Balboa, Norsyd – Hagana
"Hagana," which had previously served in the Canadian navy, sailed to Israel on July 24th 1946, with 2678 immigrants on board.
The "Hagana" Haapala ship (named after the Hagana organization) was prepared to depart for Israel from Marseille port in France. Excluding the chief mechanic, the ship crew consisted of Jewish-Americans who were members of 'Hashomer Htsair.' The captain was Arieh Friedman and the ship commander was Palyam member Yehosha Rabinovitch (Bahreb.) The 'Gidoni' was Avraham Lichovsky.
The ship, whose original name was Balboa, first departed on June 20th 1946 under the name Birya, with 999 immigrants on board. It arrived in Sete port in the French Gulf of Lyon, where it transferred its immigrants and name to "Akbel 2" (which was named Birya from then on.) It then sailed to Bakar port in Yugoslavia for another Haapala mission under the name "Hagana"
"Hagana," which had previously served in the Canadian navy, sailed to Israel on July 24th 1946, with 2678 immigrants on board. On July 28th, the ship's engines failed, and while fixing them, a British destroyer spotted it between Cyprus and Crete. After fixing the failure, "Hagana" sailed directly to Haifa port. As it neared the shore, scare shots were fried at it, but the ship did not stop. Three miles from the shore, a British destroyer banged into its sterns with great force. The shock caused the ship to pivot. The machines stopped working and the control over the rudder was lost. Navy soldiers boarded the "Hagana" and took it over.
The High Commissioner decided not to unload the passengers – as customary – but leave them on the ship close to Haifa port. The goal was to put pressure on the British Cabinet in London, which was discussing its immigration policy during late July and early August, so that the Cabinet approves the deportation of the immigrants from Israel.
The immigrants finally disembarked the ship on August 2nd, and were transferred to the Atlit detention camp. The escorts intermingled with the immigrants and were not identified by the British security forces.
The ship, whose original name was Balboa, first departed on June 20th 1946 under the name Birya, with 999 immigrants on board. It arrived in Sete port in the French Gulf of Lyon, where it transferred its immigrants and name to "Akbel 2" (which was named Birya from then on.) It then sailed to Bakar port in Yugoslavia for another Haapala mission under the name "Hagana"
"Hagana," which had previously served in the Canadian navy, sailed to Israel on July 24th 1946, with 2678 immigrants on board. On July 28th, the ship's engines failed, and while fixing them, a British destroyer spotted it between Cyprus and Crete. After fixing the failure, "Hagana" sailed directly to Haifa port. As it neared the shore, scare shots were fried at it, but the ship did not stop. Three miles from the shore, a British destroyer banged into its sterns with great force. The shock caused the ship to pivot. The machines stopped working and the control over the rudder was lost. Navy soldiers boarded the "Hagana" and took it over.
The High Commissioner decided not to unload the passengers – as customary – but leave them on the ship close to Haifa port. The goal was to put pressure on the British Cabinet in London, which was discussing its immigration policy during late July and early August, so that the Cabinet approves the deportation of the immigrants from Israel.
The immigrants finally disembarked the ship on August 2nd, and were transferred to the Atlit detention camp. The escorts intermingled with the immigrants and were not identified by the British security forces.