Opened gate, depiction of the act of escaping Nazi Germany | Photo by Travel with Lenses
There are narratives in the periphery of the things we knew about World War II, the annexation of Nazi Germany in Europe, and Auschwitz escapes. A Thousand Kisses by Weiser is a collection of exchanged letters that unfold John Weiser’s parents’ and his family’s courage and determination to stay together amid the dangers of tightened immigration laws and racial scapegoating. For Weiser’s ancestral family, escaping Nazi Germany was a long odyssey full of tension.
Discover how it all happened, who tipped off who, and how was Weiser’s family’s life and flight from Nazi Vienna to Hungary to Brazil and to the U.S. Grab a copy of this intriguing book right now! “A Thousand Kisses” by John W. Weiser is available on Amazon.
The Rise of Nazi Germany and the Plight of Refugees
On the other side of the Nazi reign periphery is the bloody and tough journey among the general population of refugees escaping Nazi Germany. It started in 1933 when Adolf Hitler’s regime enacted policies targeting political dissidents, Romani people, and others that they deemed “undesirable,” especially the Jews. The enactment of The Nuremberg Laws in 1935 institutionalized racial discrimination against Jews. These laws stripped Jews of German citizenship and prohibited marriages or sexual relations between Jews and non-Jewish Germans. Perhaps this conjures the familiar slogan, “Germany is for Germans.”
Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, was a pivotal moment for those escaping Nazi Germany. On November 9–10, 1938, the Nazi regime orchestrated a violent pogrom targeting Jewish communities across Germany and Austria. Triggered by the assassination of a German diplomat, the attacks resulted in synagogues burned, Jewish businesses destroyed, and approximately 30,000 Jewish men sent to concentration camps.
At 3 A.M. November 10, 1938 was unleashed a barrage of Nazi ferocity as had had no equal hitherto in Germany, or very likely anywhere else in the world. . . . Jewish dwellings were smashed into and contents demolished or looted. In one of the Jewish sections an eighteen-year-old boy was hurled from a three story window to land with both legs broken on a street littered with burning beds and other household furniture and effects from his family’s and other apartments. (107)
Excerpt from David Buffum’s Report on Kristallnacht, in The Nazi State and German Society: A Brief History with Documents. (See FOOTNOTE1 for complete citation)
The Challenges of Escaping Nazi Germany
The refugees’ escape from Nazi Germany was fraught with immense challenges. Strict immigration laws in other countries left desperate individuals with few options for asylum. These laws stipulated limited quotas of refugees to be accepted. What made matters worse were bureaucratic requirements—such as securing visas, proof of financial stability, and sponsorships—which were difficult to meet.
What else? Refugees also suffer from financial barriers. Most Jews were stripped of their assets under Nazi policies. Aside from being unable to afford passage or bribes to escape, refugees who attempted to flee faced surveillance by Nazi authorities. Those who did not make it across were arrested and deported.
These are just a few of the many challenges faced by the people escaping Nazi Germany. But how did they manage it?
Pathways to Freedom
Despite the challenges of tightened immigration laws and racial scapegoating, some were still able to make it through legal routes, thanks to the help of humanitarian efforts in other countries during that time.

Legal Routes
Those fleeing Nazi Germany through legal routes were given hope as they navigated through the challenging pathways. Although securing extensive documentation was tedious, humanitarian organizations paved the way for the refugees’ smooth journey. Jewish workers were given essential employment permits that shielded them from deportation to concentration camps, thanks to Schindler’s factory.
Another key player in the road to freedom for Jews was the “Open Door Policy,” which was enacted under the leadership of then-President Manuel L. Quezon of the Philippines. The country welcomed approximately 1,200 Jewish refugees during the late 1930s and early 1940s.2
If legal routes were too challenging for some refugees, how did they manage to escape? Well, some took desperate measures through underground networks, which were facilitated by secret organizations and resistance groups.
Final Thoughts
The journey of war victims and refugees escaping Nazi Germany was full of obstacles. But it tickles our grateful hearts to know that there are still people who have compassionate hearts, benevolently cunning minds, and brave souls who helped the victims cross the road to freedom. To all who did not make it, those who fell, and all the people who paved the way for freedom, you are forever honored. Your legacy will never be forgotten.
Apart from “A Thousand Kisses,” John W. Weiser has another literary gem for us. Grab a copy of “GRASP THE NETTLE” if you wish to learn more about the bold life of Bishop William E. Swing, who became John’s greatest influence and inspiration as an interfaith union advocate.
Footnotes:
- This material draws on excerpts from David Buffum, Report on Kristallnacht, in The Nazi State and German Society: A Brief History with Documents, ed. Robert G. Moeller (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010), 105-109. ↩︎
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (n.d.). Jewish refugees in the Philippines. UNHCR Philippines. Retrieved January 10, 2025, from https://www.unhcr.org/ph/17553-jewish-refugees.html ↩︎