Will history repeat itself?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
March 10, 2022 6:04pm CST
I’m sorry for the length of this.
Have you heard about the 937 refugees that were on board the St Louis in 1939? Most were German Jews. They embarked in May and set sail from Hamburg on the transatlantic ocean liner St Louis.
Although Cuba’s Immigration Department had issued permits to disembark in Havana, the then president of Cuba, Federico Laredo Brú, issued a decree rendering the landing permits invalid.
When the ship arrived in the port of Havana on Saturday, May 27, the Cuban authorities insisted it anchor in the middle of the bay. Only four Cubans and two non-Jewish Spaniards were allowed to disembark, as well as 22 refugees who had obtained permits from the Cuban State Department prior to the ones issued by the Immigration Department.
On June 2, the St Louis sailed for Miami. When it was close to the US coast, Franklin D Roosevelt’s government refused entry into the US. The Mackenzie King government in Canada also refused entry to Canada.
So the St Louis was forced to head back toward Hamburg. A few days before it docked, an agreement was negotiated for several countries to receive the refugees. Great Britain accepted 287; France 224; Belgium 241, and the Netherlands 181. In September 1939, Germany declared war and the countries of continental Europe were soon occupied by Hitler’s forces.
Only the 287 taken in by Great Britain remained safe. The majority of the other passengers from the St Louis suffered the havoc of the war or were killed in Nazi concentration camps.
The St Louis tragedy was hushed up as much as possible at the time. Hitler killed more than six million Jews but Cuba, USA and Canada turned their backs on the St Louis refugees, sending them all back to the continent and many to their deaths. Let us hope countries don’t turn their backs on Ukrainian refugees in the days to come.
16 people like this
16 responses
@rebelann (112872)
• El Paso, Texas
11 Mar 22
First I've heard of this.
It is always hard on both the refugees and the countries they want to enter because often refugees have no means of support and the country they want to enter is then burdened with their care when perhaps that country is struggling to support their own citizens. There are so many factors to think of when it comes to refugees. I know that over the past 50 years the US has taken in refugees from Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and other countries leaving many of our own with scarce support.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (180674)
• United States
11 Mar 22
The problem is that everyone seems to want to come here, and or Canada and sadly although I don't know about Canada the US simply can not take care of all of them. This country has done more to accommodate refugees and immigrants than any country in the world as far as I know. We can't be the nanny of the world. Large numbers of refugees put an unfair burden on tax payers and public resources. I am sure small numbers of refugees could be accommodated but not way could they all come here. Perhaps Australia could accept some??
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (180674)
• United States
11 Mar 22
@JudyEv That isn't right. Maybe you and your friends should and together and try to Put some political pressure on.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
@snowy22315 There are several agencies pushing for change. We do what we can but nothing seems to alter.
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
What you say is quite right. I would just add that this was back in 1939 and I don't think US or Canada were involved in the war at that stage. But they might have been.
Australia accepts some refugees but not nearly enough in my opinion. And we've had illegal immigrants locked up for 9 years or more waiting for their claims to be processed. It's criminal in my opinion. These people were desperate to escape and now they're rotting under very awful conditions in some cases.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Mar 22
Things all over have changed a lot since then. I know it was announced the U.S. would not be deporting Ukrainians that are already here.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Mar 22
@JudyEv Thats the problem. There has been so many lately that other places are full now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
There are just so many refugees at the moment. Where can they all go? 
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 22
@sunrisefan Their whole future is such an unknown. All their hopes and dreams have been dashed. It's really awful.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
12 Mar 22
@JudyEv It's a pity and some might wish they rather have been hit by the missiles than having to beg to be taken by other countries and refused. I really can't fathom the agony that the refugees are suffering.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 22
I just can't see where all these poor people will go. 
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
11 Mar 22
I don't know that the US will be able to handle a huge influx of refugees. Thank you for the post. I was not aware of this situation.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
It is indeed. It must be the most awful thing to be trying to escape from one's own home and country.
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
Some see these are adding to a garden's attraction so they don't see them as weeds.
@kaylachan (69665)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Mar 22
Who's to say. Hopefully this issue gets resolved sooner rather than later, because russia's idea isn't panning out very well for them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 22
It would be great if it could all be over soon but I'm not sure that is going to happen.
