Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Hilda הילדה was a former coal transport vessel that travelled the Danube Donau River
Registered name: Orion
Built: 1884
Capacity: 792 gross tons

Hilda הילדה Orion was supplied, manned and made ready to sail in Balchik Балчик.

Hilda הילדה Orion took on passengers from Bratislava, who had come down the Danube River, travelling on a collective Paraguayan visa.
She was supposed to pick up the Kladovo Group.
Hilda הילדה Orion's 726 passengers, were crammed on board, agreed to wait until visas for the Kladovo Group had been attained, and they waited for almost a month.
Hilda הילדה Orion was frozen to the pier and unable to sail, most of the members of the drunken crew had left, the fresh water was frozen, they were almost out of food, two passengers were nearing the ends of their pregnancies and, if something had not been done immediately, the passengers intended "to inform the world that they were being held in bondage under inhuman conditions" in Balchik Балчик.

On December 9, 1939, Hilda הילדה Orion sailed from Sulina, carrying 726 passengers, mainly Young Maccabi and other Zionists, organized by Mossad leAliyah Bet.
Abraham J. Edelheit, Hershel Edelheit cite: Hilda הילדה Orion sailing from Baltzec Балчик Balchik, carrying 728 passengers
Paul H. Silverstone's Aliyah Bet Project cites: On January 8, 1940, Hilda הילדה Orion sailed from Sulina, having taken on 729 passengers.
Amuta Yam.org,il cites: Orion אוריון sailed from Romania on January 9,1940, carrying 677 passenger.

On December 9, 1939, Feivel Filip Isser Koegel sailed on Hilda הילדה Orion from Sulina.

On January 24, 1940, Hilda הילדה Orion approached the shores of Palestine, and was intercepted by the British.
The Maapilim were interned at Atlit Detention Camp.