Boat that ferried Danish Jews to safety in WWII takes on water at Seaport
Mystic — Officials at Mystic Seaport Museum are assessing possible damage to a boat that helped save the lives of hundreds of Danish Jews during World War II.
During routine morning rounds Thursday, museum staff members discovered that Gerda III, a 40-foot Danish lighthouse tender and visiting vessel from the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, had taken on water at its dock.
Because the boat was half submerged, the museum's staff contacted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which dispatched a team to assess and mitigate any environmental impact, said Sophia Matsas, the museum's vice president of marketing and communications.
Matsas said a barge and crane stabilized and recovered the vessel, which was then towed to the museum's Henry B. du Pont Preservation Shipyard for assessment.
Matsas said the museum is in close communication with the Museum of Jewish Heritage to coordinate the next steps.
Gerda III was among a fleet of workboats used to secretly ferry Danish Jews to Sweden so they could not be persecuted by the Germans who occupied Denmark during World War II.
The boat's Danish crew is credited with rescuing an estimated 300 Jews in groups of 10 and 15 in 1943, part of the overall effort that helped more than 7,000 people flee Denmark for Sweden. This was more than 90% of the Jews in Denmark at the time.
Restored in Denmark, the boat was donated by the Danish government to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in 1989 and later brought for display and safekeeping at Mystic Seaport Museum. The Museum of Jewish Heritage has been raising funds for its restoration. Additionally, Mystic Seaport Museum launched a PayPal fundraising campaign for the boat earlier this year.
'The Museum is committed to the responsible stewardship of maritime heritage and will continue to work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for Gerda III,' Matsas said.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage issued a statement Thursday expressing concern about the condition of the boat and called it 'a powerful symbol of the remarkable rescue efforts undertaken by the Danish people during the Holocaust.'
'The Gerda III's story, one of courage, resilience, and solidarity, exemplifies the extraordinary actions of ordinary people who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,' the statement reads.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage said it will offer support to Mystic Seaport Museum 'to ensure the Gerda III is fully restored and continues to serve as an educational resource for generations to come.'
'We are thankful to the incredible team in Mystic for their quick response. Without organizations like Mystic Seaport Museum, dedicated to preserving our maritime history, treasures like Gerda III would be lost,' the statement reads.
To donate toward the preservation and upkeep of the Gerda II, readers can visit https://mysticseaport.org/gerda-iii-danish-lighthouse-tender/.
g.smith@theday.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Munitions depot explosion at Kadena Air Base leaves four injured
Four members of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force were injured after a munition exploded on Kadena Air Base on Monday. The Air Force's 18th Wing, based out of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, confirmed that an explosion occurred at a munitions storage site on the northern side of the base. No U.S. personnel were injured and local authorities said that there is no risk of further explosions, according to the U.S. Air Force and Kyodo News. Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force were working in the munitions storage area, managed by the Okinawa Prefectural Government, when one item exploded, leaving four Japanese troops injured. According to Japanese media, the explosion happened while JSDF members were preparing to safely dispose of an unexploded ordnance. Per reports, the depot is a temporary storage spot, mainly used for leftover unexploded munitions from World War II. Okinawa was heavily bombed during World War II, as part of the U.S. military's campaign to capture the island in 1945. 80 years later and Japanese and American authorities continue to locate and dispose of unexploded ordnance, with more than 2,000 tons of munitions taken out. This is a developing story. A Marine Corps reply-all email apocalypse has an incredible real-life ending Army shuts down its sole active-duty information operations command Army plans to close more than 20 base museums in major reduction Former Green Beret nominated to top Pentagon position to oversee special ops The Navy's new recruiting commercial puts the 'dirt wars' in the past
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
D-Day anniversary events remember the ‘Bedford Boys'
BEDFORD, Va. (WFXR) — The anniversary of D-Day is a particularly somber one for the Town of Bedford, which has been home to the National D-Day Memorial since 2001. The town lost 20 young men while they were storming the beaches of Normandy, giving Bedford, a town of just over 3,200 at the time, the highest per capita death toll from D-Day. Executive Director of the Bedford Boys Tribute Center Ken Parker says 19 of those men were killed within the first nine minutes, without ever having fired a shot. 'They gave up all their tomorrows for our today,' said Parker. 'They perpetually teach us that freedom is not free.' At the National D-Day Memorial, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke in front of hundreds, including 10 of the few surviving World War II veterans. He called on listeners to remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives that day, many of whom, he pointed out, were barely old enough to graduate high school at the time. Clarence 'Bill' Wenzel was one of those men, just 17 at the time he joined the Navy during World War II. On Friday morning, he recalled the moment he was notified that he had been drafted. National D-Day memorial in Bedford commemorates 80th anniversary of D-Day 'I didn't like being drafted to go to war, because I was raised by a pastor,' said Wenzel. 'I was taught to love everybody and now here I'm being trained on how to kill another human being.' Later in the day, dozens gathered outside the Bedford County Courthouse for the annual wreath-laying ceremony for those 20 'Bedford Boys.' On the 10-year anniversary of D-Day, roughly 5,000 met at the courthouse for the dedication of a memorial stone shipped from France to honor the boys. Every year over the next four decades, two of the surviving 'Bedford Boys,' met at the stone to lay an ivy wreath at its base in honor of their fallen brothers. On the 81st anniversary, the town carried on that tradition, as relatives of those two men had the honor of placing the ivy wreath by the stone, while the descendants of the fallen 'Bedford Boys,' looked on. 'It's without a doubt the highlight of our entire year,' said Parker. 'To pay homage and respect to our beloved Bedford Boys.' Finally, at 6:44 p.m., a nod to June of 1944, all the church bells in town rang for one minute, while the bell atop the courthouse rang once for each of the 'Bedford Boys,' that laid down their lives in service of their country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
4 hours ago
- Axios
From New Orleans to Normandy: Honoring Louisiana's WWII heroes
As the nation remembers D-Day on Friday's 81st anniversary, a dwindling number of World War II veterans remain with us. About 300 WWII vets are still living in Louisiana, according to the latest figures from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The big picture: About 16.4 million Americans served in WWII, but only about 66,100 were still living as of September 2024, per the VA's projections. "We have the enormous responsibility to ensure that the memories and experiences of the war will not be lost as those who lived through it leave this world," said Stephen J. Watson, president and CEO of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, in a statement. Zoom out: The museum is welcoming back WWII veterans as part of its commemoration events. It had an overnight display Thursday with 2,510 candle luminaria to honor the Americans who died on D-Day. At 6:30am Friday, there's a remembrance gathering to mark the moment the invasion of Normandy began. About 25 WWII veterans and Holocaust survivors will open the museum at 8:50am Friday to a hero's welcome. The main ceremony, which is also free, starts at 11am. Full list of events. Meanwhile, it's also the museum's 25th anniversary. The venue opened in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum. It was housed in a single exhibition hall and dedicated to telling the stories of the Americans who participated in the amphibious invasion. Today, the museum spans seven pavilions and has immersive exhibits and an expansive collection of artifacts. Fun fact: The Higgins boats used on D-Day were designed and built in New Orleans. Fewer than 10 original boats remain in existence. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called Andrew Higgins "the man who won the war for us" thanks to his namesake landing craft.
