Aliyah Bet

Aliyah Bet

Aliyah Bet (Hebrew: עלייה ב׳, "Aliyah 'B'") was the secret name for people helping Jews travel to Mandatory Palestine when it was against the rules. Many of these people were refugees escaping from Nazi Germany or other places controlled by the Nazis, and later Holocaust survivors. This happened between 1920 and 1948, especially a lot between 1939 and 1948, because the British government had made rules to stop too many Jews from coming in.

After the State of Israel was created in May 1948, many Jewish people who had to leave Europe came to Israel during a big war. In Israel today, this is called Ha'apala, meaning "Ascension." The people who made this journey are called Ma'apilim. This was different from Aliyah Aleph, which was the name for the small number of Jews allowed to move in by the British government during the same time. The name Aliya Bet is sometimes shortened to Aliya Bilti Legalit, which means "illegal immigration."

Organization

Main articles: Aftermath of the Holocaust, History of the Jews during World War II, and The Holocaust

Further information: Anti-Jewish violence in Central and Eastern Europe, 1944–1946; Antisemitism in Europe; Consequences of Nazism; Holocaust survivors; Jews escaping from German-occupied Europe; and Relations between Nazi Germany and the Arab world

During Ha'apala, many groups worked together to help Jews escaping from Nazi Germany reach Mandatory Palestine. British rules made this difficult. As persecution of Jews grew worse, helping people get to safety became very important.

Ha'apala happened in two main times. The first time, from 1934 to 1942, helped European Jews escape danger. The second time, from 1945 to 1948, was called Bricha, meaning "flight" or "escape". This was to help Jewish survivors of Nazi crimes find new homes. Many of these survivors were living in camps in post-war Europe, mainly in Allied-occupied Germany, Austria, and Italy.

In the first phase, several groups led the effort. After World War II, the Mossad LeAliyah Bet, part of the Haganah, took charge. The Palyam, a sea group from the Palmach, was in charge of sailing ships from Europe to Mandatory Palestine.

Routes

After World War II, journeys called Ha'apala usually began in special camps. They moved through two points in the American area, Bad Reichenhall and Leipheim. From there, people traveled in hidden trucks, on foot, or by train to ports on the Mediterranean Sea. Ships took them to Palestine. Many ships had names like Lo Tafchidunu ("You can't frighten us") and La-Nitzhon ("To the victory") to inspire hope. Many Jews arrived in Palestine on these ships.

American area camps did not stop people from leaving, and some officials helped them. The British government tried to stop this by watching the camps and using navy ships.

History

Many people wanted to go to a place called Mandatory Palestine without permission. They made 142 trips on 120 ships, but most were stopped by British patrols. The British Navy watched for any suspicious boats. Most people who were caught were sent to special camps in Cyprus. Sadly, many people drowned during the journey, and only a few thousand reached Palestine.

In 1947, a ship called Exodus was stopped by the British Navy. The people on board were sent back to Europe and kept in camps in Germany. This made the British government feel embarrassed.

Timeline

Before World War II

• In 1934, the first big group of people arrived by sea on the Vallos. They sailed without permission and landed near Palestine with help from the Haganah.
• In 1939, the Colorado carried Jewish refugees but was stopped by the British and taken to Haifa.
• Later that year, the Aghios Nicolaus moved 840 people to smaller boats and took them to shore.
• The Parita was deliberately run aground at Tel Aviv by its passengers after the crew fled.

During World War II

• In 1939, the Tiger Hill was stopped and fired on by the Royal Navy. The ship HMCS Belleville ran aground with many people on board.
• The Rudnitchan moved refugees to lifeboats and sent them to shore in 1939.
• The Noemi Julia was stopped by a British warship in 1939. The refugees resisted and were held for a month before being released.
• In 1939, a group traveled by train and then riverboat to the Romanian border, where they were stranded.
• In 1940, the Pencho sank after her engines failed. Survivors were taken to Rhodes and held in a camp until 1943.
• In 1940, refugees left Vienna on riverboats. They reached Haifa on the Pacific and the Milos. The British tried to send them to Mauritius but the ship capsized. Survivors stayed in Palestine.
• In 1940, the Salvador sank in a storm. Some survivors were sent back, while others continued on another ship.
• In 1942, the Struma was sunk after being turned away by Turkey. Only one person survived.
• In 1942, the Europa sank in the Bosphorus.
• In 1944, the Belasitza reached Palestine by train.
• In 1944, three ships carrying about 1,000 refugees were sunk by a Soviet submarine. A few survivors were rescued.

After VE Day

• In 1945, the Dalin landed people at Caesarea Maritima.
• The Natan landed people in Palestine in 1945 and again in October.
• The Gabriela arrived in Palestine without being detected in 1945.
• The Peter landed people in Palestine in September and again in October, both times without being detected.
• The Berl Katznelson was stopped by the Royal Navy but most passengers reached shore.
• The Hannah Senesh ran aground and its passengers escaped in 1945.
• The Enzo Sereni was stopped and taken to Haifa in 1946.
• The Wingate was captured by the British Palestine Police Force in 1946.
• The Tel Hai was stopped by a British destroyer in 1946.
• The Max Nordau was captured, but two other ships arrived legally after passengers refused to give up.
• The Haviva Reik was stopped but some passengers had already moved to another ship.
• The Josiah Wedgwood was taken to a detention camp in 1946.
• The Haganah was stopped and its passengers were arrested after moving refugees to another ship.
• The Yagur was stopped and the passengers resisted in 1946.
• The Henrietta Szold was stopped and the British said illegal immigrants would be sent to Cyprus.
• The Katriel Jaffe and the Twenty Three were stopped. There was resistance on the Twenty Three. British troops fired on a crowd trying to enter the port.
• The Amiram Shochat landed near Caesarea Maritima without being stopped in 1946.
• The Dov Hos was seized by British destroyers in 1946.
• The Palmach was seized after several attempts to board her in 1946.
• The Eliahu Golomb was captured near Lebanon in 1946.
• The Latrun was intercepted and was leaking when found in 1946.
• The HaKedosha sank in a storm but passengers were rescued. The Knesset Israel was stopped and taken to Haifa.
• The Rafiah ran aground in 1946. Survivors were taken to Cyprus but women and children were allowed into Palestine.
• The Lanegev was captured after a battle in 1947.

• The HaMapil HaAlmoni was captured after a battle in 1947.
• The Haim Arlosoroff was stopped and the passengers were arrested and sent to Cyprus.
• The Ben Hecht was captured without resistance in 1947.
• The Shabtai Luzinsky ran aground and most passengers escaped in 1947.
• The Moledet had engine trouble and was taken to Haifa in 1947.
• The Theodor Herzl was stopped and the passengers resisted in 1947.
• The Shear Yashuv was stopped in 1947.
• The Hatikva was captured in 1947.
• The Mordei Hagetaot was stopped and all passengers were arrested in 1947.
• The Yehuda Halevy was stopped and the passengers were sent to Cyprus in 1947.
• The SS Exodus was stopped and the passengers resisted. They were taken to France and then to Germany.
• The 14 Halalei Gesher Haziv and the Shivat Zion were stopped in 1947.
• The Af Al Pi Chen was stopped after resistance in 1947.
• The Medinat HaYehudim and the Geulah were stopped in 1947.
• The Peter, renamed the Aliyah, ran the blockade and landed near Netanya in 1947.
• The Kadima was stopped and taken to Haifa in 1947.

After the UN Partition Resolution

• The HaPortzim landed people at the mouth of the Yarkon River in 1947.
• The Lo Tafchidunu was stopped and taken in tow in 1947.
• The 29 BeNovember was stopped in 1947.
• The HaUmot HaMeuhadot landed near Nahariya in 1948. Some passengers were caught, others escaped. The Atzma'ut and the Kibbutz Galuyot were stopped and taken to Cyprus.
• The 35 Giborei Kfar Etzion was stopped in 1948.
• The Yerushalayim Hanezura was stopped in 1948.
• The Lekommemiyut was stopped in 1948.
• The Bonim v'Lochamim was stopped off Cape Carmel in 1948.
• The Yehiam was stopped in 1948.
• The Tirat Zvi was stopped in 1948.
• The Mishmar HaEmek was stopped in 1948.
• The Nakhson was stopped after resistance in 1948.

Conclusion

The effort called Aliyah Bet helped many people move to Palestine, though not everyone made it. It united the Jewish community in Palestine (the Yishuv) with those who survived hard times in Europe (Sh'erit ha-Pletah).

Sadly, some people died at sea. We remember them at the National Cemetery in Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.