Personal items belonging to Oskar and Emilie Schindler to be auctioned in the UK

When the Schindlers’ money ran out, Emilie sold her jewels to buy food , clothes and medicine on the black market, in order to treat sick workers.

Their story was made famous, first by Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler’s Ark, and subsequently by Stephen Spielberg in his 1993 film Schindler’s List.

One of the letters reads, “I was very moved by your courageous self-sacrifice. More importantly, however, I thank you Frau Schindler, for having restored my faith in mankind.”

Another person wrote: “Although I never actually met you, it is an honour and a privilege, as a spiritual heir of those whom you saved, to wish you a very happy and healthy birthday”.

The letter are expected to sell for between £600-£700. The two watches are each expected to fetch between £500 and £600.

A spokesperson for the auction house said: “Lawrences Auctioneers are incredibly honoured to be offering this small archive of personal correspondence to Emilie Schindler. Her story was an extraordinary one, as many of these letters attest.

“This sale is also a welcome opportunity to highlight her role in this profoundly moving humanitarian act, undertaken at great personal risk.”