Early Years
Born on April 28, 1908 in what is now the town of Svitavy in the Czech Republic, Schindler enjoyed a privileged upbringing and was childhood friends with the Jewish family residing next door. The 1930s economic crisis saw his family's firm slide into bankruptcy, and like so many disaffected Germans he signed up with the Nazi party.In Kraków
Hot on the heels of the invading German army Schindler found himself arriving in Kraków in 1939 where he took charge of a formerly Jewish-owned enamel factory. Motivated by greed he principally employed cut-price Jewish labour, and involved himself in the thriving black market. Living a care-free, lavish lifestyle his world and motives appear to have changed after witnessing the liquidation of the Podgórze Ghetto. Both Keneally and Spielberg pay particular importance to his fascination with the plight of a small girl dressed in a red cape and Schindler would later claim,
Comments