jewish prisoners. This was a difficult and risky endeavor that required him to spend the fortune he had made in Kraków. Czechoslovakia, October 1944.

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Schindler's factory under construction

Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. [LCID: 03385]

Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. Czechoslovakia, October 1944.

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Building Schindler's factory

Construction of Oskar Schindler's armaments factory in Bruennlitz. [LCID: 03382]

Jewish forced laborers constructed Oskar Schindler's armaments factory at Brünnlitz, a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp. In fall 1944, Schindler relocated his factory from German-occupied Kraków to a village near his hometown in the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia annexed to Nazi Germany). At Brünnlitz, Schindler devoted himself to saving its approximately 1,000 Jewish prisoners. This was a difficult and risky endeavor that required him to spend the fortune he had made in Kraków. Czechoslovakia, October 1944.

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Camp commandant addresses SS guards

Camp commandant Amon Goeth addresses SS guards. Plaszow, Poland, 1943-1944. [LCID: 09507]

Camp commandant Amon Goeth delivers a speech to SS guards in the Płaszów camp. Płaszów, Poland, 1943-1944.

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Plaszow camp commandant Amon Göth

A man with short dark hair and light skin tone stands on a balcony while smoking and balancing a rifle on his shoulder. He appears to be wearing a white tank top and dark pants. Buildings can be seen in the background.

Nazi SS Officer Amon Göth, the infamous commandant of the Plaszow camp in German-occupied Poland, on the balcony of his home near the camp. Kraków, Poland, between February 1943 and September 1944.

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Oskar Schindler

Two men look toward the camera wearing suits, riding boots and gloves. A horse in tack stands next to the man in the center. He leans in towards the horse with a hand on the horse’s head.

Oskar Schindler (left) at his enamel works in Zabłocie, a suburb of Kraków. Poland, 1943-1944.

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Scene from one of Oskar Schindler's parties in Krakow

Scene from one of Oskar Schindler's parties in Krakow. [LCID: 03384]

Scene from one of Oskar Schindler's parties in Krakow. At such events, Schindler (second from left) attempted to bribe Nazi officials for information about imminent deportations. Krakow, Poland, 1943.

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Oskar Schindler (center) at his 34th birthday party with local SS officials.

Oskar Schindler (center) at his 34th birthday party with local SS officials. [LCID: 03378]

Oskar Schindler (center) at his 34th birthday party with local SS officials. Schindler attempted to use his connections with German officials to obtain information that might protect his Jewish employees. Krakow, Poland, April 28, 1942.

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Oskar Schindler (third from left) at a party with local SS officials on his 34th birthday.

Oskar Schindler (third from left) at a party with local SS officials on his 34th birthday. [LCID: 03377]

Oskar Schindler (third from left) at a party with local SS officials on his 34th birthday. Schindler attempted to use his connections with German officials to obtain information that might protect his Jewish employees. Krakow, Poland, April 28, 1942.

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Oskar Schindler next to the tree planted in his honor

Oskar Schindler stands in front of a small but mature tree looking off to the side with his hands clasped in front of him. He is wearing a white shirt with dark pants.

At Yad Vashem, the Israeli national institution of Holocaust commemoration, Oskar Schindler stands next to the tree planted in honor of his rescue efforts. Jerusalem, Israel, 1970.

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