The Last Ships from Hamburg

Business, Rivalry, and the Race to Save Russia’s Jews on the Eve of World War I

De: Steven Ujifusa

Narrado por: Arthur Morey

A propulsive human drama that chronicles the mass exodus of Jews from Eastern Europe to America in the early years of the twentieth century, and the men who made it possible.

Over thirty years, from 1890 to 1921, 2.5 million Jews, fleeing discrimination and violence in their homelands of Eastern Europe, arrived in the United States. Many sailed on steamships from Hamburg.

This mass exodus was facilitated by three businessmen whose involvement in the Jewish-American narrative has been largely forgotten: Jacob Schiff, the managing partner of the investment bank Kuhn, Loeb & Company, who used his immense wealth to help Jews to leave Europe; Albert Ballin, managing director of the Hamburg-American Line, who created a transportation network of trains and steamships to carry them across continents and an ocean; and J. P. Morgan, mastermind of the International Mercantile Marine (I.M.M.) trust, who tried to monopolize the lucrative steamship business. Though their goals were often contradictory, together they made possible a migration that spared millions from persecution. Descendants of these immigrants included Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Estée Lauder, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Fanny Brice, Lauren Bacall, the Marx Brothers, David Sarnoff, Al Jolson, Sam Goldwyn, Ben Shahn, Hank Greenberg, Felix Frankfurter, Moses Annenberg, and many more—including Ujifusa’s great grandparents. That is their legacy.

Moving from the shtetls of Russia and the ports of Hamburg to the mansions of New York’s Upper East Side and the picket lines outside of the notorious Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, The Last Ships from Hamburg is a history that unfolds on both an intimate and epic scale. Meticulously researched, masterfully told, Ujifusa’s story offers original insight into the American experience, connecting banking, shipping, politics, immigration, nativism, and war—and delivers crucial insight into the burgeoning refugee crisis of our own time.

Fascinating and informative

There was so much to appreciate about this deep dive into the German shipping business & to learn in detail how the industry used the dire situation of Russian Jews to make a profit - while helping them leave Russia for the United States. One gets a visceral appreciation for the intensity of anti-semitism at the time, the scapegoating of the Jews as the source of financial woes. It also explored in detail how some German Jews in the shipping business managed to survive and prosper.. at least for a while. Although there was some overlap with The Money Kings by Daniel Schulman, the 2 books complement one another nicely.

A pleasant surprise.

My first book by historian Steven Ujifusa, nicely performed, gives what the title says and more. Some of the wanderzeit of more than two million who escaped from oppression and poverty to America is presented, mainly of the last stretch in ships. Improbably, many of the ships were owned and operated by jews. Emigration from eastern Europe I knew about, Ujifusa tells how the setup of possible transport for so many people came to be, in the nick of time. This precious window of opportunity, matching the dire need to escape, is clearly visible in hindsight. I did not know, but the author has given us this enchanting history, and I can see the Masters hand on His work for His people.

Things I never heard …

As a daughter of a ship owner and broker as well as grown up in Hamburg, it was amazing to read this book. So many things make sense now. Countless times I needed to stop reading or re read a part. A big compliment to the author for all his detailed research and bring A.Ballin back into the light. The Jewish hatred , the Russians, American politics and wealth. Very recommendable..

A masterpiece

A brilliantly written and meticulously researched account of an under appreciated chapter in world history. The narration by “Golden Voice” honoree, Arthur Morey, is outstanding, and adds dramatic tension and emotion.

very detailed accounting of the period of time

I enjoyed the narrator's strong voice who gave a great performance. The story is rich in various characters who were at times difficult to keep straight. Very informative as to how these captains of industry came together during this prewar time. Learned about antisemitisms roots in the US.