Paper walls
Subtitle: America and the refugee crisis, 1938-1941
By: David S. Wyman.
Edition: 1st pbk. ed.
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Published: 1985
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 322
ISBN-13: 9780394736594
Subjects: Refugees -- Government policy -- United States -- History -- 20th century; Refugees, Jewish -- Government policy -- United States -- History -- 20th century; United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Government policy -- History -- 20th century; Germany -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945
Description: "In this essential companion to The Abandonment of the Jews, David S. Wyman examines American policy on refugees in the years leading up to World War II. For almost four agonizing years, from 1938 through 1941, German Jews tried to leave their country. Barred from the United States by restrictive immigration policies, millions ultimately were killed, and a mere 150,000 finally found haven in this country. How could such a tragedy have come about? Wyman's answer is that America's public resistance had four bases: unemployment, nationalism, anti-Semitism, and later, fear of fifth columnists disguised as refugees. Wyman concludes that this was essentially what the American people wanted."--Book cover.
Notes: Bibliography: p. [277]-291.
Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Part one : The setting.; title: The American scene; title: The world scene; title: Part two : The diplomatic effort.; title: The Intergovernmental Committee; title: Part three : The effort in Congress.; title: Charity begins at home; title: The outer ramparts hold; title: Charity extends to the Channel; title: Part four : The administration.; title: Visas for political refugees; title: The Department of State; title: The door is nearly closed; title: Conclusion; title: Appendices.; title: How many refugees found asylum in the United States?; title: Some notes on the immigration laws and the quotas