Shortly after his arrival in New York, Lion Feuchtwanger sent this letter on 26 November 1940 to the aid organisation Emergency Rescue Committee, which played an important role in rescuing the writer from France and preparing his entry into the USA. As the letter indicates, there was some degree of uncertainty on the part of Feuchtwanger concerning the number of helpers who were involved in his rescue.

The initiative to free Feuchtwanger came from his wife Marta. With the help of the American Vice-Consul Miles Standish, she was able to organise his escape from St. Nicholas internment camp near Nîmes. Standish pretended that Feuchtwanger, who was dressed in women’s clothing, was his mother-in-law and the latter was thus able to pass through controls by French officials undetected. As it was not possible to leave occupied France heading for the USA, Feuchtwanger first of all had to get to Lisbon. An emergency visa was issued under the name “Wetcheek” on the initiative of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Emergency Rescue Committee was contacted by the American consulate so that they could help with Feuchtwanger’s escape. It was in turn helped by Unitarian minister Waitstill Sharp. Sharp accompanied Feuchtwanger to Lisbon and during the journey by ship to the USA. He rented a hotel room in his name, got a hold of train tickets and made sure that the famous author remained undiscovered. Because of this personal contact, Feuchtwanger was presumably keenly aware of the support given to him by the Unitarians.