Βέλος Velos ’וילוס א‘ & ב
| City | Πειραιάς Pireaus |
| State/ Province | Αττική |
| Country | Ελλάδα |
Narrative
Βέλος Velos וילוס
Built: 1906
Capacity: 3092 gross tons
Narrative
In July, 1934, Velos 'וילוס א sailed from Pireaus Πειραιάς, carrying 350 passengers, including 330 Hechalutz trainees from Poland, organized and rented by Hechalutz.
The voyage was organized by Hehalutz in Poland, kibbutz members and the Haganah הגנה, without the permission of the heads of the Jewish Agency, who disapproved of any attempt to sidestep the Mandatory immigration regulations and certificate arrangements.
The Hehalutz in Poland was unwilling to wait years for certificates.
Shimon Schlechter Ben Yosef cites: Velos 'וילוס א carried a group of 380 pioneers, including 80 women, from Hechalutz, Haoved, haShomer haTzair, and Gordonia.
Jürgen Rohwer cites: In the summer of 1934, Velos 'וילוס א was chartered by Hehalutz in Poland, and carried 300 passengers when she sailed from Piraeus Πειραιάς.
The passengers had been assembled in Warsaw, and included Maapilim from Lithuania, Latvia, Czechoslovakia and Galicia.
Katriel Yaffe served as Commander מפקד aboard Velos 'וילוס א when she sailed from Pireaus Πειραιάς.
Narrative
On August 25, 1934, Velos 'וילוס א reached the shores of Palestine.
One boat load of Maapilim was brought ashore off the coast near Hadera חדרה, but their boat was stranded on a rock.
AmutaYam.org.il cites: Velos 'וילוס א passengers came ashore at Kfar Vitkin כפר ויתקין.
Despite help from Haganah הגנה and members of Hapoel haNoar nautical students, who received special permission to assist them, passengers were unable to come ashore, and elos 'וילוס א went back out to sea, and the next day entered Tel Aviv harbour, where the rest of the passengers were unloaded.
Shimon Schlecter Ben Yosef cites: "On the eighth day we reached the shores of Eretz Yisrael. We anchored off the coast near Netanya. No British were in sight, and we managed to unload 60 pioneers. But the storm resumed its ferocity, and we were forced to postpone the operation until the sea would calm. Conditions in the Mediterranean were no better than the Aegean. We fought the gales in vain and were finally forced to turn around and leave that area."
"The following day we spotted a small boat approaching. They identified themselves as members of Hagana. The ten Israeli fighters encouraged us, but conditions were not right for continuing our mission."