![Cuban immigration papers issued to Ella Schatz, a passenger on board the Orinoco, en route to Cuba. [LCID: 62540]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/92a26c91-877b-488e-8997-0ae2c368a8b5.jpg)
Cuban immigration papers issued to Ella Schatz, who had obtained passage aboard the Orinoco.
On May 27, 1939, the Orinoco left Hamburg with 200 passengers bound for Cuba. Informed by radio of the difficulties other ships carrying refugees were facing in Havana, the captain of the Orinoco diverted the ship to waters just off Cherbourg, France, where it remained for days. The 200 refugees ultimately returned to Germany in June 1939. Their fate remains unknown.
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