Refugee: Josef: Train to Hamburg – 1939, 1 day Summary & Analysis

The Hitler Youth drags Josef down the train. Josef is worried that the boy will turn him into the Nazi Police, but the boy simply returns him to his own car, instructs him to put the armband on and not to do that again. Josef thanks the boy profusely.

A few hours later, the Landaus arrive in Hamburg and arrive at the ship, the MS St. Louis. It is the biggest thing Josef has ever seen—bigger than any building. Above the ship flies the Nazi flag, with the swastika in the middle. As Rachel, Josef, and Ruthie stand on the dock, a shabby man stumbles out from behind a pile of luggage, frightening them. They quickly realize, however, that the man is Aaron. Josef is surprised: his father is gaunt and scraggly, with his hair shaved off.

Aaron greets them warmly, but looks around “manically, like there [are] spies everywhere.” He insists that they have to get on board as quickly as possible and tells them to make a break for it. He runs past the other passengers in line to board and streaks up the gangway, with Josef, Ruthie, and Rachel running to catch up to him with their luggage. She apologizes to the sailor taking tickets on behalf of her husband, and hands him the family’s tickets and visas.

As Josef, Ruthie, and Rachel board the ship, Josef is amazed that all of the sailors on board treat them “like real people.” Their rooms are spotless, with clean linens and amenities. But Aaron insists that it’s a trick, and that the Germans are going to come for them. Josef is nervous, and Rachel tells him and Ruthie to head up to the promenade.

Josef is glad to get away from his father. He and Ruthie watch Germany disappear as the ship pulls away from the dock and heads toward “a new life.” But Josef can’t help but think what could have happened to Aaron to make him “look so awful and act so scared.”