Schindlers Liste

Janina

In his book Witness The Making Of Schindler's List Franciszek Palowski tells about Janina Olszewska, who had worked for Oskar Schindler at his office and had known him well during World War 2. She later told that Schindler not only saved Jews but also helped many Polish people.

When her husband was arrested and sentenced to death for his work with the Polish underground, Schindler miraculously got him out of the prison and thus saved his life.

Janina recalled once when a friend came to her in tears - the Nazis were taking her son to slave labor in Germany. She asked Schindler for help and he arranged the boy's release, employing him in his factory till the end of the war.

On another occasion an escaped Polish prisoner from Auschwitz showed up at Janina's. When Oskar Schindler was asked for help, he hired the man as his chauffeur.