This is part two of a series that aims to introduce the memoir of Hungarian-born Viennese emigrant-journalist László Frank who spent almost a decade in Shanghai as a Jewish refugee, after successfully fleeing Nazi persecution. In this post, I’ll cover a dubious incident Frank experienced being onboard a German steamer bound for China via various so-called free, Fascist and colonial ports in Europe, Africa and Asia. Most of what follows is based on chapter two of his 1960-published recollections. (For part one of this series on Frank’s escape from occupied Vienna, click here.)
It was a sunny morning, as László Frank was staring at the horizon almost unaware of the cup of coffee he was holding midway to his mouth. The “Potsdam” has been sailing the calm waves of the Indian Ocean for days now, after they passed through the Suez Canal. The passengers had already adjusted to the summer weather, happily forgetting what December was like in the northern hemisphere. Close to two weeks into their voyage, even those with more sensitive stomachs had learned to cooperate with the movements of the giant vessel whose crew everyone on board trusted with their lives. Until the incident of this morning even seasoned fugitives like Frank began to loosen up.
A ship menu from the “SS Potsdam”‘s visit to Shanghai in 1936 (Abebooks.com)