50 Children: One Ordinary American Couple's Extraordinary Rescue Mission into the Heart of Nazi Germany (37 page)

on visas complexities, 160

Hungarian edicts, 157

IKG.
See
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (Jewish Community of Vienna)

immigrant rights, Wagner and, 66

Immigration and Naturalization Service, approval from, 255

immigration laws

British easing of, 67

change, resistance to, 62–63

children and, 9, 88

editorials on, 67–68

Messersmith’s defense of, 59–60

as obstacle, 37–38

policy fairness, 104–5

public charge requirement, 70–71

See also
anti-immigration sentiment; Celler-Dickstein proposal; Wagner-Rogers bill

Imperial Hotel, Hitler’s lodging at, 120

International Order of Brith Sholom.
See
Brith Sholom

interrogation, Nazi, 120

isolationism, public policies and, 254

Israel, identifying non-Jewish rescuers, 252–53

Israel as Nazi-required name, 188

Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (Jewish Community of Vienna)

about, 32

Engel as secretary of, 161–62

exit strategy role, 39

farewell reception at, 168–69

interior of, 124

rescue mission office in, 106

support from, 257

synagogue adjacent to, 123

Izbica concentration camp, 248

Jacobs, Eleanor.
See
Kraus, Eleanor Jacobs

Jacobs, Harris (Eleanor’s father), 18

Jacobs, Rosa (Eleanor’s mother), 18

“Jewish Bolshevist” ideology, 174

Jewish Community of Vienna.
See
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (Jewish Community of Vienna)

Jewish community (U.S.)

backlash, fear of, 254

immigration laws, resistance to change, 68–69, 70, 253

rescue attempts, failed, 6

Jewish migration

1840s, 14

exit strategy.
See
exit strategy (emigration)

pogroms and, 9, 16, 32, 46–47

post-Anschluss, 37–38

Jewish Times
, on rescue project, 76

“Jews Forbidden” signs, 121–22, 128–29, 143–44

Jones, Rufus, 5, 81–82

Joseph II, Emperor, 32, 124

Judenrein policy, 39, 40–41, 50, 102–3

Das Jüdische Narchrichtenblatt
, Gestapo use of, 144

Keller, Amalia, 241

Keller, Robert, 214–15, 241

Keller, Viktor, 241

Keneseth Israel (Reform synagogue), 16, 19

Kennan, George, 57

Kenworthy, Marion, 222–23

Kepecs, Jacob, 161, 221, 224

Kindertransport
, 67, 232, 258

Kis Royale, 158

Klee, Paul, 174

Klein, Max, 20

Kraus, Charlotte (grandmother), 14

Kraus, Edna (sister), 15, 17, 20, 21

Kraus, Eleanor Jacobs

after the rescue mission, 233

arrival home, 209

during children’s interviews, 128, 136

courtship and marriage, 18–19

dinner invitation in Vienna, 162–63

Ellen & Steven at the dock, 201–2

emotional impact of, 147–48, 159, 168–69, 174–75, 178, 203

employment, 11

as fairy godmother, 191

farewells, 98–99, 113

hairdresser appointment in Vienna, 161

hat purchase, 93–94

lifestyle, 3–4, 11, 20

misgivings, 6–7, 9, 10, 11–12

panic, 173–74

photo,
13f

rumored affair, 21

Sacks’ praise for, 218

Schless as replacement for, 91

as Tante Ellen, 147

trans-Atlantic journey, 113–15

travel preparations, 111–12

views

on self-satisfied faces of the “superior” race, 139, 141

on taking children from mothers, 145, 147

on travels in Germany, 3, 6–7, 9, 10

wardrobe, 156–57

Kraus, Ellen (daughter)

birth of, 20

death of, 234

Gil’s telephone discussion, 110

during parents’ absence, 112

waiting at the dock, 202–3

Kraus, Eva Mayer (Gil’s mother), 14, 20

Kraus, Fannie, 14–16

Kraus, Gilbert (Gil)

after the rescue mission, 233–34

altercation with SS officer, 181, 185–86

anger at newspaper reporters, 201–2

appreciation of, 168–69

courtship and marriage, 18–19

education/career, 17–18

Einhorn’s praise for, 219

family history, 14–17

farewells, 98–99

as father figure, 191

interviewing children, 125–28

lifestyle, 18, 97–98

Messersmith correspondence, 53, 212

photo,
13f

plan conception, 4–5, 9–10

post-arrival correspondence, 211–12

request for Eleanor’s assistance, 109–10

on rescue mission, 217, 219–220

Sacks’ praise for, 218

smuggling Jews into Palestine, discussion of, 167

as social justice advocate, 13–14

trans-Atlantic journey, 97–98, 100

as Uncle Gil, 147

Kraus, Herman, 14–16

Kraus, Leopold (grandfather), 14

Kraus, Lillian (sister), 17

Kraus, Milton, 14–16

Kraus, Solomon (father), 14–16, 19–20, 218–19

Kraus, Steven (son)

after the rescue mission, 234

birth of, 20

Gil’s telephone discussion, 110

during parents’ absence, 112

recollections of rescue mission, 111

waiting at the dock, 202–3

Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

about, 9, 46–47

media coverage of, 256

synagogue damage/destruction, 123–24

U.S. diplomatic protest against, 89

Kuffler, Arthur, 169–171, 171n

Kuffler, Edith, 170, 171, 171n

Kuhn, Fritz, 69–70, 70n

Kunstlerhaus (art exhibition hall), 174–75

Labor Department.
See
U.S. Department of Labor

Langberg, Irma, 226

Lantos, Tom, 259

Leipzigerstrasse, luxuries of, 140–41

Leopoldstadt (Vienna), 29, 31–32, 43

Levine, Louis

after the rescue mission, 235

as Brith Sholom grand master, 4, 231–32

on children, 225, 229

Gil’s request for funds for steamship tickets, 149

Messersmith, meeting with, 57–58

plan conception, 4–6

project update, 144

transition to U.S., 201

LeWinter, Oswald, 196, 242

Lifschutz, Bertha, 148, 242–43

Lifschutz, Friedrich, 148, 194, 242–43

Lifschutz, Morris, 148, 242–43

Lindbergh kidnapping, 127

Linhard, Bernhard, 126

Linhard, Franzi, 126

Linhard, Peter, 126, 243

Linhard, Regina, 126, 243

Linz, as Hitler’s birthplace, 117–18

Long, Breckinridge, 131, 135–36

Mahler, Gustav, as “degenerate” artist, 120

Mariahilferstrasse thoroughfare as Jewish neighborhood, 37

marriage, Schless-Neufeld, 196–97, 234–35

May Day celebrations, 128

media coverage

inaccuracies in, 210

Jewish publishing suspension, 48

of Nazi brutality, 7

See also
specific newspapers

medical care for children, 209

Mercy Ship bill (1940), 232

Messersmith, George

after the rescue mission, 235–36

contributions of, 254–55

Geist’s cable to, 137

Gil’s letters to, 53, 212

on immigration policy, 62–63, 104–5

introduction to Geist, 93

meeting with, 57–61, 88–89

Sacks’ introduction to, 218

unofficial support, 63–64, 254–55

Metropol Theater show, 141–42

military alliance, Italy and Germany, 183

Moore, R. Walton, 59

Morgenthau, Henry, 55–56

Morris, Leland, 103, 136, 137, 160

Mother’s Day, 169

Musikverein (Vienna Philharmonic hall), 174

National Coordinating Committee, 222–23

National-Socialist party, anti-Semitism and, 58–59

Nazis

banned art, 174

brutality, media coverage of, 7, 8–9

currency restrictions, 158, 165–66, 259

elite, catering to, 132

Final Solution, 43, 216, 232

Hammond’s denunciation of, 133–34

name requirements (Sara/Israel), 188

parades and pageants, 140

propaganda, 257

swastika banners, 123

Netherlands, passengers of the St. Louis, 211

Neufeld, Hedy

about, 106

as childcare assistant, 166, 176–78, 182, 189

at dinner, 121

Eleanor’s introduction to, 120

as escort, 128–29

at farewell reception, 168–69

farewells to, 192

Friedmann’s dinner party role, 167

interviewing children, 125–27

as program assistant, 124, 145–46, 147

Schless, marriage to, 196–97, 234–35

sick child, notice of, 158–59

on waving good-bye, 173, 176

Neufeld, Lily, 106

New Republic
, on Nazi occupation, 38

New York Harbor, arrival at, 199

New York Journal-American
, on rescued children, 229

New York Times

on anti-Jewish violence, 47

on celebration of military alliance, 183

on children’s arrival, 199

on Hitler’s birthday celebrations, 113

on Jewish publishing suspension, 48

on Nazi brutality, 8–9

on Paris war preparations, 115–16

newspapers (Jewish), publishing suspension, 46

Night
(Wiesel), 259

Night of Broken Glass.
See
Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Night of the Long Knives, 132

Nobel Peace Prize, 259

non-preference visas, 155, 159–160

Non-Sectarian Committee for German Refugee Children, 161

November pogrom.
See
Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Nuremberg Laws, 38, 157

Olympic Games (1936), 143–44

Pact of Steel (Stahlpakt), 183

paintings, Rothschilds,’ 150

Palestine

detention facilities for illegal entry, 229, 237

discussion of, 170–71

Friedmann’s interest in, 168

Helga’s sister in, 51

smuggling Jews into, 38, 167

paradox of anti-Semitism, 61

parents

appreciation from, 168–69

arrival notification, 211

of children not chosen, 166

during children’s interviews, 125–28

decisions/plans conveyed to, 145–49

Eleanor’s memories of, 178, 203

farewell reception, 168

fathers/mothers, differences in, 147

immigration of, 231

joy of children’s letters, 214–15

money for children, 165–66

selection anxiety, 126–27

willingness to send children, 256

wrenching decisions for, 127

Paris, war anxiety, 115–16

Pariser Platz, 140

passports

German, 150–53, 162

U.S., 89, 92

Peiser, Kurt, 79–80, 220

Perkins, Frances, 60, 70

Perle, Liz, 234, 239

Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin

on Eleanor’s air raid monitoring, 233

on Quaker rescue delegation, 6

Philadelphia Inquirer

on rescued children, 209–10

on unruly Democratic convention, 14–15