German law prevented Jews from taking more than ten
Marks equivalent to $4.-- out of Germany, so Oskar devised other ways of providing for his
new life overseas.
We now know
from recently-found correspondence that Oskar had given a number of valuable cameras and
items of clothing to friends to take with when they left Germany. He planned to sell
these items to raise money. This is the camera that he himself took with and is still in
use today.
| Finally on May 13 1939 Oskar boarded the boat for Cuba. |
 |
Once there, he intended to wait until his quota number for the United States
was called. He could then join his girlfriend - Else Damitt, who was already in America
and was busy selling the items he had given her in preparation for his arrival.
His quota number for America was low enough to suggest that it would
not be too long a wait to be called. Time to relax and make friends
