Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Варна
Varna
Nickname: Морската столица The Marine Capital

In 680, Asparukh Аспарух, founder of the First Bulgarian Empire, routed the army of Constantine IV near the Danube Delta, pursued it, and reached Varna Варна,near Odessos and the midlands thereof "...ελθοντες επι την λεγομενην Βαρναν πλησιον 'Οδυσσου και του εκεισε μεσογαιου"

With the Treaty of Nymphaeum of 1261, the alliance between Michael VIII Palaeologus and Genova opened up the Black Sea to Genoese commerce, and Varna Варна turned into a thriving commercial port, frequented by Genoese and later lby Venetian and Ragusan merchant ships.

On September 6, 1934, Velos 'וילוס ב sailed a second time from Varna Варна, carrying 350 passengers, organized by Hechalutz.
Both WZO and Labour Zionist leaderships opposed any further attempts.
The Jewish Agency opposed illegal immigration in any form in the years after the Velos 'וילוס ב attempt, and the opposition lasted until the end of 1938.
They feared that illegal immigration would affect the granting of certificates for legal immigrants.
Jürgen Rohwer cites: Velos וילוס, on her second voyage, sailed from Varna Варна, led by Levi Schwartz.
Katriel Yaffe served as Commander מפקד aboard Velos 'וילוס ב when she sailed from Varna Варна.

On August 1, 1939, Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר sailed from Varna Варна, organized by Betar בית"ר and Baruch Konfino, carrying 305 passengers, mainly from Czechoslovakia.
Grigor Gorbatenko Григо́рий Тимофеев Горбатенко served as Captain aboard Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר.

On August 30, 1939, Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר sailed from Varna Варна, via Constanţa and Burgas Бургас, organized by Betar בית"ר and Baruch Konfino, carrying 371 passengers.
Amutayam.org.il cites Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר sailed in September, 1939, from Varna Варна, carrying 371 passengers.
Atanas Panayotov Атанас Панайотов, cites: Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר caried 368 passengers.
She towed the large boat Success, also full of refugees.
During the voyage, a storm began and Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר began to leak.
Grigor Gorbatenko Григо́рий Тимофеев Горбатенко served as Captain aboard Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר.

In November, 1939. Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר sailed from Varna Варна, organized by Betar בית"ר and Baruch Konfino, carrying 457 passengers, and towed Cooperator.
Atanas Panayotov Атанас Панайотов cites: on September 29, 1939. Rudnicar Рудничар רודניצ'ר sailed from Varna Варна, via Sulina, carrying 457 passengers.

In August, 1939, Tripoli sailed from Varna Варна, organized by Revisionists, carrying 700 passengers.

On November 10, 1444, one of the last major battles of the Crusades in European history was fought outside Varna Варна city walls.
The Turks routed an army of 20,000 Crusaders led by Ladislaus III of Poland (also Ulászló I of Hungary), which had assembled at Varna Варна to sail to Constantinople.
Varna Варна, and all of Bulgaria България, came under Ottoman domination for more than four centuries.