VOYAGE
OF THE ST. LOUIS TIMELINE
November 9-10,
1938
Kristallnacht ("Night
of Broken Glass")
January 24,
1939
Reichsmarshall
Hermann Goering appoints Reinhard Heydrich to head the Central Office
for Jewish Emigration. Heydrich is to rid the Reich of as many Jews
as possible.
January 25
German
Foreign Ministry issues circular "The Jewish Question as a Factor
in Foreign Policy." The circular states that one goal of German
policy will be to stimulate anti-Semitism worldwide.
March 18
U.S.
Consul, in Havana, Cuba, Harold Tewell submits a confidential report
entitled "European Refugees in Cuba," to the State Department.
The report describes the situation of 2,500 Jewish refugees in Cuba,
proposals to settle 25,000 European refugees there, and the growth
of anti-Jewish and anti-refugee sentiments.
April
Fortune
Magazine publishes a poll indicating that 83 percent of Americans
oppose loosening immigration restrictions.
May 5
President
of Cuba Laredo Bru's Decree 937 invalidates Benitez landing certificates
and sets stringent rules for immigration to Cuba.
May 8
A
demonstration of 40,000 Cubans in Havana against Jewish immigration
is sponsored by former President Grau San Martin.
May 13
St. Louis sails from
Hamburg, Germany.
May 15
St. Louis arrives in Cherbourg,
France, and departs the same day.
May 19
St. Louis passes the
Azores islands.
May 27
St. Louis arrives in Havana
harbor.
June 1
Lawrence
Berenson, a representative of the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee, meets with President Bru in Havana.
June 2
St. Louis departs Havana,
circles off the coast of Cuba.
June 3
St. Louis steams slowly
between Havana and Miami.
June 4
St. Louis passes Miami
going north, then turns south.
June 5
St. Louis passes Miami
going south.
June 6
Between
Miami and Havana, the St. Louis heads back toward Europe.
June 10-13
Great
Britain agrees to admit 287 passengers, France 224, Belgium 214, and
the Netherlands 181.
June 17
St. Louis journey
ends at Antwerp, Belgium.