Denise RUBENS (née BLUM), age 90, describes a happy childhood in France with a loving family, being proud of her French heritage. In May of 1940, Denise's father, George BLUM, and Belgian uncle, Léon BLUM, were talking about the Germans, when her uncle stated that Belgium should be safe from German attacks. Two days later, the Nazis launched their western attacks, invading Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The family started their escape to the southern border of France, in hopes of securing visas to be able to leave to the United States. She states that the family stayed in Le Pyla for a few weeks, with her father and uncle heading to Bordeaux every day to acquire their travel papers. After they were given visas by Sousa Mendes they left France, travelled trough Spain within a day and crossed the border to Portugal, where they were given a warm welcome. She recalls staying in Coimbra near Oporto, trying again to acquire visas, this time for travel to the United States. In July of 1940, Denise and her mother, Miriam BLUM, were able to sail to the U.S. on the ship Excalibur, where Denise finally felt she had survived the Nazi Regime upon crossing the Atlantic. Interview by Joan Halperin and Monique Rubens Krohn. Videography by Anton Evangelista.