Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus

In January 1939, the president of the Independent Order Brith Sholom, Louis Levine, approached Gilbert Kraus about trying to save some of the Jewish children trapped inside Nazi Germany. He offered to completely fund Kraus's efforts, provided Kraus would organize and carry out the mission. Levine also offered use of Brith Sholom's recently completed, 25-bedroom country retreat, which they had built to use as a retirement home for members.

Kraus immediately agreed and set to work. The following week he and Levine traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with representatives of the Department of State. While he was in DC, Gilbert's wife, Eleanor, began the process of procuring 50 affidavits. These required documents would prove sponsorship and support for each child's immigration to the United States.

To complete these forms, Eleanor sought the advice of Murray Levin of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Levin advised Eleanor on the complicated legal process of completing the affidavits and securing statements of financial security, copies of financial records, and letters of reference. She also collected Gilbert's records (such as bank statements), and documents and references from colleagues and friends who would help them. Eleanor worked tirelessly for six weeks. She completed 54 affidavits, including four extra in case any fell through.

As Eleanor collected the affidavits, she and Gilbert met with Under Secretary of State George Messersmith. Messersmith confirmed that their idea for obtaining unused visas (so-called “dead number visas”) for the children would theoretically work. The “dead number visas” were pre-approved visas that were “rejected [or] returned at the last minute by people who couldn't leave when the time for departure came.” However, Messersmith warned that there was no way to guarantee success unless they traveled to Germany and worked with the US Consul in Berlin. He also warned that there would be more challenges, as some American rescue organizations would attempt to discredit their efforts.

After organizing the affidavits, Eleanor and Gilbert met again with Messersmith. He once again encouraged them to go to Germany to meet with US consular officials. Messersmith referred the Krauses to the Passport Division. An official in this division warned that Germany and the political atmosphere were especially unsafe for women. While she was concerned about the prospect of war, Eleanor suggested that their friend Robert Schless travel with Gilbert. Not only would Schless be a travel companion for Gilbert, he also spoke German, was a doctor, and would be able to review the candidates for immigration.

Kraus and Schless arrived in Berlin on April 14, 1939. At first, they believed they would assess children in the German capital before moving to other cities. However, when they arrived, they learned from Geist that there were over 200 eligible children in Vienna. They immediately left for the Austrian capital. There, Gilbert met with Consul General Leland Morris and Vice Consul Thomas Hohenthal. The two men noted that many of the Viennese families with children had registered for immigration to the United States. However, they had been unable to leave Europe because they could not find sponsors in the United States or were unable to pay the Nazi-imposed property confiscation fines.

Kraus and Schless spent a couple of days determining the criteria for selecting which children they would take to America. They decided to consider only children between four and fourteen who were “healthiest in mind and body.” On April 19, they began screening candidates. Each child underwent physical and psychological examinations. The interviews continued until the end of April.

When she arrived in Vienna on April 28, Eleanor almost immediately began assisting in the interview process. With the help of Eleanor and other colleagues, the group decided upon 26 children. On May 2, they delivered a list of the children’s names to Vice Consul Hohenthal. Hohenthal confirmed that each child was eligible for immigration. The Krauses' team began matching the children with an appropriate affidavit. They soon added more children to the list. Within days they had selected the 50th child, but learned—potentially disastrously—that there were no visas remaining in Vienna. Morris suggested that the Krauses travel immediately to Berlin to secure any visas remaining at that consular office.

By May 20, the Krauses had finalized most of their arrangements. That evening, they attended a farewell meal with the children and their families at the Kultusgemeinde [the Viennese Jewish Community]. The following day, they departed for Berlin. Many of the parents accompanied their children to the train station, where they saw them off.

The Berlin office was able to accommodate the Krauses' request for visas. The children arrived in Berlin on May 21. They were scheduled for physical examinations and final processing for the following day. The Krauses purchased 53 passages on the SS President Harding. The ship left Hamburg for New York on May 23.