Louis" sailed from Hamburg. Germany. Aboard were 937 passengers with oneway tickets. Ninehundred six of the passengers were Jewish refugees who. having lived through Kristallnacht six months earlier. already feared for their lives. Holding what they believed to be valid entry permits for Cuba. they left their homes and lives behind. hoping to find safety on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean. When they arrived in Havana two weeks later. however. only 28 were permitted. to go ashore. After lying at anchor for a full week under the oppressive sun. the St. Louis left Havanna and tried to enter American waters. but they were told that they were not welcome in this country. that we could not take 900 more people into the United States.
Keywords matched
refugees