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Voyage of the Damned

By: Max Morgan Witts, Gordon Thomas
Narrated by: Chris Kayser
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Publisher's summary

This book is a meticulous reconstruction of a tragic episode in the history of the Nazi persecution of the Jews. The SS. St. Louis left Hamburg in May of 1939 with 937 Jewish refugees on board who thought they had bought visas to enter Cuba. Refused entry in Cuba and the United States the ship eventually had to turn around and return to Europe. The voyage to freedom was in the end nothing more than a roundabout journey to the concentration camps.

©1974 Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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Editorial reviews

Acclaimed stage actor Chris Kayser approaches the story of "the ship that shamed the world" with respect and empathy. In May 1939, the SS St. Louis departed Hamburg with 937 Jewish refugees on board. Bound for Havana, the ship fell victim to Nazi propaganda and backroom politics and was denied permission to dock in Cuba and the United States. The St. Louis was forced to return to Europe, where many of its passengers eventually died at the hands of the Nazis. Kayser's deliberate performance avoids overstatement, letting this tragic episode in history speak for itself.

What listeners say about Voyage of the Damned

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Educational and sad

Was long amd daunting at first but as the story concluded you start to feel fear of what this voyage was like.

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Heart wrenching

This book had me on an emotional roller coaster but I believe that history should teach us the good bad and ugly. We should learn it so we don’t repeat it. I loved this book. It will stay with me forever

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A very interesting story!

Yet another example of Nazi Germany antisemitism and world politics. The captain is a good example of honor and courage.

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interesting story

I was not aware of this story before this book.
sad that FDR did not stand up for these individuals, and many ended up back in Europe and died in German camps.

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Heartbreaking

Well done story of the holocaust. It's hard to understand how people. in dire circumstances could be turned away so callously. This book is worth the read.

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Exceptional recounting of a tragic voyage

I do not recall having heard of the voyage of the St Louis until I listened to this book. In the end some of its passengers were saved and spared the horror of the Nazis, more would have been saved if the hearts of the Cubans and Americans had opened and let the passengers find refuge on their soil.

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There were Good Germans and Bad Nazi's

Excellent book about the the prelude to war and the final solution. The captain did all he could to help save the boat people. The Nazi's had spies on board, and the Cuban government was wishy washy to let the people land and then they said no even if money was paid. There were suicides, and you can imagine the desperation of these travelers trying to get free from the country that didn't want them alive. The Nazi's wanted the ship to return just to complete their final solution even though they could have let them go. Eventually many were free to land in England and France, but France was later taken over so free for a time. This is a very good read of real history of hundreds of family's fleeing a disparate situation.

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history at its best.

this entire book is a wonderful gift of history. it gives great examples of how much politics played into life and death. it is utterly shameful that FRD , because he was running for a 3rd term, didn't do something help these people.

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Fantastic

Amazing story. Fantastic narration. Very interesting. I learned so much about what so many people went through for freedom and life.

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Important piece if History that all should be aware

So important to understand the importance of what refugees go through to save themselves from a racist and dangerous country
How interesting these things cycle around always, and the part we can play in saving the lives of others
Hate begets hate and no good can come from it

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