Ithzak Stern

Schindler and Stern met in Krakow in 1939. Stern was a Jewish accountant in a primarily Aryanized company.

In thier first meeting Schindler asked Stern questions. "He wanted to know what land of Jew I was. He asked me many questions, like was I a Zionist or assimilated or what have you. I told him what everyone knew, that I was vice president of the Jewish Agency for Western Poland and a member of the Zionist Central Committee. Then he thanked me politely and went away."

On December 3, Schindler paid another visit to Stern, this time at night and to his home. They talked chiefly of literature, Stern remembers, and Schindler revealed an unusual interest in the great Yiddish writers. Over some tea, Schindler remarked: "I hear that there will be a raid on all remaining Jewish property tomorrow." Recognizing the intended warning, Stem later passed the word around and effectively saved many friends from the most ruthless "control" the Germans had thus far carried out.

Stern would become in time a trusted accountant for Schindler and worked a great deal on writing a circulating the list that would later help to make Schindler very famous.

Source: www.writing.upenn.edu