The Deportation
The Haapala ship, "President Warfield – Exodus 1947" was the only ship whose immigrants were sent back to Europe by the British during the entire Haapala endeavor.
The Haapala ship, "President Warfield – Exodus 1947" was the only ship whose immigrants were sent back to Europe by the British during the entire Haapala endeavor. In June 1947, in an effort to stop the Haapala, the British government set a new policy initiated by Foreign minister, Ernest Bevin: All captured Haapala ships will be sent back to their country of origin. "Exodus" was the first attempt (and only one in retrospect) to implement it. The British wanted to deter potential immigrants that way, harm the Haapala movement and force the countries of origin involved to place efficient inspection to prevent the phenomenon. Fearing the international public opinion, the British acted with complete discretion, while avoiding an announcement of regarding their change in policy.
"Exodus" entered Haifa port on July 18th 1947, and its immigrants were immediately transferred to the deportation ships. It was impossible to tell that those ships were not headed to Cyprus but to another destination. Therefore, the immigrants and their escorts did not receive any special instructions. Hiding in a pre-arranged 'Slik' on board the "Exodus" were the ship commander, Yossi Hamburger (Harel), Captain Yitzhak (Ike) Aharonovitch (Aran), the 'Gidoni' Azriel Einav, and nine Jewish-American volunteering crew members.
The immigrants randomly split between the deportation ships, among them families and groups of friends, who assumed they were separating for just a few hours. The escorts and crew members who remained with the immigrants were also arbitrarily divided between the ships. None of the Israeli escorts boarded the "Ocean Vigor," which had 1494 immigrants on board. The escort, Zvi Kazhenelson, boarded the "Ranimid Park," which had 1409 immigrants on board. Micha Pearlson (Perry) and Sima Schmukler boarded the "Empire Rival," which had 1526 immigrants on board. The commandership on board "Ocean Vigor" was handled by a representative secretariat of eight members. The dominant personality in running the events onboard "Ranimid Park" was the immigrant, Mordechai Rosman, member in the chief leadership of "Hashomer Ha'tzair" movement in Poland and Germany. Micha Pearlson led the immigrants on "Empire Rival."
The three deportation ships departed on July 19th, and entered the de Boeck port in France on July 29th. Five Hagana boats were ready to try and reach the ships; one of them managed to reach "Ocean Vigor" and "Empire Rival" and tell their immigrants over a loudspeaker not to disembark. Whether they heard the Hagana's instructions or not, the immigrants on all three ships decided to do the same (despite the lack of communication between them.)
The immigrants withstood long days on board the ships, facing the exhausting heat, the tough physical conditions and the pressing shortage of food. During their first ten days at port de Boeck, four Hagana envoys infiltrated the ships to reinforce the escorts, despite the tight watch of the British. Palyam member Avner Gilad boarded "Ranimid Park." Meir Schwatrz, member of 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet,' boarded "Ocean Vigor," and Elchanan Venchotsker (Yishai) and Eliezer (Yozak) Limon boarded "Empire Rival."
The French government refused the British request to force the immigrants to disembark, and announced that the disembarkation would only take place with the immigrants' consent. During their stay in France, about 130 immigrants (out of 4429) disembarked the deportation ships for different reasons. The Israeli escorts and leaders from among the immigrants initiated social, educational and cultural activities, which helped raise the morale of the immigrants and helped pass the time. There was hardly any contact between the ships. But despite the British effort to isolate the immigrants from the rest of the world, they found ways to keep a constant communication between the ship envoys and their colleagues in the Hagana and 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet.' This contact was enabled by couriers who brought supplies and medical aid, and by Hagana boats that occasionally managed to reach the ships.
The willful standing of the "Exodus" immigrants, who overcame the tough living conditions, surprised the Hagana envoys on board the ships and on shore. The immigrants demonstrated self-discipline, a sense of solidarity and endurance, and knowledge of how to come together on a national mission that was placed on them almost by accident. On August 18th, all three ships declared a one-day hunger strike, in an attempt to increase the response for their on-going struggle. The effort to gain notice from the international public opinion bore fruit – the press throughout the world followed the drama and intensified the pressure on the British government.
In mid August, the British were forced to give up their initial intention of transferring the "Exodus" immigrants to a German area that was under their sovereignty. On August 22nd, all three deportation ships sailed to Hamburg port in Germany, and the immigrants were taken off them on September 8th to the 9th. The "Ocean Vigor" and "Ranimid Park" immigrants strongly resisted their disembarkation, while the "Empire Rival" immigrants quickly disembarked, with resisting, because Micha Pearlson (Perry) and Elchanan Venchotsker planted a demolition charge (the charge was discovered before going off, but eventually exploded in the British HQ in Hamburg, without causing any casualty.)
The immigrants were housed in two camps near the city of Libek. On the even of their deportation to Germany, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' members promised the immigrants that the Hagana will ensure their arrival in Israel. And indeed, about half of the "Exodus" immigrants made it to Israel even before the state was established; some came with "Aliyah Daled" (by plane and fake documents) and some with the legal immigration quotas. On September 7th 1948 the last "Exodus" immigrants arrived in Israel.
"Exodus" entered Haifa port on July 18th 1947, and its immigrants were immediately transferred to the deportation ships. It was impossible to tell that those ships were not headed to Cyprus but to another destination. Therefore, the immigrants and their escorts did not receive any special instructions. Hiding in a pre-arranged 'Slik' on board the "Exodus" were the ship commander, Yossi Hamburger (Harel), Captain Yitzhak (Ike) Aharonovitch (Aran), the 'Gidoni' Azriel Einav, and nine Jewish-American volunteering crew members.
The immigrants randomly split between the deportation ships, among them families and groups of friends, who assumed they were separating for just a few hours. The escorts and crew members who remained with the immigrants were also arbitrarily divided between the ships. None of the Israeli escorts boarded the "Ocean Vigor," which had 1494 immigrants on board. The escort, Zvi Kazhenelson, boarded the "Ranimid Park," which had 1409 immigrants on board. Micha Pearlson (Perry) and Sima Schmukler boarded the "Empire Rival," which had 1526 immigrants on board. The commandership on board "Ocean Vigor" was handled by a representative secretariat of eight members. The dominant personality in running the events onboard "Ranimid Park" was the immigrant, Mordechai Rosman, member in the chief leadership of "Hashomer Ha'tzair" movement in Poland and Germany. Micha Pearlson led the immigrants on "Empire Rival."
The three deportation ships departed on July 19th, and entered the de Boeck port in France on July 29th. Five Hagana boats were ready to try and reach the ships; one of them managed to reach "Ocean Vigor" and "Empire Rival" and tell their immigrants over a loudspeaker not to disembark. Whether they heard the Hagana's instructions or not, the immigrants on all three ships decided to do the same (despite the lack of communication between them.)
The immigrants withstood long days on board the ships, facing the exhausting heat, the tough physical conditions and the pressing shortage of food. During their first ten days at port de Boeck, four Hagana envoys infiltrated the ships to reinforce the escorts, despite the tight watch of the British. Palyam member Avner Gilad boarded "Ranimid Park." Meir Schwatrz, member of 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet,' boarded "Ocean Vigor," and Elchanan Venchotsker (Yishai) and Eliezer (Yozak) Limon boarded "Empire Rival."
The French government refused the British request to force the immigrants to disembark, and announced that the disembarkation would only take place with the immigrants' consent. During their stay in France, about 130 immigrants (out of 4429) disembarked the deportation ships for different reasons. The Israeli escorts and leaders from among the immigrants initiated social, educational and cultural activities, which helped raise the morale of the immigrants and helped pass the time. There was hardly any contact between the ships. But despite the British effort to isolate the immigrants from the rest of the world, they found ways to keep a constant communication between the ship envoys and their colleagues in the Hagana and 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet.' This contact was enabled by couriers who brought supplies and medical aid, and by Hagana boats that occasionally managed to reach the ships.
The willful standing of the "Exodus" immigrants, who overcame the tough living conditions, surprised the Hagana envoys on board the ships and on shore. The immigrants demonstrated self-discipline, a sense of solidarity and endurance, and knowledge of how to come together on a national mission that was placed on them almost by accident. On August 18th, all three ships declared a one-day hunger strike, in an attempt to increase the response for their on-going struggle. The effort to gain notice from the international public opinion bore fruit – the press throughout the world followed the drama and intensified the pressure on the British government.
In mid August, the British were forced to give up their initial intention of transferring the "Exodus" immigrants to a German area that was under their sovereignty. On August 22nd, all three deportation ships sailed to Hamburg port in Germany, and the immigrants were taken off them on September 8th to the 9th. The "Ocean Vigor" and "Ranimid Park" immigrants strongly resisted their disembarkation, while the "Empire Rival" immigrants quickly disembarked, with resisting, because Micha Pearlson (Perry) and Elchanan Venchotsker planted a demolition charge (the charge was discovered before going off, but eventually exploded in the British HQ in Hamburg, without causing any casualty.)
The immigrants were housed in two camps near the city of Libek. On the even of their deportation to Germany, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' members promised the immigrants that the Hagana will ensure their arrival in Israel. And indeed, about half of the "Exodus" immigrants made it to Israel even before the state was established; some came with "Aliyah Daled" (by plane and fake documents) and some with the legal immigration quotas. On September 7th 1948 the last "Exodus" immigrants arrived in Israel.