What is there to say? They are my friends. I would do it again, over and over — for I hate cruelty and intolerance. - Oskar Schindler

The persecution of Jews in occupied Poland meant that we could see horror emerging gradually in many ways. In 1939, they were forced to wear Jewish stars, and people were herded and shut up into ghettos. Then, in the years '41 and '42 there was plenty of public evidence of pure sadism. With people behaving like pigs, I felt the Jews were being destroyed. I had to help them. There was no choice.

Beyond this day, no thinking person could fail to see what would happen. I was now resolved to do everything in my power to defeat the system.

I knew the people who worked for me. When you know people, you have to behave towards them like human beings.