Saving the JEWS
Schindler's list
In October 1944, Pemper created the iconic list of 1,200 Jews who were to be sent to Brünnlitz. On October 15, 1944, 700 men on Schindler's list were mistakenly sent to the Gross-Rosen concentration camps. They stayed for a week before they were redirected to Brünnlitz. Similarly, 300 female workers were sent to Auschwitz. Schindler sent his secretary, Hilde Albrecht, to Auschwitz to bribe the SS officers with black market goods, food, and jewelry. Finally, after several weeks in Auschwitz, the women were sent to Brünnlitz.
Officials from the Armaments Ministry questioned his factory's low production rate. Hence, Schindler bought completed goods on the black market and later resold them as his. Additionally, the SS's rations given to his workers didn't fit their needs. Thus, Schindler spent the majority of his time and money searching for food for them.
On May 7, 1945, Schindler and his workers assembled to hear the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, announce that Germany had surrendered and the war had concluded.
Officials from the Armaments Ministry questioned his factory's low production rate. Hence, Schindler bought completed goods on the black market and later resold them as his. Additionally, the SS's rations given to his workers didn't fit their needs. Thus, Schindler spent the majority of his time and money searching for food for them.
On May 7, 1945, Schindler and his workers assembled to hear the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, announce that Germany had surrendered and the war had concluded.
Excerpt from Schindler's Farewell Speech to brünnlitz workers- May 1945
"The non-conditional surrender of the German armed forces has just been announced.
As hundreds of thousands of privates of a broken army flood back along country roads into their homeland, after millions of victims have died in six years of mass murder, and as Europe attempts to return to peace and order, I would like to turn to all of you, those of you who have been with me throughout these many difficult years and have feared that this day would never come, to all of you, who in a few days will return to your destroyed, plundered homesteads, searching for survivors from your families – I appeal to all of you to strictly maintain order and discipline. This will minimize panic, the consequences of which would be unpredictable...
I have demanded some productive output from you, which must have seemed rather senseless to most of you, since you were shielded from seeing the overall situation, but it was always my will to demonstrate and defend humanity, to conduct my affairs humanely, the principle that guided all of my decisions. Continue to maintain your discipline and order. When, after a few days spent here, the gates of freedom are opened to you, think about what many of the people who live around this factory have done for you in terms of providing additional food and clothing...
I have tried and risked everything to acquire additional food for you in the past, and I pledge to continue putting everything on the line to protect you and provide you with your daily bread. I will continue to work around the clock to do everything for you that is within my power. Do not go into the houses around here to forage and steal. Show yourselves to be worthy of the sacrifice of millions from your ranks, avoid every act of revenge and terrorism...
Do not thank me for your survival, thank your own people, who worked day and night to save you from annihilation. Thank the dauntless Stern, Pemper and those others who, in the course of their duty, above all in Krakow, looked death in the eye at every moment, thought of everyone and cared for everyone.
This solemn hour reminds us of our obligation to remain alert and maintain order; as long as we remain here together, I ask you all, among yourselves, to decide upon courses of action that are humane and just. I thank my personal staff for their restless sacrifice for my work. To the SS guards and the marines who are assembled here, who were assigned to this duty without their consent, I thank you also; as heads of families themselves, they have long realized the capricious and senseless nature of their orders. They have behaved in an extraordinarily humane and proper manner."
As hundreds of thousands of privates of a broken army flood back along country roads into their homeland, after millions of victims have died in six years of mass murder, and as Europe attempts to return to peace and order, I would like to turn to all of you, those of you who have been with me throughout these many difficult years and have feared that this day would never come, to all of you, who in a few days will return to your destroyed, plundered homesteads, searching for survivors from your families – I appeal to all of you to strictly maintain order and discipline. This will minimize panic, the consequences of which would be unpredictable...
I have demanded some productive output from you, which must have seemed rather senseless to most of you, since you were shielded from seeing the overall situation, but it was always my will to demonstrate and defend humanity, to conduct my affairs humanely, the principle that guided all of my decisions. Continue to maintain your discipline and order. When, after a few days spent here, the gates of freedom are opened to you, think about what many of the people who live around this factory have done for you in terms of providing additional food and clothing...
I have tried and risked everything to acquire additional food for you in the past, and I pledge to continue putting everything on the line to protect you and provide you with your daily bread. I will continue to work around the clock to do everything for you that is within my power. Do not go into the houses around here to forage and steal. Show yourselves to be worthy of the sacrifice of millions from your ranks, avoid every act of revenge and terrorism...
Do not thank me for your survival, thank your own people, who worked day and night to save you from annihilation. Thank the dauntless Stern, Pemper and those others who, in the course of their duty, above all in Krakow, looked death in the eye at every moment, thought of everyone and cared for everyone.
This solemn hour reminds us of our obligation to remain alert and maintain order; as long as we remain here together, I ask you all, among yourselves, to decide upon courses of action that are humane and just. I thank my personal staff for their restless sacrifice for my work. To the SS guards and the marines who are assembled here, who were assigned to this duty without their consent, I thank you also; as heads of families themselves, they have long realized the capricious and senseless nature of their orders. They have behaved in an extraordinarily humane and proper manner."
Sabrina Antonucci and Nikolas Antonucci
Senior Group Website Word Count (student composed): 1,192 Process Paper Word Count: 500 |
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