MS St. Louis

MS St. Louis

Stephanie Hana, Nikolina Miskic, Sierra Salvi, Marissa Depaulo

Rejection and Aftermath

• The British, French and Dutch governments granted temporary asylum for some Jews aboard the ship.

• Those forced to return to Germany fell under Nazi rule and did not survive the Holocaust.

Rejection and Aftermath

• Denied entry into the United States, Cuba and Canada

• Reasons for refused entry include strict policies based on societal prejudice and anti-semitism, and the declaration of invalid visas.
• The ship waited 12 days in the port of Havana, and then the boat was forced to return to Europe

Conditions and Hardships

• 937 Jewish passengers
• Passengers were rich and left family behind
• Travelers were convinced they would never see Germany again

Conditions and Hardships

• lots of good food, movies and swimming pools on board
• bonds and friendships were formed
• there was a doctor on board
• many passengers committed suicide while traveling

Resources

Jewish Virtual Library. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2017, from

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/

Lanchin, M. (2014, May 13). SS St Louis: The ship of Jewish refugees

nobody wanted. Retrieved November 12, 2017, from

http://www.bbc.com

Levitz, S. (2017, September 27). Liberals plan apology for 1939 decision

to turn away Jewish refugees aboard MS St. Louis. Retrieved

November 12, 2017, from https://www.thestar.com

Tikkanen, A. (2017, September 15). MS St. Louis. Britannica

Encyclopedia Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com

Voyage of the St. Louis. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2017, from

https://www.ushmm.org

Yarhi, E. (n.d.). MS St. Louis. Retrieved November 12, 2017, from

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

Significance and Legacy

• Reflects selective immigration laws and policies, and the prejudice of Canada's population in the 19th and 20th centuries.

• In 2000, members of the Canadian Cergy gathered to offer a formal apology to 25 surviving passengers

Significance and Legacy

• The rejection of Jewish refugees in desperate need of secure living before and during the Second World War exemplifies the discriminatory practices in the history of multiple countries

• Draws Parallels to the Komagata Maru and Syrian refugee crisis.

Brief History

• it’s captain, Gustav Schröder, attempted to find homes for over 937 Jewish refugees from Germany.

• Captain Schröder was a non-Jewish German who went to great lengths to ensure dignified treatment for his passengers.

• Denied entry into The United States, Cuba, and Canada

• Accepted into European countries

Brief History

• Bulit for transatlantic liner service and leisure cruises

• Named after the city of St. Louis Missouri

• The MS St. Louis left Germany in 1939