Darien II
Encyclopedia
Darien II was the last ship to bring Aliya Bet refugees to Haifa
(now in Israel
), on March 19, 1941, during World War II
.
Originally named the Pole Star, it was built in Glasgow
, Scotland
in 1892 for the Northern Lighthouse Board
. After changing names and ownership several times it became the Sophia S in 1939. The ship was fitted with berths and latrines so as to become Aliya Bet ship. She was sent to Istanbul
and from there to Romania
in October 1940. The refugees from Cladova didn't arrive so they put aboard 800 refugees from Romania and Bulgaria. Days before the ship was to leave, word is received that it had been sold to the British. In March 1941 the ship arrived in Haifa. The British Mandate government requisitioned the ship and put the passengers in Athlith detainee camp for 18 months. The ship was renamed the Darien II.
After 1941 the Royal Navy
turned the Darien II into cold storage ship and it supplied fresh food to Allied troops in besieged Tubruk & Malta
also Sicily
and Italy. Ultimately it was left to rot in Port Said
and sent for scrap 1952.
The Darien Dilemma, a film that mixed a fictionalized retelling of the final Aliya Bet sailing with interviews of actual passengers, premiered at the Tel-Aviv International Documentary Film Festival in 2006.
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
(now in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
), on March 19, 1941, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Originally named the Pole Star, it was built in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1892 for the Northern Lighthouse Board
Northern Lighthouse Board
The Northern Lighthouse Board is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is a non-departmental public body responsible for marine navigation aids around coastal areas.-History:...
. After changing names and ownership several times it became the Sophia S in 1939. The ship was fitted with berths and latrines so as to become Aliya Bet ship. She was sent to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and from there to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in October 1940. The refugees from Cladova didn't arrive so they put aboard 800 refugees from Romania and Bulgaria. Days before the ship was to leave, word is received that it had been sold to the British. In March 1941 the ship arrived in Haifa. The British Mandate government requisitioned the ship and put the passengers in Athlith detainee camp for 18 months. The ship was renamed the Darien II.
After 1941 the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
turned the Darien II into cold storage ship and it supplied fresh food to Allied troops in besieged Tubruk & Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
also Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Italy. Ultimately it was left to rot in Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
and sent for scrap 1952.
The Darien Dilemma, a film that mixed a fictionalized retelling of the final Aliya Bet sailing with interviews of actual passengers, premiered at the Tel-Aviv International Documentary Film Festival in 2006.