Despite prevailing isolationist public opinion and an obstructionist government, an informal American humanitarian network of citizen activists delivered aid to and rescued many victims of Nazi oppression before and during World War II. This group of citizens—including religious leaders, businessmen, women, educators, and doctors—responded swiftly and creatively to the European refugee crisis of the 1930s and 1940s.

They organized to provide emergency relief, establish programs overseas, and resettle thousands of persecuted people in safe havens stretching from Latin America to East Asia. Operating in the shadows, these idealists devised pragmatic, sometimes controversial, solutions to overcome obstacles.

History professor Andrew Falk tells the story of these courageous people and how they bypassed organizational rules to funnel money to relief efforts, created schemes to circumvent Nazi currency regulations, and interpreted U.S. immigration laws to resettle persecuted academics. He reveals how they also negotiated with ruthless dictators and occupation forces, bribed port officials, manipulated international law, and offered ransoms for prisoners destined for the death camps. Falk argues that their intervention ultimately helped define international human rights and instill humanitarian principles into U.S. foreign policy.

General Information

• View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.