Ana Maria Gordon's Journey on The MS St. Louis
Follow the Holocaust survivor's voyage on the ill-fated ship, her childhood in Ravensbrück concentration camp, and Canada's public apology
Ana Maria Gordon is the sole remaining Canadian survivor of The MS St. Louis. The following testimony was recorded on August 12th, 2023, at her home in Toronto. In this resource, Ana Maria will take you on an immersive journey through her life story, with interactive maps that you can explore.
Rising Antisemitism in Europe
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April 14th, 1935 Kosice, Czechoslovakia
Ana Maria Gordon is born, amidst growing antisemitism in Europe.
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May 13th, 1939 Hamburg, Germany
When Ana Maria is 4 years old, she leaves home with her family to board The MS St. Louis.
Voyage of The MS St. Louis
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May 13th, 1939 Hamburg, Germany
The MS St. Louis embarks from Hamburg, Germany with 937 passengers- almost all Jewish refugees.
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May 14th - 26th, 1939 Atlantic Ocean
The ship travels across the Atlantic Ocean, towards Cuba.
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May 27th, 1939 Havana, Cuba
The St. Louis arrives at the coast of Havana, Cuba.
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May 28th, 1939 Coast of Cuba
Cuba revokes passenger visas and refuses to let the refugees into the country.
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June 2nd, 1939 Coast of Florida (U.S.)
Forced to leave the Havana Harbour, The MS St. Louis sails to the coast of Florida. The United States and Canada refuse desperate pleas to accept the refugees.
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June 6th - 15th, 1939 Atlantic Ocean
Left with no other choice, the ship sails back across the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.
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June 16th, 1939 Coast of Europe
As the ship approaches the Coast of Europe, England, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands agree to each accept a portion of passengers.
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June 17th, 1939 Antwerp, Belgium
The MS St. Louis docks in Antwerp, Belgium.
Refugee Destinations
June 17th, 1939
MS St. Louis Docks in Belgium
Refugee Destinations
Great Britain (288 passengers), The Netherlands (181), Belgium (214), and France (244)
1939 - 1941 Europe
Nazi Occupation
1943 Europe
Nazi Occupation
1944 Europe
Nazi Concentration Camps
Nazi Europe
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June, 1939 Rotterdam Port in The Netherlands
181 passengers from The St. Louis disembark in Holland and are temporarily held in quarantine.
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June, 1939 Heijplaat in The Netherlands
The refugees stay with families living nearby, as they await transport to a refugee camp.
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June, 1939 Westerbork Refugee Camp in The Netherlands
Ana Maria's family arrives at the refugee camp and is given accommodation.
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1942 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ana Maria's family is let out of the refugee camp and moves in with her aunt and uncle in the city.
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1944 Westerbork Transit Camp in The Netherlands
German soldiers force Ana Maria's family back to Westerbork.
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May 1944 Ravensbrück Concentration Camp in Germany
Ana Maria and her mother are transported in a cattle car to a concentration camp for women.
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April 1945 Padborg, Denmark
Ana Maria and her mother are transported from the concentration camp in a camouflaged Red Cross truck.
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April, 1945 Malmö, Sweden
Ana Maria and her mother are transported by ferry to a Swedish refugee camp.
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July, 1945 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ana Maria returns to her uncle's house in the city and is reunited with her father.
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March, 1946 Mexico City
Ana Maria and her parents sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico, with hopes of starting a new life there.
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1983 Los Angeles, California
Ana Maria moves to The United States with her husband, a Holocaust survivor.
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2009 Toronto, Canada
Ana Maria moves to Toronto, to be closer to her son and his family.
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November 7th, 2018 Ottawa, Canada
Ana Maria receives a public apology from Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, regarding the events of The MS St. Louis.
Canada's Apology
A framed copy of Canada's 2018 Statement of Apology, given to Ana Maria Gordon
Justin Trudeau's 2018 apology speech, signed and given to Ana Maria Gordon
Further Resources
This resource was designed to support the Toronto District School Board's Combatting Hate & Racism Student Learning Strategy. Click Here to to view the associated curriculum materials focused on Combatting Antisemitism, developed by Lili Zohar-Pittari, Leanna Bornstein, and Tony Cushman.
Acknowledgements
Justin Trudeau with Ana Maria Gordon and her extended family at The House of Commons in Ottawa, on November 7th, 2018
The featured interview was conducted by Tony Cushman on August 12th, 2023, at Ana Maria Gordon's home in Toronto, Canada. We would like to thank Ana Maria for her great generosity, and the invaluable insights that she shared with us.
We would also like to thank Ana Maria's granddaughter Ady Jonsohn, and Ady's husband Adam Jonsohn, for supporting the research and coordination of this project.
