What is the MS St. Louis?

cpac

8 Nov 201800:53

Summary

TLDRThe video recounts the tragic voyage of the SS St. Louis, which sailed from Germany to Cuba in 1939 with 937 Jewish refugees fleeing persecution. Upon arrival, only 22 passengers were allowed to disembark, and both the United States and Canada refused the ship entry. After weeks of uncertainty, European countries eventually accepted the remaining passengers. Of the 907 refugees returned to Europe, 254 were later killed in the Holocaust. The video highlights the limited assistance given to Jewish refugees, noting Canada accepted fewer than 5,000 between 1933 and 1945.

Takeaways

⛴️ The SS St. Louis set sail on May 13, 1939, from Hamburg, Germany, carrying 937 passengers, most of whom were Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution.
🌴 The ship's intended destination was Cuba, where the passengers hoped to find refuge, but upon arrival, only 22 Jews were permitted to disembark.
🚫 The United States and Canada refused to allow the ship to dock, leaving the passengers in a state of limbo.
🤝 After negotiations, England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands agreed to accept the remaining passengers.
🔄 Of the 907 Jews who returned to Europe, 254 were tragically murdered during the Holocaust.
🇨🇦 During the period between 1933 and 1945, Canada accepted less than 5,000 Jewish refugees, reflecting a restrictive immigration policy.
🕊️ The story of the St. Louis highlights the desperation of Jewish refugees seeking safety and the international community's response during a critical time in history.
🌍 The ship's journey underscores the global impact of the Holocaust and the need for countries to provide sanctuary to those fleeing persecution.
🗝️ The refusal to allow the St. Louis to dock in the United States and Canada is a poignant example of the barriers faced by refugees seeking asylum.
📚 The script serves as a historical account, reminding us of the importance of studying and remembering the past to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

Q & A

When did the SS St. Louis set sail from Hamburg, Germany?
-The SS St. Louis set sail on May 13, 1939.
What was the primary reason for the Jewish refugees aboard the SS St. Louis to leave Germany?
-The Jewish refugees were trying to escape Nazi Germany.
How many passengers were on the SS St. Louis when it left for Cuba?
-There were 937 passengers aboard the SS St. Louis.
How many Jewish passengers were allowed to disembark in Havana, Cuba?
-Only 22 Jewish passengers were allowed to disembark in Havana.
Why were the remaining passengers not allowed to disembark in Cuba?
-The United States and Canada prohibited the liner from docking, forcing the captain to seek other countries to accept the passengers.
Which European countries eventually agreed to take the refugees from the SS St. Louis?
-England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands agreed to take the refugees.
What was the fate of the 907 Jews who returned to Europe after being denied entry to Cuba?
-Of the 907 Jews who went back to Europe, 254 of them were eventually murdered during the Holocaust.
How many Jewish refugees did Canada accept between 1933 and 1945?
-Canada accepted less than 5,000 Jewish refugees during that period.
What was the main challenge faced by the captain of the SS St. Louis after being denied entry to Cuba?
-The main challenge was negotiating with European countries to accept the passengers.
What does the script imply about the international response to the refugee crisis during the time of the SS St. Louis incident?
-The script implies that the international response was limited and that many refugees faced significant barriers to finding safety.
What historical event does the script refer to when mentioning the Holocaust?
-The Holocaust refers to the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, as implemented by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Voyage of the St. Louis

The script describes the tragic journey of the SS St. Louis, a ship that departed from Hamburg, Germany on May 13, 1939, carrying 937 passengers, most of whom were Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Upon arrival in Havana, Cuba, only 22 Jews were permitted to disembark due to restrictive immigration policies. The United States and Canada refused to allow the ship to dock, compelling the captain to seek asylum in European countries. After weeks of negotiations, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands agreed to accept the refugees. Tragically, of the 907 Jews who returned to Europe, 254 were later killed during the Holocaust. The script also highlights Canada's reluctance to accept Jewish refugees, admitting less than 5,000 between 1933 and 1945.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Emma St. Louis

The Emma St. Louis was a German ocean liner that set sail on May 13, 1939, with 937 passengers, most of whom were Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. The ship's journey and the subsequent events are central to the video's narrative, illustrating the plight of Jewish refugees during this period. The ship's name is significant as it symbolizes the broader issue of statelessness and the international response to the refugee crisis.

💡Jewish refugees

Jewish refugees were individuals who were forced to flee their homes in Europe, primarily due to the persecution and violence they faced under Nazi rule. In the context of the video, the majority of the Emma St. Louis's passengers were Jewish refugees seeking asylum. Their story is a poignant example of the desperation and hope that characterized the experiences of many during the Holocaust.

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored genocide of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II. The term is used in the video to highlight the tragic fate of many of the Jewish refugees who were sent back to Europe on the Emma St. Louis, where 254 of them were eventually murdered. The Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of intolerance and the importance of humanitarian response.

💡Cuba

Cuba is the destination where the Emma St. Louis initially set sail to, hoping for refuge. However, upon arrival in Havana, only 22 Jews were allowed to disembark. The situation in Cuba exemplifies the broader theme of closed borders and the reluctance of many countries to accept Jewish refugees, which was a common occurrence during the Holocaust.

💡United States

The United States is mentioned in the video as a country that, along with Canada, prohibited the Emma St. Louis from docking. This decision forced the ship to return to Europe, where many passengers faced dire consequences. The exclusionary policies of the United States during this period are indicative of the broader international reluctance to accept Jewish refugees, which is a central theme in the video.

💡Canada

Canada, like the United States, is highlighted in the video for its restrictive immigration policies, which resulted in the acceptance of less than 5,000 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. This reflects the broader theme of the video, which examines the global response to the refugee crisis and the tragic outcomes for those who were turned away.

💡European countries

European countries such as England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are mentioned as they eventually agreed to take the refugees after the Emma St. Louis was denied entry elsewhere. This demonstrates a contrast to the initial rejections and highlights the complex and varied responses within Europe to the refugee crisis.

💡Diplomatic negotiations

Diplomatic negotiations refer to the efforts made by the captain of the Emma St. Louis to find a country willing to accept the passengers. This process is a key element of the video's narrative, illustrating the desperation and the challenges faced by those seeking refuge, as well as the political complexities of the time.

💡Statelessness

Statelessness is the condition of being without a recognized nationality or citizenship. The passengers of the Emma St. Louis, particularly the Jewish refugees, exemplify this concept as they were denied entry and faced the risk of being stateless. The video uses this term to underscore the vulnerability and the human rights issues faced by refugees.

💡World War II

World War II is the global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, during which the Holocaust occurred. The video situates the story of the Emma St. Louis within the broader context of World War II, highlighting how the war and its associated atrocities influenced the fate of millions of people, including the refugees on the ship.

💡Refugee crisis

The refugee crisis refers to the large-scale displacement of people due to war, persecution, or other crises. The video's focus on the Emma St. Louis and its passengers is emblematic of the larger refugee crisis during World War II, emphasizing the humanitarian challenges and the moral dilemmas faced by nations during such times.

Highlights

The SS St. Louis set sail on May 13, 1939, from Hamburg, Germany, carrying 937 passengers, most of whom were Jewish refugees.

The ship's destination was Cuba, where the refugees hoped to find safety.

Upon arrival in Havana, only 22 Jews were allowed to disembark due to restrictive policies.

The United States and Canada prohibited the liner from docking, forcing the ship to seek alternative destinations.

Captain Gustorf Schroeder had to negotiate with European countries to accept the passengers.

After weeks of uncertainty, England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands agreed to take the refugees.

Out of the 907 Jews who returned to Europe, 254 were later murdered during the Holocaust.

The Holocaust, which lasted from 1933 to 1945, saw the persecution and murder of millions, including many of the St. Louis passengers.

Canada's restrictive immigration policies during this period led to the acceptance of less than 5,000 Jewish refugees.

The SS St. Louis incident highlights the desperate plight of Jewish refugees during the Nazi era.

The ship's journey and the subsequent fate of its passengers underscore the complexities of international refugee crises.

The story of the SS St. Louis serves as a reminder of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by nations during times of humanitarian crises.

The refusal of many countries to accept the St. Louis passengers reflects the broader trend of closed borders and fear of the 'other'.

The SS St. Louis's journey and the eventual fate of its passengers are a stark illustration of the consequences of exclusionary policies.

The incident is a poignant example of the human cost of political decisions during times of crisis.

The SS St. Louis's story is a significant part of the historical narrative of World War II and the Holocaust.

The ship's voyage and the international response to it highlight the need for a more compassionate and coordinated global response to refugee crises.