The Fact Behind the Fiction

The story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus and Dr. Robert "Bob" Schless is a masterclass in quiet, stubborn heroism. In 1939, while the world watched the shadow of Nazi Germany spread across Europe, this trio from Philadelphia decided to step directly into the "lion’s den" to save 50 children.

A Mission Against the Odds

In the spring of 1939, the United States was gripped by isolationism and strict immigration quotas. Most Americans were wary of refugees, and the State Department was notorious for its red tape. Despite this, Gil Kraus, a successful Jewish lawyer, and his wife Eleanor teamed up with their close friend, pediatrician Bob Schless, to execute a plan sponsored by the Brith Sholom fraternal order.

Their goal: Travel to Nazi-occupied Vienna, secure 50 visas, and bring 50 Jewish children back to the safety of Pennsylvania.

The Role of the Trio

• Gil Kraus: The strategist. He navigated the terrifying bureaucracy of the Gestapo and the rigid American consulate, refusing to take "no" for an answer.

• Eleanor Kraus: The heart and record-keeper. She provided the emotional anchor for the mission, documenting the heart breaking process of interviewing families who were desperate to save their children, even if it meant never seeing them again.

• Dr. Bob Schless: The vital filter. As a German-speaking pediatrician, Schless examined hundreds of children. His job was grim but necessary: selecting the 50 children—25 boys and 25 girls—who were physically and mentally resilient enough to survive the trauma of separation and the journey across the Atlantic.

The Great Escape

In May 1939, the group arrived in Vienna. The atmosphere was thick with fear. Eleanor later recalled the sight of parents clutching their children’s hands at the train station, knowing this was likely their last goodbye. To avoid trouble with Nazi officials, the families were forbidden from waving because it may be construed as a Nazi salute and Jews were forbidden from giving the Nazi salute; instead, they watched in silence as the train pulled away. On June 3, 1939, the "Kraus 50" arrived in New York aboard the SS President Harding. They were taken to a summer camp in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where they could finally be children again—eating ice cream, swimming, and sleeping without fear.

An Incredible Legacy

For decades, the Krauses rarely spoke of their feat, viewing it simply as "the right thing to do." It wasn't until Eleanor’s grandson discovered her unpublished manuscript that the world truly learned about the lawyer, the housewife, and the doctor who defied an empire to save 50 lives.

My new novel Only Breath & Shadow includes the story of Gil, Eleanor and Bob Schless. It is out on 1 April 2026 and can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.