The Malmo Ferry - Jeff Steinweg

Ernst Ernie Steinweg held the secrets of his past hidden behind a beaming smile. Now his son, Jeff Steinweg, has brought a previously untold history to life, sharing the captivating story of a man who faced brutality with irrepressible optimism, and extreme hardship with courage and creativity.

Informed by years of research, The Malmö Ferry reimagines Ernst's boyhood in Munster as it was slowly overshadowed by the escalating threat of the Third Reich. His eventual internment in the Riga Ghetto brings unimaginable privations and a total loss of liberty. Life becomes a single-minded mission to survive, and yet Ernst's actions show us that even in the darkest times, love and humanity can still provide shelter.

This is a memoir of endurance in the face of systematic cruelty, but Jeff has managed to craft a story that is so much more than that. There are family secrets, quiet romance and glimmers of hope and humour. From the first page to its final voyage to freedom on the Malmö Ferry, the retelling of Ernst's remarkable life is a true labour of love.

Sydney Jewish Museum Publishing, 2025, paperback