Oskar Schindler was born on April 28, 1908, in Svitavy. A German and a Catholic, he remained in Svitavy and held Czech citizenship after Moravia was incorporated into the newly established Czechoslovak Republic in 1918.
After attending multiple trade schools in Brno, he married Emilie Pelzl in 1928. Schindler held a variety of jobs, including working in his father's farm machinery business and selling government property. He also served in the Czechoslovak army. In 1939, he joined the Nazi Party. An opportunist businessman, he seemed an unlikely candidate to become a wartime rescuer.
The early war
After the German invasion of Poland, Schindler moved to Krakow and bought a Jewish owned factory. He only employed Jewish workers at his factory, having up to 1,700 people working there at one point. The Jews at his factory were still subjected to brutal conditions, but Schindler intervened on their behalf by bribing the SS soldiers and convincing them the Jewish workers were essential to the war effort.
After attending multiple trade schools in Brno, he married Emilie Pelzl in 1928. Schindler held a variety of jobs, including working in his father's farm machinery business and selling government property. He also served in the Czechoslovak army. In 1939, he joined the Nazi Party. An opportunist businessman, he seemed an unlikely candidate to become a wartime rescuer.
The early war
After the German invasion of Poland, Schindler moved to Krakow and bought a Jewish owned factory. He only employed Jewish workers at his factory, having up to 1,700 people working there at one point. The Jews at his factory were still subjected to brutal conditions, but Schindler intervened on their behalf by bribing the SS soldiers and convincing them the Jewish workers were essential to the war effort.