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What North German Lloyd Ship Made the Last New York to Bremen Trip in 1939?

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by baumgrenze, Jan 12, 2020.

  1. baumgrenze

    baumgrenze New Member

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    My hope is that someone in this community will know (or know who I should ask to learn) the name of the last North German Lloyd liner to complete a trip east bound from New York to Bremen in 1939 before the port closed to incoming passenger traffic for the duration of WWII.

    If there is a better forum on which to ask this question, please point me in the right direction.

    Thanks,
    baumgrenze
     
    baumgrenze, Jan 12, 2020
    #1
  2. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    SS Bremen left Bremerhaven on August 22, 1939 and arrived at New York City on August 28, 1939. She left New York City on August 30, 1939, and arrived at Murmansk(where Germany was then sending her blockade runners) on September 6, before finally arriving back at Bremerhaven on December 12, 1939.
     
    Takao, Jan 12, 2020
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  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    From wikipedia:
    On 26 August 1939, in anticipation of the invasion of Poland, the Kriegsmarine high command ordered all German merchant ships to head to German ports immediately. Bremen was on a westbound crossing and two days from New York when she received the order. Bremen's captain decided to continue to New York to disembark her 1,770 passengers. She left New York without passengers on 30 August 1939 and on 1 September, coincident with the start of the Second World War, she was ordered to make for the Russian port of Murmansk. Underway, her crew painted the ship grey for camouflage. She made use of bad weather and high speed to avoid Royal Navy cruisers, arriving in Murmansk on 6 September 1939. With the outbreak of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, on 10 December 1939 Bremen made a dash to Bremerhaven, arriving on 13 December. On the way she was sighted and challenged by the S-class submarine HMS Salmon. While challenging Bremen, an escorting Dornier Do 18 seaplane forced Salmon to dive for safety. After diving, Salmon's commander decided not to torpedo the liner because he believed she was not a legal target.[7] His decision not to fire on Bremen likely delayed the start of unrestricted submarine warfare.[3]
     
    LRusso216, Jan 12, 2020
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  4. baumgrenze

    baumgrenze New Member

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    Thank you both for your precise and timely information.

    My question needed to be more precise:

    Is there a record of the last east bound ship to successfully carry passengers to Bremen from New York before the port was closed?

    I recognize that this is a less 'dramatic' question. Here is why it is of interest to me.
    My father, Gustav Baum (6 Nov 1911 - 13 Dec 1998,) arrived in New York from Bremen on the München on Labor Day, 9/2/29. By 1938 he was a successful enough business man to send his 63-year-old father a ticket to America. He came on the Bremen and arrived on 24 June 1938. He was tempted to stay, but felt responsible to return home "to look after the women" as it became clear that war was imminent. Family lore says he managed to catch 'the last ship back' in 1939.

    I understand that eastbound passenger lists are seldom available on family history sites. On the chance that one exists, he was Wilhelm Baum of Stangenbach.
    Thanks for your help thus far and any more information you can access.

    Thanks,
    baumgrenze
     
    baumgrenze, Jan 12, 2020
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