Question

SCHINDLER'S LIST MOVIE-QUESTIONS

1. (57 minutes) Describe how the Nazis liquidated the Jewish Ghetto in Krakow, Poland in order to move the Jews to concentration camps. How did the Nazi soldiers view the Polish Jews? How did they treat the Jews? (Use evidence from the film to support your answer.)

2. (157 minutes) Describe how the Nazis decided which Jews would go to Auschwitz to be murdered. How were the Jewish people treated during
"medical checks?" Which group were trucked out first and why? (Use evidence from the film to support your answer.)

3. (231 minutes) How were the Jewish workers processed at Auschwitz? How did Oskar Schindler get the Nazis to reroute his Jewish workers to his factory in the Czech Republic? What regrets did Oskar Schindler have at the end of the war?
What was Oskar Schinder's long-term impact? (Use evidence from the film to support your answer.)

Answers

GPT-4o mini
**1. Liquidation of the Jewish Ghetto in Krakow:**

In "Schindler's List," the Nazis liquidated the Jewish Ghetto in Krakow through violent and systematic force, culminating in the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps. The film shows a horrific scene where soldiers are seen rounding up Jewish families, herding them into the streets, and shooting those who attempted to escape. The Nazis viewed Polish Jews with contempt, dehumanizing them; they seemed to take pleasure in their suffering, which is evident in the casual brutality exhibited by the soldiers. For instance, during the ghetto liquidation scene, the soldiers brutally beat and kill Jews in the streets while waving their guns and demonstrating complete disregard for human life. The terror and chaos created during this operation highlight the Nazis’ view of Jews as subhuman, deserving of violence and eradication.

**2. Selection for Auschwitz:**

In the film, the selection process for deportation to Auschwitz is depicted as a brutal and arbitrary system where Nazi doctors, under the guise of medical checks, classify Jews as fit or unfit for labor. Those deemed "unfit," including the elderly, sick, and children, were sent directly to their deaths, while the stronger individuals were kept for forced labor. The film portrays a grim scene where an elderly man is separated from his family while trying to explain his ability to work, only to be dismissed with cold indifference. The first group trucked out to Auschwitz included women, children, and the elderly, as the Nazis sought to eliminate those they deemed less useful to their war effort and economic goals. This callous decision is emblematic of the Nazis’ systematic approach to genocide.

**3. Processing at Auschwitz and Schindler's Actions:**

Upon arrival at Auschwitz, Jewish workers faced brutal processing that stripped them of their identities and humanity. They were forcibly tattooed with identification numbers, subjected to harsh treatment, and forced into labor under dreadful conditions. Oskar Schindler managed to save his Jewish workers from transport to the camps by leveraging his connections and appealing to the interests of the Nazi brass, claiming their value as laborers for his factory in the Czech Republic. He used bribery and strategic favors, demonstrating a mix of cunning and compassion.

At the end of the war, Schindler expressed deep regret that he could not save more Jews, lamenting over the money he spent to save his workers rather than using it to save others. His feelings of guilt are depicted through a powerful scene where he breaks down, realizing that even a small number of lives could have been saved had he done more.

Oskar Schindler's long-term impact is profound; his actions saved over a thousand Jews, and he is remembered as a symbol of compassion amid the horrors of the Holocaust. His story, as portrayed in the film, serves as a powerful reminder of individual moral courage in the face of systemic evil, inspiring countless others to recognize the importance of standing up against injustice.