Schindler's List in Yad Vashem Studies, Volume XXIV

Oskar Schindler and Schindler’s List, introduction

A selection of documents (in English translation) are presented dealing with the history of Schindler’s rescue of 1,200 Jews (including Bejski) in Krakow and Bruennlitz. The texts include Schindler’s speech to the liberated prisoners of the Bruennlitz camp on May 8, 1945; the letter furnished to Schindler on that day by the leaders of the survivors; speeches and excerpts of testimonies made by participants at the reception in Schindler’s honor in Tel Aviv on May 2, 1962; and the eulogy delivered by Bejski at Schindler’s funeral on October 28, 1974 in Jerusalem. The documents are preceded by Bejski’s foreword (pp. 317–319), in which he states that although Spielberg’s film is not always consistent with the historical facts, nevertheless it is of great importance because it succeeded in reconstructing the atmosphere of the Nazi camps and affords an opportunity for millions of viewers to learn something about the Holocaust.