The Schindlerjuden, literally translated as "Schindler's Jews", were roughly 1,200 Jews who were saved by Oskar Schindler during the Holocaust. They survived the years of Nazi regime primarily through the intervention of Schindler who found them protected status as industrial workers at his enamelware factory in Krakow and, after 1944, at an armaments factory in occupied Czechoslovakia. They avoided being sent to death camps and survived the war. Schindler expended his personal fortune as an industrialist to save the Schindlerjuden.
Their story has been depicted in the book Schindler's Ark, by Thomas Keneally, and Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of the novel, Schindler's List. Poldek Pfefferberg, one of the survivors, persuaded Thomas Keneally to write the novel and Steven Spielberg to produce the film.
In 2012, there were estimated to be over 8,500 descendants of Schindler's Jews living in the United States, Europe, and Israel.
This is the list of Schindlerjuden (Schindler's Jews) who were transported to Schindler's factory in Brünnlitz. The original list was prepared by Mietek Pemper, Itzhak Stern and Oskar Schindler at the turn of September and October 1944. This list probably no longer exists.
Another list with 1,000 names, compiled by former camp stenographer Mieczyslaw Pemper upon the prisoners' arrival October 21, 1944 at Schindler's Brünnlitz factory, was presented by Pemper to the International Tracing Service in 1958.
This list is based on two lists of 1,098 prisoners made by camp administration in Brünnlitz on 18 April 1945. They are preserved in Yad Vashem Memorial. The first list contains 297 female prisoners while the second list contains 801 male prisoners. There are several preserved copies and carbon copies of the list from April 1945, with some in museums while others are in private hands (mostly of families of former prisoners).
Appended -in produces the female version.
Abbreviation “ang." stands for “angelernt“, meaning "semi-skilled"; the person was trained on the job but did not complete a formal apprenticeship.
Brecher, Elinor J. Schindler’s Legacy: True Stories of the List Survivors. New York: Dutton, 1994. (D 811 .A2 B74 1994) - A compilation of interviews with many of those saved by Schindler. Includes reports of their experiences in the concentration camps and with Schindler, and their stories of life after the war. Includes over one hundred personal photographs.
Byers, Ann. Oskar Schindler: Saving Jews from the Holocaust. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2005. (D 804.66 .S38 B94 2005) - Biography of Schindler, with emphasis on his rescue activities during the war. Part of the “Holocaust Heroes and Nazi Criminals” series for young adult readers. Includes glossary and index.
Crowe, David M. Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2004. (D 804.66 .S38 C76 2004) - Comprehensive account of Schindler’s early life, business career, rescue attempts, and postwar experiences in Germany and Argentina. Based on personal interviews and archival sources, including Schindler’s personal papers discovered in 1997. Includes extensive bibliography and index.
Fensch, Thomas, editor. Oskar Schindler and His List: The Man, the Book, the Film, the Holocaust and its Survivors. Forest Dale, VT: Paul S. Eriksson, 1995. - A collection of essays, articles, and interviews which illuminate Schindler and the international effect of his story. Includes a reprint of an article written about Schindler in 1949 and sections about Thomas Keneally’s book Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the story, and issues and implications of the Holocaust.
Fogelman, Eva. Conscience & Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust. New York: Doubleday, 1994. (D 810 .R4 F64 1994) - Relates stories about Schindler and his efforts to save Jews in the context of other rescue efforts and courageous acts during the Holocaust. Examines the motivation of Schindler and other rescuers, including personal, psychological, and historical factors.
Gruntová, Jitka: Legendy a fakta o Oskaru Schindlerovi. Praha 2002. - Comprehensive account of Schindler’s life, creation of the famous list and the daily reality of the life in the Brunnlitz factory. Based on interviews, books and archival sources.
Keneally, Thomas. Schindler’s List. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982. (PR 9619.3 .K46 S3 1982) - A fictional recreation of the story of Oskar Schindler, an industrialist who saved 1,100 Jews from death by employing them in his factory in Kraków. Drawn from authentic records, the testimony of many of those saved by Schindler, and the author’s extensive research. Also published as Schindler’s Ark.
Meltzer, Milton. “Schindler’s Jews.” In Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust, 55-67. New York: Harper & Row, 1988. (D 810 .R4 M247 1988) - A brief, personal account of Schindler’s life and heroism. Written for young adults.
Roberts, Jack L. Oskar Schindler. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1996. (D 804.66 .S38 R628 1996) - Interweaves the biography of Oskar Schindler with the larger events of the Holocaust, including the rise of anti-Semitism and the implementation of the “Final Solution.” Briefly discusses Schindler’s life after the war. Includes photographs. Written for young adults.
Schindler, Emilie. Where Light and Shadow Meet: A Memoir. New York: Norton, 1997. (D 811.5 .S31513 1997) - An autobiography by Oskar Schindler’s wife. Tells her story from childhood to after the war. Presents a detailed, behind-the-scenes account of the list’s development and the steps taken to save Jews. Includes numerous photos and two maps.
Silver, Eric. “The Few Who Disobeyed.” In The Book of the Just: The Unsung Heroes Who Rescued Jews from Hitler, 147-154. New York: Grove Press, 1994. (D 804.65 .S55 1992) - Uses personal testimony and historical documents to construct a more personal picture of Schindler and to describe the great lengths he took to save Jews by employing them in his factory and bargaining for their lives.
Skotnicki, Aleksander B. Oskar Schindler in the Eyes of Cracovian Jews Rescued by Him. Kraków: Wydawn. AA, 2008. (D 804.66 .S38 S5813 2008) - Examines Schindler’s legacy through testimony gathered from the Polish Jews saved by his efforts. Contains articles discussing Schindler, the list, and Płaszów concentration camp and the enamelware factory. A short list of films, press reports, and books is also presented, along with numerous photos from a variety of sources.
Zuckerman, Abraham. A Voice in the Chorus: Memories of a Teenager Saved by Schindler. Stamford, CT: Longmeadow Press, 1994. (D 804.3 .Z84 1994) - A survivor’s personal narrative describing his life in Kraków before the war, his imprisonment in concentration camps, and his rescue by Oskar Schindler. Also tells of his life after the war. Includes personal photographs. Previously published as A Voice in the Chorus: Life as a Teenager in the Holocaust.
