Fenice – 2, Bracha Fuld
"Bracha Fuld" sailed from Molla di Bari port in Italy on October 9th 1946, with 606 immigrants on board.
The "Bracha Fuld" Haapala ship (named after the Palmach warrior who died in "Wingate Night" on March 1946) was prepared for its departure to Israel at a shipyard near La Spezia, Italy, by 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' members and the ship crew. The ship commander was Palyam member Menachem Cohen. The 'Gidoni' was Chaim Goldis (Barzili, who dies in the War of Independence near Hulda, while serving as a signal officer of the convoys to the besieged Jerusalem.) An additional escort was Palyam member Shalom Dolitsky.
The ship had previously sailed under the name "Eliyahu Golomb." "Brach Fuld" was joined by "Albertina," whose escorts were Avraham Rickman (Karni) and Ovad Sadeh the 'Gidoni.'
"Bracha Fuld" and "Albertina" sailed from Molla di Bari port in Italy on October 9th 1946. The first ship had 606 immigrants on board, and the latter one had 200. The captain of the ship was Mario Kenza (an Italian.) On October 18th, the "Albertina" immigrants were transferred onto "Brach Fuld," which continued on its way to Nahariya with 806 immigrants on board. The foreign crew together with Ovad Sadeh returned to Italy on the "Albertina." The engine on board "Brach Fuld" suffered many failures throughout its journey in the stormy sea, which took thirteen days instead of the eight days planned. The British spotted the ship on October 20th. For fear that the British may force the ship to travel directly to Cyprus, if their takeover crew is not let on board, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered the ship commander to give up the resistance and obey the instruction give by the British; that is, if they promise to lead the ship to Israel. The commander was also instructed to sabotage the ship engines as it entered Israel's territorial waters.
The British towed the "Brach Fuld" to Haifa port on October 22nd. Attempts to convince the immigrants not to resist their transfer to the deportation ships were refused.
The escorts organized the immigrants for a passive resistance. They instructed the immigrants to go down to the storage rooms under the deck and removed the ladders from the exits so as to make it difficult for the British to evacuate people. The British showed great determination and forcefully transferred the immigrants to the dock, and from their onto the "Ocean Vigor" and "Empire Haywood" deportation ships. Shalom Dolitsky and Chaim Goldis intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them. Menachem Cohen hid in a 'Slik' on board the ship and was later rescued. The immigrants were transferred to the Caraolos detention camp in Cyprus.
The ship had previously sailed under the name "Eliyahu Golomb." "Brach Fuld" was joined by "Albertina," whose escorts were Avraham Rickman (Karni) and Ovad Sadeh the 'Gidoni.'
"Bracha Fuld" and "Albertina" sailed from Molla di Bari port in Italy on October 9th 1946. The first ship had 606 immigrants on board, and the latter one had 200. The captain of the ship was Mario Kenza (an Italian.) On October 18th, the "Albertina" immigrants were transferred onto "Brach Fuld," which continued on its way to Nahariya with 806 immigrants on board. The foreign crew together with Ovad Sadeh returned to Italy on the "Albertina." The engine on board "Brach Fuld" suffered many failures throughout its journey in the stormy sea, which took thirteen days instead of the eight days planned. The British spotted the ship on October 20th. For fear that the British may force the ship to travel directly to Cyprus, if their takeover crew is not let on board, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered the ship commander to give up the resistance and obey the instruction give by the British; that is, if they promise to lead the ship to Israel. The commander was also instructed to sabotage the ship engines as it entered Israel's territorial waters.
The British towed the "Brach Fuld" to Haifa port on October 22nd. Attempts to convince the immigrants not to resist their transfer to the deportation ships were refused.
The escorts organized the immigrants for a passive resistance. They instructed the immigrants to go down to the storage rooms under the deck and removed the ladders from the exits so as to make it difficult for the British to evacuate people. The British showed great determination and forcefully transferred the immigrants to the dock, and from their onto the "Ocean Vigor" and "Empire Haywood" deportation ships. Shalom Dolitsky and Chaim Goldis intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them. Menachem Cohen hid in a 'Slik' on board the ship and was later rescued. The immigrants were transferred to the Caraolos detention camp in Cyprus.