Efforts to Leave

By the mid-1930s, Jews in the Nazi regime faced increasing hostility. After centuries of Jewish life in Europe, it appeared there would be no future there for Jews. Yet those who tried to escape found their options limited. 

The Nazis imposed heavy taxes and regulations on Jews leaving the Third Reich. Jewish emigrants were forced to give up the bulk of their belongings and assets to the Nazis. This left them with little money to start new lives in other countries.  

At the same time, most nations had restrictive immigration policies or quotas limiting how many people they would let in. These were often based on race or ethnicity. Usually, they classified Jews as undesirable immigrants. This included Canada's immigration policy. At the time, antisemitism and anti-immigrant feelings were common among the voting public. Governments feared that admitting Jewish refugees would increase job competition and cause unrest. 

In 1938, 32 nations met at the Evian Conference to discuss the Jewish refugee crisis. Every country refused to change its policies to help the Jews, except the Dominican Republic. Some Jews found refuge in the UK, Palestine, China or the Americas. Many fled to nearby countries in Western Europe, only to come under Nazi control once the war began.  

Deciding to leave was not easy. Some Jewish families were unwilling to leave elderly relatives behind. Others hoped the Nazi threat would disappear over time. Many Jewish war veterans believed their honourable military service in the First World War might protect them from persecution. In the end, Jews who had not escaped the Third Reich by October 1941 were trapped. The Nazis banned all Jewish emigration, sealing the fate of the remaining Jews of Europe.