- Brief Narrative
- Broadside issued by the Municipal Corporation of Tel-Aviv and mayor, Israel Rokach, announcing closures and a day of mourning in response to the sinking of the refugee ship, Strumah, in the Black Sea off of Istanbul, Turkey, in February 1942. The Strumah (Struma) was an illegal immigrant ship that left Constanta, Romania, on December 12, 1941, with 767 Jewish refugees fleeing policies enacted by the German-allied, Romanian government. The ship was headed for Istanbul, where the passengers hoped to get visas to enter Palestine (now Israel). The old cargo barge was unsafe and overcrowded. The engine died when it reached Istanbul, and it had to be towed into port. Palestine was ruled by the British who imposed strict immigration limits and refused to provide visas. Turkish authorities also denied entry to the passengers. After being held in quarantine for 70 days, the Strumah was towed out to sea by Turkish police on February 23, 1942. The next day, the ship sank. Initially it was believed to have been sunk after drifting into a minefield, but was actually torpedoed by a Soviet submarine. The sole survivor was 20 year old David Stoliar. He was found in the wreckage by Turkish sailors, jailed in Turkey, but released after 71 days when the British supplied a visa for Palestine.
- Title
- Notice to all members of allied troops in Tel Aviv today
- Date
-
publication/distribution:
1942 February 25
- Geography
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distribution:
Tel Aviv (Palestine) historic;
Tel Aviv (Israel)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection. The acquisition of this collection was made possible by the Crown Family.
- Markings
- front, top center, printed, black ink : MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF TEL-AVIV (black shield) Hebrew characters / NOTICE / TO ALL MEMBERS OF ALLIED TROOPS IN TEL-AVIV TODAY
front, center, printed, black ink : To explain the reason for the closing down of all Public / Entertainments and Amusements in Tel-Aviv tonight / The Radio brought news late this morning to the effect that the Refugee ship / “Strumaza” with 700 souls, men, women and children, struck a mine in the / black sea off Constantinople and was blown up with all on board. / These 700 Jewish souls, hounded from pillar to post, who had succeeded in / escaping the Nazi terror, had tried to reach a haven of rest. They had been / waiting opposite Turkish shores in this cargo boat capable of carrying only / several hundreds, begging for a temporary foothold and breathing space. / This was refused them and they were ordered away. / Putting off, unguided and unpiloted, from the Turkish shores, the ship entered / a minefield and was blown up with all souls on board. – Many of the dead / have relatives and friends here who begged for the possibility of harbouring / and maintaining them.
front, bottom center, printed, black ink : TEL-AVIV HAS GONE INTO MOURNING AND ALL ENTERTAINMENTS AND / AMUSEMENTS HAVE BEEN CALLED OFF. / 25th February 1942 / ISRAEL ROKACH / MAYOR OF TEL-AVIV / ,,Haaretz” Press, 56, (?)
- Contributor
-
Publisher:
Haaretz Press
Issuer:
Municipal Corporation of Tel-Aviv
Issuer:
Israel Rokach
