Description:

Schindler Oskar

Schindler's List! Oskar Schindler Letter to Those on the List he Saved "I am particularly proud that many of you, my dear and longtime friends, express the wish to welcome me in Israel" Only a few Letters Exist

 

Schindler, Oskar TLS to His Schindlerjuden by the German Industrialist and "Righteous Gentile" Who Saved 1,200 Jews During the Holocaust. Excessively rare, fine-content typed letter signed "Schindler," one page, in German, 11 1/2 x 8 1/4", Frankfurt, January 8, 1962. Some marginal foxing and a 1" closed tear in left margin. Schindler's signature is written boldly in blue ink.

 

Written to some of his "Schindler Jews," in full:

 

"My dear friends, Yesterday I received a telegram. Your wonderful New Year's wish with a transfer of two thousand dollars and allow me and on behalf of my wife, to thank you most sincerely. I am speechless after all of the sad experiences of recent times, for such wonderful help and a rescue at this most serious time. I am particularly proud that many of you, my dear and longtime friends, express the wish to welcome me in Israel as a guest and friend, which was previously mostly reserved for German government members. Of course, I would like to come, only I will need about 60 days to get my ship afloat and to settle problems. Please do not be angry with me if I am unable to write any more today, but believe me that the last few hours are among the few happiest of my life. Again sincere thanks and best wishes for all Brunnlitzer. Always yours, Schindler."

 

Oskar Schindler (1908-1974) was born in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary (now Moravia in the Czech Republic). With the advent of World War II, he delved into the black market, joined the Nazi Party, made friends with big wigs in the Gestapo and, with his new connections, acquired a factory run by Jewish labor. As he viewed the savage treatment of the Jews by the Germans, his conscience awakened and he did everything in his power, with bribery, lies, and charm, to save the people whom he came to call "my children." The "Brunnlitzer" referred to in the letter were the "Schindler Jews" who worked in Schindler's factory in Brunnlitz, Czechoslovakia, part of the concentration camp named "KZ-Aussenlager Brunnlitz," which was part of the larger Gross Rosen camp. Schindler bought this factory in October 1944 after the Russians advanced on Plaszow, where his original factory was located and where Schindler made his famous list of Jewish workers who were "essential" for the operation of his factory. Schindler made sure that his factories turned out defective ammunition and war materiel. It was at Brunnlitz where Schindler's Jews were liberated by the Russians. After the war, Schindler fled to Argentina and bought a farm, but in this, and all of his post-war business ventures, he was unsuccessful. He returned to Germany in 1958 and was supported by the largess of his grateful Schindler Jews for the rest of his life. He divided his time between Germany and Israel. When he died in 1974, he was buried in Israel, as he had requested. He is the only former member of the Nazi Party to be buried in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Today there are more than 7,000 descendants of the Schindler-Jews living in US and Europe, many in Israel.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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