Gerda Blachmann Wilchfort

Born 1923, Breslau, Germany

Gerda and her parents obtained papers to sail to Cuba on the SS St. Louis in May 1939. When the ship arrived in Havana harbor, most of the refugees were denied entry and the ship had to return to Europe. Gerda and her parents disembarked in Belgium. In May 1940, Germany attacked Belgium. Gerda and her mother escaped to Switzerland. After the war, they were told that Gerda's father had died during deportation.

Describes the mood of the refugee passengers on the SS St. Louis after they were denied entry into Cuba.

Liane Reif

Gerda Blachmann Wilchfort