The Holocaust is often considered one of the darkest and most heinous periods in modern history, however there are numerous accounts of heroism and selfless charity to emerge from the ashes. Despite the Nazi regime’s stranglehold on European affairs during a large part of the second world war, their radical and racially charged agenda was not universally accepted amongst German citizens and Nazi officials. The fear of strict punishment at the hands of the SS squashed popular outcry over the atrocities, but it did not stop the heroic acts of a few compassionate and unassuming individuals. One such hero is Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who spearheaded an effort to protect his Jewish factory workers from the uncertain fate of the the Jewish ghettos and concentration camps. When asked about his motives Schindler reported, "I just couldn't stand by and see people destroyed. I did what I could, what I had to do, what my conscience told me I must do" (Schindler). Though Schindler was himself a registered member of the Nazi party he would would ultimately be responsible for saving the lives of some twelve hundred Jews by wars end. However, the original twelve hundred are merely a portion of Schindler’s lasting impact and the real significance is in the “nearly 7,000 living descendants of Schindlerjuden (Schindler’s Jews)” (Sandweiss). Thus, Schindler’s legacy was cemented in his defiance and in his preservation of future generations of Jews around the world.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and many do not choose a call to action but are instead compelled by their own personal convictions. Schindler did not intend to become a liberator when he made his way:
[To] Cracow from his native town of Zwittau, just across what ha...
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...resent. For those who come next, let Schindler’s heroics and selflessness forever be a testament to the power of simple humanity. Not just that, but a call to action, to aid the victims of ethnic violence. While we may think that it is a dog eat dog world out there, if you can be the one to take a stand and have the courage to stand up for justice then you are following in the footsteps of legends like Oskar Schindler. Perhaps Thomas Keneally summed it up best in his 1982 book, Schindler’s Ark, “He'd hate to be a priest, Herr Schindler said, in an era like this, when life did not have the value of a packet of cigarettes. Stern agreed but suggested, in the spirit of the discussion, that the Biblical reference Herr Schindler had made could be summed up by a Talmudic verse which said that he who saves the life of one man, saves the entire world” (Keneally).
Six million Jews died during World War II by the Nazi army under Hitler who wanted to exterminate all Jews. In Night, Elie Wiesel, the author, recalls his horrifying journey through Auschwitz in the concentration camp. This memoir is based off of Elie’s first-hand experience in the camp as a fifteen year old boy from Sighet survives and lives to tell his story. The theme of this memoir is man's inhumanity to man. The cruel events that occurred to Elie and others during the Holocaust turned families and others against each other as they struggled to survive Hitler's and the Nazi Army’s inhumane treatment.
Simon Wiesenthal: The Nazi Hunter. There are many heroic individuals in history that have shown greatness during a time of suffering, as well as remorse when greatness is needed, but one individual stood out to me above them all. He served as a hero among all he knew and all who knew him. This individual, Simon Wiesenthal, deserves praise for his dedication to his heroic work tracking and prosecuting Nazi war criminals that caused thousands of Jews, Gypsies, Poles and other victims of the Holocaust to suffer and perish. The Life of a Holocaust Victim The effect the Holocaust had on Wiesenthal played a major role in the person he made himself to be.
Thousands of people were sent to concentration camps during World War Two, including Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel. Many who were sent to the concentration camps did not survive but those who did tried to either forgot the horrific events that took place or went on to tell their personal experiences to the rest of the world. Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi wrote memoirs on their time spent in the camps of Auschwitz; these memoirs are called ‘Night’ and ‘Survival in Auschwitz’. These memoirs contain similarities of what it was like for a Jew to be in a concentration camp but also portray differences in how each endured the daily atrocities of that around them. Similarities between Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi’s memoirs can be seen in the proceedings that
" The businessman, Oskar Schindler, demonstrated a powerful example of a man who was moved emotionally to step in and take action to save the lives of the Jewish people. His bravery still commands great respect today. His role shows the great significance of speaking up against injustice and choosing not to be silent.
Oskar Schindler accomplished many things within his life, such as saving the Jews, being a German spy, and helping the economy. His accomplishments have benefited those throughout his life. Although his kindness for his fellow man ran deep, so did his greed for boosting his own personal status within the community. There are still those today that believe that Oskar Schindler only saved the Jews for his own personal gain, but there are also those that believe that he did it out of kindness. Whether he did it out of good morale or simply for his own greed, Oskar Schindler 's many accomplishments have impacted plenty of lives.
One of the many mistakes a bystander makes is falling for the misunderstanding that a high position in the government is required to have their opinions heard and actually make a difference during the time of human weakness. On the contrary, even a small action can make a huge impact by starting the domino effect of inspiring others to be selfless and compassionate in motion. Most people underestimate the power of a humane action, though it could potentially turn someone’s life around. For example, when Hans Hubermann makes the decision to resist the Führer, he upholds his belief that Jews were innocent until his last breath. When he witnesses the endless parade of Jews marching to the concentration camp of Dachau, Hans “reached into his paint
Approximately six million Jews died during the holocaust, which was two-thirds of the Jewish population at the time of World War Two. This catastrophe is considered to be one of the most deplorable events caused by the human race itself and will live on for eternity. Often people hear the miraculous stories about survival and escape. However, it is unlikely for one to hear a story of rescue due to the high security surrounding the camps. Many prisoners had no hope of finding refuge and were often destined for the gas chambers. However, one man was able to save nearly two thousand Jews by simply knowing how to play both sides properly. His name is Rudolf Kastner. On the surface Rudolf Kastner appears to be a selfless man who devoted many years of his life aiding Jews before and during the Holocaust. While Kastner portrays a good-natured journalist on the surface, he is highly controversial in the Jewish community based on his bias towards Jews that could afford to pay him the large sums of money for their freedom. His inability to think of others prior to himself adds to his repertoire of poor personality traits and greedy decisions. Rudolf Kastner exemplifies all of the characteristics of an insufficient leader due to his selfish tendencies, lack of concern for others, and arrogant personality.
"A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims. University of South Florida. Web. 19 May 2014.
...idea and finally save hundreds of Jewish lives. We also see Gods justice in Schindler. In the beginning of the film, Oskar is just in the business for himself. He wants nice accessories such as suits, and he is driven by making money. God helps Schindler has a change of heart when he comes in contact with Stern. Oskar is able to connect with Stern, and he starts truly caring about Jewish people. Now Jews are more important to him then just making money. During his birthday Oskar is happy that Jews in the camp baked him a cake. He also kissed a Jewish woman. This is very frowned upon, so much that if you were a German and were caught doing this, you could have been killed. Gods justice, love, and work is in Schindler. When Stern and Schindler have to stare evil right in the face, they are able to overcome it and save hundreds of lives with the help of God.
The movie “Schindler’s list” is a compelling, real-life depiction of the events that occurred during the 1940’s. It illustrates the persecution and horrific killings of the Jewish people. It also exemplifies the hope and will of the Jewish people, which undoubtedly is a factor in the survival of their race. The most important factor however is because of the willingness of one man, Oskar Schindler, to stand out and make a difference.
Hilberg, Raul. "The Holocaust: Bystanders and Upstanders." Facinghistory.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 6 Feb 2014. .
In World War II, the German Nazi Regime, led by Adolf Hitler, killed millions of Jewish people living in Europe. There goal was to get rid of all the Jews to make the world “better.” To do this, they tortured, brutalized, captured, and enslaved the Jews through concentration camps, death marches, death trains, and genocide. During the Holocaust, five distinguished people risked their livelihood, families, jobs, careers, and lives to help the Jews. These were the Righteous Gentiles. One Righteous Gentile who stood out from the others was Sempo Sugihara. Sempo Sugihara was a Japanese Consul General who was stationed to work in Kaunas, Lithuania, in the beginning of the Nazi occupation in the 1940’s (Greene Ron). He found that the Jews living in Lithuania were perplexed and somewhat unknowing of what was happening to the other Jews and to what extent the brutality of the ongoing events where (Greene). Aware of the Nazi invasion and occupation, he intervened to save over ...
A film bursting with visual and emotional stimuli, the in-depth character transformation of Oscar Schindler in Schindler’s List is a beautiful focal point of the film. Riddled with internal conflict and ethical despair, Schindler challenges his Nazi Party laws when he is faced with continuing his ambitious business ideas or throwing it all away for the lives of those he once saw as solely cheap labor. Confronted with leading a double life and hiding his motivations from those allegiant to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, Schindler undergoes numerous ethical dilemmas that ultimately shape his identity and challenge his humanity. As a descendent of a Jewish-American, Yiddish speaking World War II soldier who helped liberate concentration camps in Poland, this film allowed for an enhanced personal
Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s List is the historical account of Oskar Schindler and his heroic actions in the midst of the horrors of World War II Poland. Schindler’s List recounts the life of Oskar Schindler, and how he comes to Poland in search of material wealth but leaves having saved the lives of over 1100 Jews who would most certainly have perished. The novel focuses on how Schindler comes to the realization that concentration and forced labor camps are wrong, and that many people were dying through no fault of their own. This realization did not occur overnight, but gradually came to be as the business man in Oskar Schindler turned into the savior of the Jews that had brought him so much wealth. Schindler’s List is not just a biography of Oskar Schindler, but it is the story of how good can overcome evil and how charity can overcome greed.
In learning about Bonhoeffer and his choice to take a moral stand against a cruel ideology, I learned that sometimes it’s right and moral to do what society considers the “wrong” thing, and sometimes being “moral” means sacrificing yourself. It may not always result in death; it could result in the loss of friends or popularity for making an unpopular decision. Regardless of the consequences, we should always strive to uphold morality like Dietrich Bonhoeffer did in the face of evil. While others may consider him to be morally complex or immoral, he is my moral hero.