Emilie Schindler

Emilie Schindler (October 22, 1907 – October 5, 2001) was a who worked together with her husband, Oskar Schindler, to save 1,200 Jews during World War II. Their efforts were the inspiration for the 1982 book "Schindler's Ark", and the 1993 movie based on it, "Schindler's List", from director and producer Steven Spielberg.

She was born Emilie Pelzl in the village of Alt Moletein, Austria-Hungary, (now in the Czech Republic). Her father was Josef Pelzl, a farmer, and her mother was Marie Pelzl. She also had an older brother, Franz, with whom she was very close. [cite book |title= Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List |pages= p. 4 |last=Crowe |first= David M. |year= 2004 |publisher= Westview Press |location= Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-8133-3375-X |]

Emilie's early life in Alt Moletein has been described as "idyllic," and she was quite fond of nature and animals. It has also been noted that she was also interested in Gypsies, who would stop to camp near the village of Alt Moletein for a few days at a time. Emilie was quite fascinated with their lifestyle, and intrigued by their music and stories. [cite book |title= Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List |pages= pp. 4-5 |last=Crowe |first= David M. |year= 2004 |publisher= Westview Press |location= Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-8133-3375-X |]

She married Oskar Schindler on March 6, 1928. [cite book |title= Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List |pages= p. 6 |last=Crowe |first= David M. |year= 2004 |publisher= Westview Press |location= Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-8133-3375-X |] She became estranged from her husband in 1957, and though they did not divorce, they never saw each other again.

Emilie was honored by several Jewish organizations for her efforts during the World War II. In May, 1994, she received the Righteous Among the Nations award from Yad Vashem [cite book |title= Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List |pages= p. 604 |last=Crowe |first= David M. |year= 2004 |publisher= Westview Press |location= Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-8133-3375-X |] , along with Miep Gies, the woman who hid Anne Frank and her family in the Netherlands during the war.

Emilie lived for many years in Argentina. She passed away in a hospital in Berlin, Germany of after effects of a stroke at 93 years of age. She is buried at the cemetery in Waldkrieburg, Germany, about an hour away from Munich. Her tombstone includes her dates of birth and death, a cross, and the words, "Wer einen Menschen Rettet, Rettet die Ganze Welt." Translated into English, this means, "Whoever saves one life saves the whole world.". [cite book |title= Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List |pages= p. 622 |last=Crowe |first= David M. |year= 2004 |publisher= Westview Press |location= Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-8133-3375-X |]

At the end of the movie "Schindler's List", the real-life Emilie Schindler lays a stone on the grave of Oskar Schindler, along with many of Schindler's Jews.

References

External links

* http://www.emilieschindler.com/ - The story of Emilie Schindler
* cite web | url=http://www.auschwitz.dk/Emilie/Emilie.htm
title=Emilie Schindler
work=Biography
accessmonthday=June 28
accessyear=2005