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Captain Schroeder
The Nazi Party official on board the St. Louis. In contrast to Captain Schroeder, Schiendick views the Jewish passengers as subhuman, even calling the Jewish children “rats” when they take a tour of the ship. Schiendick is cruel, and takes pleasure in making life harder for the Jewish refugees on board the ship. When Aaron insists during a funeral on board that the man not be set adrift in the Nazi flag, Schiendick retaliates by ransacking Josef’s family’s cabin. Thus, Schiendick’s actions demonstrate how when a person dehumanizes and stereotypes another group of people, it is then easy for them to be brutal and unjust toward that group.
Otto Schiendick Quotes in Refugee
The Refugee quotes below are all either spoken by Otto Schiendick or refer to Otto Schiendick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 10 days Quotes
“Jewish rats,” Schiendick said, sneering at Josef and the other kids. Many of them looked at their shoes, and even Josef looked away, trying not to draw the big man’s attention. Josef clenched his fists, and his ears burned hot with frustration and embarrassment at his helplessness.
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Otto Schiendick Character Timeline in Refugee
The timeline below shows where the character Otto Schiendick appears in Refugee. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 10 days from home
...decks to the engine room. They pass a room where crewmen are drinking and singing. Schiendick, the crew member Josef noticed storming off as the portrait of Hitler was taken down...
(full context)
Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 11 days from home
As the funeral procession starts, Schiendick emerges from below deck. He introduces himself as the Nazi Party leader on the ship,...
(full context)
Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 17 days from home
Tension mounts between the passengers and the crew, and Schiendick and the other Nazis start allowing the firemen on board the ship to patrol the...
(full context)
Josef has no choice but to bring Schiendick to his family’s cabin, where Aaron is napping and Rachel is reading. Schiendick and two...
(full context)
Josef, Aaron, and Rachel huddle in the corner. When there is nothing left to destroy, Schiendick spits at Aaron, and Josef understands that this is payback for what Aaron said at...
(full context)
Josef: Just Outside Havana Harbor – 1939, 18 days from home (1)
...piece of furniture in their room against the door in terror following the incident with Schiendick, even after Josef and Rachel have cleaned the cabin up. Ruthie crouches in a corner,...
(full context)
Josef: Off the American Coast – 1939, 21 days from home
As the panic erupts, Josef spies Schiendick lingering in the doorway, smiling. Josef grows angry. The committee assures the passengers that they...
(full context)
