Figure 1.--Here is the 'SS Caribai', A Cariibean cruise liner. It carried Jewish refugees escaping NAZI Germany Puerto Cabello with Jewish refugees from NAZI Germany.

Venezuela like other Ltinm Americn countries did not play an important role in the Holocaust. Thrir primary rile was not allowing Jewish refugees to enter the country. Venezuela did allow a smll number. Venezuela's primary involvement was two German Hamnburg-American liners, SS Koenigstein and SS Caribia. We believe they left from Hamburg, Germany's primary port. We are not sure how these voyages were arrnged. The Jews involved wioukd have had to oay the passage. Along with other passangers, they transported some 300 very fortunte Jewish refugees out of Germany just before the outbreak of World War II. They were some of the last German Jews to escape NAZI Germany. The Koenigstein with 86 Jews on board, departed Germany (January 1939) destined for the British colony of Trinidad. Neville Chamberlain was still prime-minister. When Koenigstein arrived in Port-of-Spain, the British authorities there refused to allow the Jewish passengers to disembark. We are not sure who was responsible for ghis sction, but the orddrs appear to have come from the Govern,ent in London. The ship proceeded to Honduras, but authorities there also refused to allow the Jews to disembark. Finally the shop sailed to Veneuzela where ir arrived (February 17, 1939.) The SS Caribia carried 165 Jews and had a similar experience after sailing to Georgetown in British Guiana. Authorities there also refused to allow the Jewish refugee passengers to desinbark. The ship also sailed to Venezuela, arriving (March 16). The president of Venezuela was General Eleazar Lopez Contreras who gave gave the refugees special permission to disembark and stay temporarily, until they could safely relocate. [Caestecker and Moore (eds.) ] Latin American Governments were henerally gainst allowing Jews to enter their country. One author suggests that the residents of Puero Cabello were very sympathetic. [Chocron] Generally there were high levels of anti-Semitism in Latin America, although few people actually knew any Jews. They were prohibited, however, banned from finding employment other than in agriculture. The refugees had no agriculturl skills. Jews in Germany had been prohibited from owning farms. President Lopez made in clear that Venezuela would not accept any more Jewiush refugees, unless they had the proper immigration documents. There were virtully no Jews living in Venezuela at the time. President Lopez eventually allowed the refugees to remain in Venezuela permanently. These refugees became some of the founding members of Venezuela's Jewish community. More immigration occurred after the War.

Sources

Caestecker, Frank and Bob Moore (eds.) Refugees from Nazi Germany and the Liberal European States (Berghahn Books: 2010)

Chocron, Gabriel. "The tragical destiny of a country that saved Jews during the Holocaust," The Times of Israel (January 27, 2021).

Created: 8:10 AM 3/27/2021
Last updated: 8:10 AM 3/27/2021