Josef Landau: Refugee

Josef Landau: A Refugee Story

Back in Berlin, Germany.

Ruthie moved back to her home town Berlin. Unfortunately the reason she was able to survive was because of Josef, and rachel's deaths at the concentration camp. Ruthie got married to a man named Saul Rosenberg and they lived happy for many years. One day in 2015, a family of refugee's arrived from syria. They came because of war too. Ruthie tell's the young boy Mahmoud about how their stories are similar. And about how sometimes you have to make a big sacrifice. She shows him a picture of Josef, and her family when she was young. She reasures Mahmoud that they will find his lost sister Hana.

Introduction:

Josef Landau is a 13 year old Jewish boy who grew up in Nazi, Germany. He wears round wire rimmed glasses, is average height, has brown hair, big ears, and brown eyes. Josef is an extremely brave boy for his age having to sacrifice a lot in order to keep his family safe. This presentation will talk about the story of Josef Landau, a war Refugee.

Berlin, Germany, 1938

Josef wakes up with a loud bang in his house. Everyone in his family wakes up to this noise including his Sister Ruthie, Father Aaron, and his Mother Rachel. There were Nazis invading their house. They barged into the room, and took his father from their family for the next 6 months to Dachau, a Concentration camp. During this time Aaron was put through torture by watching other Jewish people like himself get killed, changing his life forever. He was later returned to them, and the Nazi's told them that their family has to leave the country within 14 days. After hearing this, Josef, with him his Mother, and Sister left on a train to Hamburg in order to board the MS. St. Louis.

Vornay, France, 1940

Josef, his mother, and sister all arrived In France hoping they could continue their lives normally. Josef started going to school, and Ruthie started Kindergarten. His mother Rachel also started a bussiness by doing peoples laundry. It really seemed like their life was back to normal until one day in 1940. The Nazi's invaded France. The Landau's fled to an abandon school where the Nazi's were on their trail. Josef, and his family hid behind a desk in one of the classrooms. All of a sudden they hear glass shadder. "The Nazi's!" Josef said. He ran over to the window and elbowed it until it shaddered. He helped his Mom, and sister get out first, then he jumped out. They ran through a dark forest until they reached a house. Josef banged on the door pleading. Eventually the Nazi's caught up. Rachel offered her diamond earings to the Nazi's, and they said it's only enough for one of them. Josef then sacrifices his life so that his sister could be safe. After Josef, and Rachel were taken away. Ruthie stayed with a nice old lady until she moved back to Berlin.

Somewhere on the Atlantic ocean, 1939

Josef watches as the kids play on the promenade and he wishes that he too could play mindlessly of what is going on in the world. But he can't. Now he is the man because his father was no longer there. Josef was in on a plan to take over the MS. St. Louis with some of the other men on board. There plan was to take Schiendick hostage and then bring the boat to the U.S. where they would carry out the rest of the plan when they arrived. But their plan was caught short when Schiendick catches them while he holds revolver in his hand. Schiendick said that if they don't carry out the plan, he will make sure that the Refugee's would not be returning to Germany. From here everyone was split across three countries. France where Josef's family was chosen, England, and Belgium.

Off the Coast of Florida, 1939

It was just a day after leaving Cuba, and the St. Louis had already gotten to the coast of Florida. Everyone was amazed at the skyscrapers, and building that there is none of in Nazi, Germany. Some of the people were even picking up the New York Yankees baseball game on their radio. But most of the people were somber because they knew they were probably going back to Europe. This excluded Josef's mother because after losing her husband she suddenly feels reliefed in a way. When She saw Josef she pulled Josef onto the dance floor and told him the reason why his name was Josef. It was because her Brother's name was Josef and he died in World War I and he was very brave. There were also many boats following them from the Havana harbour yelling up questions to the passengers.

MS. St. Louis

Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean, 1939

Outside of Havana, Cuba, 1939

Josef and his family boarded the Ms. St. Louis which is a big ship for the 1930's. What they didn't know prior to boarding the ship was that all of the people on the St. Louis were Jewish. This turned out good because Josef was about to turn 13 years old, and in his culture, every 13 year old boy becomes a man and has his Bar Mitzvah. Joseph, and his family were still going to be on the MS. St. Louis for quite some time, and the people on the ship being Jewish, agreed that Josef should have his Bar Mitzvah on the St. Louis. Josef tells his family about his Bar Mitzvah, and everyone opts in except for Josef's father Aaron. Josef along side his sister, and mother walk to the Synagogue that was converted from the First-Class Social hall. He gets to the front of the Syngogue, and is speeking very well. As he gets to the end of his speech Josef says, "Today, I am a man." Everyone crongradulated Josef on his achievment. During this time there was also a funeral of Mr. Weiler a proffeser. He had passed from Cancer, and there was a funeral on A-Deck because of this. Josef took his father who was eager to attend it because he saw many people die without funerals at Dachau.

Everyone on the MS. St. Louis was excited about getting off the ship including the Landau's. Josef went to get his parents to get their attention while they were packing up the rest of their things. "Grab your medical papers. There is a doctor examining everyone at the Social hall" Josef said. Quickly everyone hurried to the Social hall for the medical examination. Josef's father was shaking because he was thinking of the lives lost at Dachau. "Why wasn't it me?" he said. Josef sees his father in this state and knew he had to do something. Without thinking a second time, Josef Slaps his father across the face putting everyone in shock including Josef. This makes his father quiet down for the exam, and Josef and his family pass the exam. It seems like the MS. St. Louis will be let in Cuba after all but they still were denied. Josef's father heard that they won't be allowed into cuba, so he decided to jump off the St. Louis. Fortunately a Cuban Police Officer jumped in the water, and saved him before the sharks got to him. Aaron was then taken to a Mental Hospital in Cuba taking him away from his family forever. Josef, and his family wanted to wait for him, but the St. Louis took off for Miami in hope for being allowed into the U.S.

Extra Information

The second World War was the the most deadly. With over 85 million deaths. According to the WWII Museum, the second world war was the biggest most brutal war in history. The Nazi's lead by Adolf Hitler had only one thing they wanted. The Holocaust Encyclopedia said that the Nazis wanted to persecute all of the Jewish people. They would capture all of the Jewish people they could get, and put them in "Concentration camps" which were camps that ultimately killed them. According to The National World War II Museum, approximately 5 million Jews were killed in these camps, and the rest that survived were stuck with PTSD for the rest of their lives. Take Aaron for example. He was one of the lucky ones that survived, but his life was ruined and he was never the same. Now Germany is no longer a country to be scared of. Instead it should be a tourist place to explore. According to lonelyplanet, there are amazing cities to explore like Berlin, Frankfurt, or Munich.