Schindler's List, is a film documenting the experience of several Holocaust survivors. The various survivors interviewed were all alive thanks to Uskar Schindler, a wealthy factory owner. The film tells the story of how the Jewish people were limited in their freedom. Jews were not allowed to use public transportation, walk on sidewalks, and forced to wear idenitifying armbands. Polish people were extremely rude to Jews and would even spit on them. When the Jews were being forced into ghettos and later concentration camps, Polish citizens were happy to see them leave. The film was extremely heartrenching because the Jewish people did not feel they had anywhere to escape. One woman even mentioned leaving with her mother but they were forced to turn around because they had no place to go. Jews were being treated as animals and stuck in "holding pens" and even referred to as subhumans. However, in the thousands that helped mascre Jews there were few that helped to save them. Schindler constantly gave hope to the Jewish people. When he needed people for his factory he suggested using Jews from the concentration camps.Later he built another factory and made a list of Jews that would able to live and work in his company. Schindler was extremely kind to the Jews. He made sure they were fed and had clothing. Jewish people felt safe in his company! When the war was over all of the Jews that worked for Schindler even signed a paper saying Schindler had saved them.
Good Evening, Mr. Wallenburg, is a movie based on a true story about a man, Raoul Wallenmburg who risked his life to save Jews. The movie was very touching and allowed its audience to sympathize with non Jewish people. The beginning of the film was extremely important. When Wallenburg is on a train he sees another train dropping off dead bodies. The guard on the train is trying to cover up what is happening. Hiding the evidence and cruelty was a major part in the Holocaust. However, Wallenburg is able to witness this event and it strikes him to his core. Wallenburg takes it upon himself to help save Jews by providing them with Swedish passports.
Both of these films represent another side to the Holocaust. Yes, Jews were beyond mistreated but one should not forget those people who risked their lives to protect others. Schindler and Wallenburg could have easily remained safe and not cared about the mistreatment of Jews but they did care. Both went out of their way to save lives. They were not a part of the thousands that ignored the cries of Jewish people.
I agree with you that both films show another side of the Holocaust. Both men had separate ways of helping the Jews and maybe even separate motives, but all in all, they both aided the Jews during their time of need.
ReplyDeleteWhile Schindler was once a greedy, moneymaking kind of guy, he changed after watching a massacre of Jews. At first, he just wanted cheap labor, that’s all, but after witnessing the horrific deaths f several Jews, he changed his way of thinking and did all he could to save, at least, his Jews. He bribed soldiers and colonels to keep his Jews out of harms way and he lied to them saying he needed their labor to produce his supplies. Schindler took a route that not only saved several lives, but also kept himself safe.
Wallenberg took a complete different route. He was fighting for the Jews from the beginning. He didn’t have to see a massacre to change his ways. He also took a risky route by passing out Swedish passports and having Jews stay in houses owned by his country. While Schindler lived to a ripe, old age and was taken care of by the people he saved, Wallenberg’s life at the end of the Holocaust is somewhat of a mystery.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with what Katie Campbell said. While both men’s actions can be considered heroic, it is extremely important to view the motives behind why each person did what they did. Schindler began his operation by hiring Jews as a cheap labor source to work in his factory, producing goods for German officials. Admittedly, working in Schindler’s factories offered much better working environments than the concentration camps, where prisoners were subject to the whims of Nazi officials. Schindler did, however, spend a large amount of his own personal fortune bribing Nazi officials to let him keep many of the Jews under his control, saving them from worse fates.
Wallenberg was sent at the behest of Jewish Swedish businessman who were horrified at what was going on. His mission was never cheap labor; rather, his intent to help people was there from the very beginning. I would argue that Wallenberg was more of a hero because of this; he actively sought out to help people.
I would like you to be a little more analytical about your comments. At what point does Schindler stop being just a business man and become a savior of the Jews. Wallenberg went to Hungary with a brief to try to save Jews. He went far beyond his brief. Why?
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