Cristina B. Florendo
BSA 4202
SCHINDLER’S LIST
The story of Schindler’s List begins with Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who
had previously failed at several ventures. Charismatic and persuasive, he arrives in Kraków
during World War II with the goal of profiting from the war. Recognizing his own weaknesses in
paperwork and logistics, he seeks out Itzhak Stern, a Jewish accountant known for his efficiency
and deep connections in the Jewish community. Stern had worked on Lipowa Street and had
been involved in the enamelware trade, particularly with pots and pans. Schindler believed that
with Stern’s administrative skills and his own talent for persuasion and presentation, they could
build a successful business.Initially reluctant, Stern eventually agrees to help Schindler. He
begins by reaching out to wealthy Jewish businessmen to invest in the enamelware factory
Schindler is setting up. Schindler promises them a monthly return in the form of enamelware
instead of cash, explaining that in the ghetto, goods are more valuable than money. Although
the arrangement comes with no legal assurance or formal contract, the investors agree, and the
business begins to take shape.
Once the factory is established, Stern informs Schindler of the existing labor policies
under Nazi rule. Jewish workers are essentially free labor, as their wages are paid to the Reich,
not to the workers themselves. Schindler admits his intent to profit from this labor system, but
Stern sees an opportunity to save lives. Quietly, he begins to hire Jews regardless of their
qualifications, forging documents that label them as “essential workers.” In one case, he saves a
literature teacher by having papers forged to show he’s a skilled metal polisher. Stern spreads
word in the community that Schindler’s factory is outside the ghetto, offering not only work but
also some protection from deportation. Through his efforts, 350 Jews are employed at the
factory. They’re taught the necessary skills, and production begins, creating enamelware for the
German army. Schindler's talent for marketing and Stern's meticulous organization turn the
factory into a thriving business. As war demands grow, so does Schindler's wealth.
Despite his initial motivations, Schindler begins to change. When an elderly worker with
one arm, Mr. Lowenstein, thanks him for hiring him despite his disability, Schindler is visibly
uncomfortable. He is confronted with the humanity of those he employs. Not long after,
Lowenstein is killed by soldiers on his way to work, and Schindler is shaken—not just because
he lost a worker, but because he begins to feel the moral weight of what is happening around
him.
Stern’s importance becomes even more apparent when he is mistakenly taken by
soldiers for deportation after forgetting his work card. Schindler races to save him, arriving just
in time to pull him off the train. It’s a pivotal moment, showing how deeply he depends on Stern,
not just for business but also as a moral compass.
One day, Schindler visits the factory and finds it eerily empty. He soon learns that the
ghetto has been liquidated. He witnesses the mass killing of Jewish residents by Nazi soldiers.
Amid the chaos, he sees a young girl in a red coat, a striking image in an otherwise
black-and-white film. This moment leaves a deep impression on him, signaling a turning point in
his perspective. Increasingly disturbed by the brutality around him, Schindler tries to negotiate
with Amon Goeth, the ruthless commander of the Plaszów labor camp. He asks that Stern and
his workers be returned, insisting their absence is damaging his business. When Stern was held
hostage by Amon for a while, his role in Schindler’s business became even clearer. He is the
one keeping track of bribes to Nazi officials, managing complex dealings with black market
suppliers, logging charitable “donations,” and navigating the many departments of the Nazi
bureaucracy to keep the factory running smoothly. Schindler is overwhelmed by the complexity,
but Stern tells him it’s all necessary. Stern then told Schindler to keep the factory running until
he’s set free, saying he’s worked too hard to let it fall apart.
As the war drags on, more people approach Schindler for help. One woman, Regina
Perlman, begs him to save her parents, knowing that his factory has become a place where
people survive. Initially hesitant, Schindler agrees, giving his valuable watch in exchange for
Regina’s parents. It becomes increasingly clear that Stern has influenced Schindler’s growing
compassion. What began as a business partnership is turning into a shared mission.
Cristina B. Florendo
BSA 4202
Schindler continues to navigate the Nazi system to protect his workers. He persuades
Amon to try mercy, arguing that true power lies in choosing to pardon. For a brief moment, it
works—then the violence resumes. Later, when Schindler sees Jews trapped in a train car
pleading for water, he brings a fire hose to offer them relief. While others mock him, Stern
stands silently by, understanding the significance of Schindler’s gesture.
After witnessing the massacre of 10,000 Jews during the Kraków Ghetto liquidation,
Schindler decides he can no longer stand by. He tells Stern he will use his entire fortune to save
as many people as possible. Together, they begin to compile a list of names—Jews to be
transferred to a new factory in Brünnlitz. To Stern, this list represents life itself.
Schindler bribes Goeth and other officials to allow the transfer. Though the train carrying
the women is diverted to Auschwitz, Schindler uses diamonds to secure their release. He even
convinces the authorities that the children are essential workers. Eventually, more than a
thousand Jews were moved to Brünnlitz. After they arrived at the factory, Stern began to
prepare the paperworks and afterwards, the movie showed Schindler mentioning legal
provisions to the soldiers to protect his workers. He cites Department W, which makes it illegal
to kill his employees without cause, and the Business Compensation Fund, which allows him to
claim damages for any harm done to them. He also made it clear that no one can touch his
workers without his consent.
After a while, Stern receives complaints about the poor quality of the ammunition being
produced and immediately reports it to the businessman but he is not worried about it. Stern
realizes that Schindler is deliberately sabotaging the machines. Schindler confirms it, saying he
would be upset if a single shell from his factory actually worked. Stern is stunned by how far his
partner has come—from exploiting Jewish labor to sabotaging the Nazi war effort.
For seven months, the Brünnlitz munitions factory produced nothing of value for the
Germans. During this time, Schindler spends millions to feed, house, and protect his workers,
and to continue bribing officials. Finally, the war ends. Germany surrenders, and Schindler
gathers his workers to say goodbye. He tells them he cannot accept their gratitude, as he
remains a Nazi Party member, a munitions manufacturer, and a man who profited from slave
labor.
In an emotional farewell, Stern gave him a ring made from gold dental fillings, inscribed
with the words: "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire." They also gave him a signed
letter detailing how he saved them, in case he is ever captured and needs to prove his actions.
Schindler breaks down, devastated that he didn’t save more lives and the workers run to hug
him as comfort. Schindler flees as the Allies arrive, but the legacy of what he did lives on. After
his death, the generations descended from the people he saved mourned him deeply. What
began as a pursuit of wealth turned into a mission of humanity. Through Stern’s quiet
persistence and Schindler’s eventual moral awakening, over a thousand lives were
saved—each one a testament to the power of conscience, courage, and redemption.
To sum it all up, the accountant, Itzhak Stern, plays a crucial role in Schindler’s List as
the moral backbone and strategic mind behind Oskar Schindler’s success. While Schindler
brings charm and persuasion, it is Stern who handles the paperwork, legal loopholes, and
logistical operations that keep the factory running. He carefully recruits Jewish workers under
the guise of being "essential labor," forging documents and permits to save them from
deportation. Stern also connects Schindler with Jewish investors, manages bribes to Nazi
officials, and meticulously tracks financial dealings to protect the business. More than just an
accountant, Stern quietly influences Schindler’s transformation—guiding him from a profit-driven
opportunist to a compassionate savior. His strategy of using the factory as a haven, combined
with his deep understanding of the Nazi system, ultimately helps save over a thousand lives and
gives Schindler the purpose that defines his legacy.