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Chapter 30
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Schindler’s List, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Virtue and Selflessness
Anti-Semitism and Dehumanization
Power
Duty
Bureaucracy
Summary
Analysis
Later, many of the Jews who survived due to Schindler will be united by a common thought: “I don’t know why he did it.” By fall of 1944, Schindler is making plans to protect his Emalia prisoners with a sense of dogged determination.
The mystery behind Schindler’s motivations arguably makes his actions all the more incredible and profound. His efforts show that seemingly ordinary, flawed people can also be capable of immense generosity and self-sacrifice.
Themes
Schindler approaches Madritsch about trying to get his 3,000 workers out to Moravia too. Though Madritsch is humane to his prisoners in a way that puts his own life in danger, he is also much more cautious than Schindler, having never been arrested. He says he needs time to think Schindler’s offer over.
Based on this scene, Madritsch may seem less sympathetic to the Jewish prisoners than Schindler, but his caution isn’t necessarily misplaced. Schindler himself has a number of close calls, and it is easy to imagine a simple mistake dooming his whole rescue operation.
Themes
Schindler goes ahead without Madritsch, going to Berlin for dinner with Colonel Erich Lange. He tells Lange that if he goes to Moravia, he can transfer his entire business to manufacturing shells. Lange, who remains disillusioned with the system he’s part of, says it should be possible but that it’ll require money (not for himself, for others). He begins the process of bribing the necessary officials. As he’s negotiating, Goeth is arrested.
Themes
Senior SS investigator Eckert looks through Goeth’s financial dealings, looking for black market deals and embezzlement, as well as investigating claims that Goeth mistreated inferior SS men. At the time of his arrest, Goeth is in Vienna, visiting his father. Other camp Commandants have also been investigated, so there is no guarantee Goeth will get off easy.
Themes
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The investigators question Hirsch several times, believing at first that she must have some involvement with Goeth’s black market deals before finally accepting that she doesn’t. The also question Pemper, who is smart enough not to say much. But the investigators arrest him anyway, because they know Pemper has seen some secret documents for his work. After two weeks in jail, where it seems like he might be shot any day, he is ultimately released. Goeth’s junior officers are careful and make no special effort to defend him.
Themes
Schindler goes down to the city of Troppau to speak with the engineer Sussmuth (a man Lange recommended to him) about the new camp in Moravia. Sussmuth needs no bribes—he has already tried to make small camps similar to what Schindler is suggesting but without luck. With the support of Schindler and Lange, however, his odds of approval look much better.
Themes
Sussmuth has a list of possible camp sites, and one is a textile plant in Brinnlitz (near Schindler’s hometown of Zwittau). Schindler knows he’ll meet resistance from the locals but goes down to inspect the area. He’s pleased with what he sees and heads back to Cracow, hoping to speak to Madritsch again to help him find a space too.
Themes
When Schindler gets back, he sees the wreckage of an Allied bomber in the camp. He knows the end is coming soon in Cracow, so he goes at once to look into cars to transport his prisoners.
Themes
A week after Schindler talks with Sussmuth, the Berlin Armaments Board gives approval for Schindler’s armaments company to be located in Brinnlitz. Local government officials are unhappy, but they can do little to resist. At one point, Schindler finds out that his opponents are accusing him of being involved with the black market, so he preemptively introduces himself to the Moravian police chief, Otto Rasch, who he also bribes with a diamond. Altogether, Schindler pays an enormous sum to get his new camp set up.
Schindler draws up and delivers his initial list, which has over a thousand names, including Helen Hirsch. Schindler talks to Titsch, hoping Titsch will be able to convince Madritsch to do something similar.
Themes
Some former camp residents remember a “Płaszów graduation party,” although accounts differ as to where in the camp it took place. Titsch says it was at this event that Madritsch finally told Schindler he wouldn’t be going with him to Moravia. Later, Madritsch would still be honored as a just man—his opposition to Moravia was simply because he believed it wouldn’t work.
Themes
Legend has it that the final draft of Schindler’s list was due the very same night as the party. To the list, Titsch added the names of almost 70 Madritsch prisoners. At last, Schindler reluctantly stopped him, saying they were already at the limit of what they could do.
Themes
A Jewish personnel clerk named Marcel Goldberg puts himself in a position where he has great control over who does and doesn’t make the list. Goeth’s replacement Commandant, Büscher, doesn’t care, but Goldberg uses it as an opportunity to take bribes, including one from Juda Dresner, the uncle of “red Genia” and husband of Mrs. Dresner (who hadn’t been allowed to hide in the wall).
Themes
Pfefferberg hears about the list from an SS officer named Hans Schreiber, who has a nasty reputation but who takes a liking to Pfefferberg. At one point, Schreiber seems intent to execute Pfefferberg, but when Pfefferberg asks him to just go ahead and shoot already, Schreiber is amused. Later, Schreiber turns up drunk and regretful of what he’s done at Płaszów, saying he hopes to help expiate Pfefferberg, telling him of Schindler’s list. Pfefferberg cannot make the list just then, however, because Goldberg is requiring diamonds to be added to it.
Themes
Many others make it onto the list, often through deals with Goldberg, including the musician Rosner brothers. Goldberg naturally finds a place for himself on the list. Bau, the recently married man, is added to the list without knowing it, although he doesn’t realize that his wife and the rest of his family are not on it. Stern has been on the list from the beginning.
Themes
