Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

On March 27, 1944, the Germans occupied northern Transylvania, and implemented large-scale anti-Semitic measures.
The Mozes family, 0ncluding Magda Mozes, and thousands of other Jews, was forced into the Kolozsvár Ghetto Ghetoul din Cluj.

In May, 1944, the Gremans began the liquidation of the Kolozsvár Ghetto Ghetoul din Cluj, and Magda Mozes and her family were transported to Auschwitz, where most of them perished.

After six weeks in Auschwitz, Magda Mozes, age 18 years, was transported to Bremen, where she did forced labor as the city was bombed by Allied forces.

In March 1945, Magda Mozes was transfered to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, where she worked disposing thousands of corpses that had accumulated in and around the barracks.

On April 15, 1945, Magda Mozes collapsed from exhaustion, and was near death when she was found among the corpses by a British soldier, when they liberated the camp.

After liberation, Magda Mozes spent 3 months recuperation, after which, the Red Cross arranged transportation back to Cluj, to search for her mother.
Magda found her living in a one-bedroom apartment

Magda Mozes passed her first round of exams, then her baccalaureate, and prepared for the medical school exam.
Eugene Herzberger helped her study for her medical school exam and three months later, in November, 1946, they were married.

Gad Hilb served as Captain aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.
Gad Hilb cites: "Yosef (Yossi) Hamburger, the CEO of the operation involving these two ships, joined us. With him came the Palyamnik, Akiva Offenbach."
"On 15th August 1947 I was appointed captain of the “Pan York” with a crew consisting of 3 professional Israeli officers (me, Ephraim Tzuk and Werner Salomon). There were three other officers, six experienced Spanish seamen, and 7 American Jewish volunteers. There were also 3 men of the Mosad for Aliya Bet, Nissan Levitan, Reuven (Pupchen) Oren and Shlomo Hans Rosen."

Nimrod Eshel served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Esteban 'Captain Steve' Hernandorena served as 1st Mate aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Donald 'Donny' Aaron Molofsky served in the Catering Department aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Akiva Offenbach served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

In December, 1947, Willie Rostoker was appointed 3rd Mate by by the Captain, Gad Hilb, aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Efraim Tzuk served as Chief Engineer abaord Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Irving Weingarten served as Senior Deckhand aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Yoash 'Chato' Tzidon served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

On August 15, 1947, Gad Hilb was appointed Captain of Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות, with a crew of 3 Israeli officers, Gad Hilb, Ephraim Tzuk as Chief Engineer, and Werner Salomon.
The crew also included three other officers, including Estaban Hernandorena "Captain Steve', six experienced Spanish seamen, 7 American Jewish volunteers, and 3 men from Mossad le'Aliyah Bet, Nissan Levitan, Palyam Commander and Shlomo Hans Rosen, and Palyamniks, Zalman Perach, Akiva Offenbach, Willie Rostoker, David Lowenthal, Irving Weingarten, and Gidonim, Reuven Oren and Malka Rofeh.

On December 23, 1947, Dr. Harden Ashkenazy sailed on Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות. from Constanţa, for Palestine.

On December 23, 1947, Eugene Herzberger, and his wife, Magda, and Magda's mother, a relative of Magda's helped arrange the voyage, sailed on Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות, from Constanţa, for Palestine.

Dr. Harden Ashkenazy and his wife, Nina, were interned by the British at Karaolos Καράολος Internment Camp.

Eugene Herberger and his wife, Magda, were interned by the British at Karaolos Καράολος Internment Camp.