Historical Events

The Anschluss expanded the German Reich and set into motion a Jewish refugee crisis.

Delegates from 32 countries meet in Evian, France, seeking solution to refugee crisis. They express sympathy for refugees, followed by excuses and inaction.

In an organized act of nationwide violence, Nazis and collaborators burned synagogues, looted Jewish businesses, and killed dozens of Jewish people.

In the weeks after Kristallnacht, Coughlin defended Nazi antisemitic violence, arguing it was justified as retaliation for Soviet persecution of Christians.

On February 20, 1939, the pro-Nazi German American Bund drew more than 20,000 people to a rally in Madison Square Garden.

Rejected by segregationist Daughters of the American Revolution, Marian Anderson performs before an audience of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial.

The St. Louis was forced to leave Havana harbor. As the ship traveled up the Florida coast, passengers anxiously plead for refuge in the United States.

Senator Robert Wagner withdrew support for his own bill after opponents amended it to maintain the existing immigration quota.