Oscar Schindler
A German Nazi Party member, and a businessman. His story was immortalized by a film by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List, portrayed by my favourite actor, Liam Neeson.
Figure 1 – Oscar Schindler (Real)
His story immortalized the use of power during World War II, as he used his power and position in helping Jews and saving lives. Rather than following his comrades in spreading atrocities, Schindler chose a different path.
Schindler used his influence and connections to save over 1300 jews from the Holocaust. This action, to me, is the true definition of power and conviction, as he chose to use his influence to protect rather than manipulate.
Early in the war, Schindler’s agenda was to profit from employing cheap labour from Jewish POW in his enamelware factory in Poland. With his charm and connections to Nazi officials, he gained favour and built a very lucrative business. But the war took a toll on Schindler’s humanity, eventually helping Jewish from slavery and death.
Schindler manipulated his relationships with Nazi Officers to shield his Jewish workers. He bribed officials and overstated the importance of his Jewish workers to his enamelware factory to the war effort. It was a strategic effort from Schindler to shield his Jewish workers. An extraordinary show of power through persuasion and moral courage.
Figure 2 – Liam Neeson as Oscar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993)
As the war neared its end, Schindler took an increased risk by creating a list of essential Jewish workers he needed for his new factory in Brünnlitz, preventing them from execution.
Schindler was a businessman, first and foremost, but he chose to follow his morales and defy cruelty. His disposition to risk everything of his own clearly demonstrated that true power lies in the ability to stand up to injustice.[1]
By the end of the war, Schindler had lost his lucrative business and privileged status, but gained something far more valuable: the enduring gratitude of those he saved and a legacy of humanity in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
By the end of the war, Schindler lost his money, business, and his benefited status. But he gained far greater: the gratitude of the lives he saved and a legacy of humanity in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
Ultimately, Oscar Schindler’s story stands as convincing testament that real power isn’t measured by authority or control but by the capacity to effect meaningful change. His courageous, selfless action shows us that when power is wielded for the benefit of others, it can serve as a beacon of hope even in the most harrowing circumstance.
References
Oscar Schindler (2010). [Motion Picture]. Australia : THE HISTORY CHANNEL broadcaster. doi:https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/EDUTV.33443
Spielberg, S. (Producer), Zaillian, T. K. (Writer), & Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Schindler's List [Motion Picture]. United States : Universal Pictures . doi:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/?ref_=tt_mv_close
wikipedia. (n.d.). wikipedia . Retrieved from wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Schindler
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