On 13th May, 1939, the Hamburg-America Line's SS St Louis sailed from Hamburg with 937 passengers bound for Havana. Most of these people were Jews who wished to leave Nazi Germany. The majority had been persuaded to purchase Visas which purported to permit entry to Cuba. However, when the ship arrived at its destination, corrupt officials and devious politicians declined to accept most of the Jewish emigrants and eventually ordered the ship to leave Cuban waters.

Although most famous for its part in this incident, there are many more fascinating stories and facts attached to the St Louis.