The History of the Nations
Refugees trapped
The "Crystal Night" provokes indignation and strong protests in a large number of Western countries, without however causing changes in the immigration policy of these states.
"The world seems to be divided into two parts: the places where Jews cannot live and those where they cannot enter" already declared in 1936, Haim Weizmann, leader of the Zionist movement. In 1938, the borders closed a little more.
In France
If the criticisms of the "Crystal Night" are sharp in the press, the Daladier government remains silent in order not to compromise the ongoing rapprochement with Nazi Germany (the Ribbentrop-Bonnet agreements). From 1933 to 1937, France welcomed several tens of thousands of refugees mainly from Germany and Austria. However, the government of the Popular Front created an under-secretariat of state for immigration in 1937 and the right to asylum was restricted in 1938. In February 1939, the country is overwhelmed by the arrival of 500,000 Spanish refugees.
In Germany
The terror experienced during the "Kristallnacht", the massive arrests and the wave of new laws, transform the migratory flow into a mass exodus. On 24 January 1939, Goering instructed Wilhelm Frick, the Minister of the Interior, to "carry out by all means the emigration of the Jews from Germany". In the same month of January, the Central Office for Jewish Emigration was founded in Berlin under the direction of Reinhard Heydrich. Internally, Goering takes over from Goebbels for the organization of the aftermath of the pogrom. The meeting of the main Nazi leaders on November 12, 1938, decides on the multiplication of anti-Jewish measures: dissolution of Jewish organizations ( the exception of the Reichs.europa.eu, representative body of the Jews of Germany, of the Kulturbund, cultural organization and the Palestinian office of the Zionist organization), suppression of the Jewish press, restriction of the movement of Jews in public places, expulsion of Jews from their homes and concentration in Jewish houses .
Palestine closed by the "White Paper"
In May 1939, the United Kingdom decides to strictly limit immigration to Palestine by announcing the establishment of a 'White Paper' reducing the reception of refugees to 75,000 Jews for 5 years.
Concerned about preserving their interests in the region, the English preferred to maintain the status quo. British naval forces do not hesitate to intercept and return to their ports of departure, generally Constanza in Romania, the boats loaded with Jews for whom Palestine is the last hope: on March 25, 1939, the Sandru with 269 refugees, on April 6, 1939 the Astir with 698 refugees, on April 23, 1939 the Assimi with 250 refugees.
