Dalia Ofer.pdf - WNLibrary

The Struma 149
passengers aboard. In October, twenty-one passengers of the third boat were
captured off the Anatolian coast and imprisoned in Turkey until March 1942.
A number of similar boats were purchased by groups of Jews and prepared
for the journey, but not all of them actually succeeded in leaving Rumania.
In short, Rumanian Jews demonstrated signal courage and determination in
attempting to escape the country against all odds.
Such was the situation when the Struma, candidate for an aliyah bet voyage
since 1940, was once again proposed for a voyage. The ship was known to
be very old, and it was hardly thought fit for the purpose, as it was not
equipped with a motor powerful enough for sea travel.10 It bore a first registry
date of 1830, had been under Greek ownership (under the name Macedonia),
and flew the Panamanian flag. It measured 53 by 20 feet, weighed 180 tons,
and was being used as a cattle barge on the Danube." Ze'cv Shind later
explained that the Mossad had intended to lash the boat to the Darien and
tow it, thus enabling 250 more passengers to sail. However, the German entry
into Bulgaria forced the Mossad to abandon the plan. As a result, the Struma
remained behind in the hands of Pandelis, the owner.
Pandelis, eager to make some new arrangement, contacted Revisionist
figures in Rumania and proposed that they organize a group of emigrants
while he refitted the boat. In the NZO office, where details of the Struma
were known at least as early as April 1941, arguments ensued between NZO
and Betar members over who would sail and how they would be chosen. 12
As repairs to the vessel dragged on, the bickering intensified. The NZO aliyah
office, headed by Eugene Meisner, finally announced that it would no longer
help organize the transport. An unsuccessful search was mounted for other
boats.
Meanwhile, the Rumanian press carried daily advertisements for passage
on the Struma in September 1941. These were placed by a private firm,
Touristime Mordia, directed by two Jews apparently close to the NZO aliyah
office. 13 The price of a ticket from Rumania to Palestine direct was set at
200,000 lei per adult; children under twelve sailed for half-price. Those who
wished to sail in more spacious cabins were offered tickets at 350,000 lei.
Prospective passengers were offered photographs of the ship's new diesel
engine, six-bed cabins, and merchant marine license that certified it was fit
for travel. 14 All passengers were assured of getting three meals a day and
some sort of berth. Upon arrival in Palestine, they would present entry permits
issued in Istanbul. These were said to be certificates that had not been used
because of the war. Pandelis was to travel to Istanbul by train once the ship
left harbor; there he would sec to the matter of certificates. Thus, the passengers
had reason to believe that this was not to be an illegal voyage.
Nevertheless, dismal descriptions of the ship's condition also appeared in
the Rumanian press. It was reported that it was not seaworthy and alleged
that the government was granting the ship a license only in order to bring
harm to its Jewish passengers. 15 The prospective passengers then hired a
Rumanian ship's officer, Tinigaru, to inspect the Struma and verify the claims
of Pandelis and his associates. Tinigaru reported that Pandelis had in fact