description MV Struma Overview
MV Struma was a vessel carrying 769 Jewish refugees from Axis-allied Romania who were attempting to reach Mandatory Palestine during the Holocaust. After being detained at Istanbul, the ship was towed into the Black Sea, where the Soviet submarine Shch-213 torpedoed it on 24 February 1942. The sinking killed all but one person aboard and became one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving civilian refugees during the Second World War.
help MV Struma FAQ
What was the fate of the MV Struma's passengers?
The MV Struma suffered a tragic fate when it was sunk in the Black Sea on February 24, 1942, resulting in the loss of nearly all passengers. Out of the nearly 800 Jewish refugees on board attempting to reach Mandatory Palestine, only one person survived. The passengers were left abandoned after the ship's engine failed and it was towed out to sea.
Who torpedoed the MV Struma?
The MV Struma was torpedoed by the Soviet submarine Shch-213. The Soviet submarine mistook the dilapidated refugee ship for an enemy Axis vessel. This catastrophic attack occurred shortly after the ship was towed back into the Black Sea by Turkish authorities.
Why was the MV Struma in Istanbul before it sank?
The MV Struma arrived in Istanbul because its engine had failed while the ship was attempting to travel from Romania to Mandatory Palestine. The Turkish authorities forced the ship to stay anchored in the harbor while the passengers desperately awaited entry visas to Palestine. After weeks of deadlock, Turkish forces towed the stranded vessel back out into the Black Sea.
Where did the passengers of the MV Struma originally board the ship?
The 769 Jewish refugees boarded the MV Struma in the port city of Constanța in Axis-allied Romania. They were attempting to flee the escalating horrors of the Holocaust in Europe during World War II. They paid a high price for passage on the overcrowded, poorly maintained vessel.
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