SS Oria
Encyclopedia
The SS Oria was a Norwegian
steamboat, which sank on February 12, 1944, causing the death of some 4000 Italian prisoners of war
. This was one of the worst maritime disasters ever, and probably the worst loss of life caused by the sinking of a single ship in the Mediterranean Sea
.
. It had a tonnage of 2127, and was property of the Norwegian company Fearnley & Eger from Oslo
. At the beginning of World War II, it was part of a convoy sent to North Africa, and was in Casablanca
interned in June 1940, shortly after the German occupation of Norway. One year later the ship was requisitioned by the Vichy French, renamed Sainte Julienne, and used in the Mediterranean. In November 1942 it was formally returned to its former owner and therefore renamed Oria, but soon after it was assigned to the German company Mittelmeer Reederei GmbH from Hamburg.
in Greece to the Germans, the Germans had to transfer tens of thousands of Italian prisoners over the sea. These transfers were made often using unseaworthy vessels, cramming prisoners into the hull of the ships, and without any safety standard. Several ships sank, by allied attack or by accident, causing the death of thousands of prisoners.
The Oria was one of the vessels chosen to transport Italian prisoners. On February 11, 1944 it sailed from Rhodes
directly to Piraeus
, carrying 4,046 Italian prisoners (43 officers, 118 noncommissioned officers and 3885 soldiers) , 90 Germans on duty or en route, and the crew. The next day the ship was caught by a storm and sank at Cape Sounion. Some tugs, arriving the next day on the scene, could only save 21 Italians, six Germans and a Greek. All the others, an estimated total of 4,074 souls, lost their lives.
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
steamboat, which sank on February 12, 1944, causing the death of some 4000 Italian prisoners of war
Italian military internees
Italian military internees was the official name given by Germany to the Italian soldiers captured, rounded up and deported in the territories of the Third Reich in Operation Achse in the days immediately following the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces .After disarmament by the...
. This was one of the worst maritime disasters ever, and probably the worst loss of life caused by the sinking of a single ship in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
The ship
The Oria was built in 1920 by Osbourne, Graham & Co from SunderlandCity of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
. It had a tonnage of 2127, and was property of the Norwegian company Fearnley & Eger from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. At the beginning of World War II, it was part of a convoy sent to North Africa, and was in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
interned in June 1940, shortly after the German occupation of Norway. One year later the ship was requisitioned by the Vichy French, renamed Sainte Julienne, and used in the Mediterranean. In November 1942 it was formally returned to its former owner and therefore renamed Oria, but soon after it was assigned to the German company Mittelmeer Reederei GmbH from Hamburg.
The sinking
In the fall of 1943, after the surrender of Italian troopsDodecanese Campaign
The Dodecanese Campaign of World War II was an attempt by Allied forces, mostly British, to capture the Italian-held Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea following the surrender of Italy in September 1943, and use them as bases against the German-controlled Balkans...
in Greece to the Germans, the Germans had to transfer tens of thousands of Italian prisoners over the sea. These transfers were made often using unseaworthy vessels, cramming prisoners into the hull of the ships, and without any safety standard. Several ships sank, by allied attack or by accident, causing the death of thousands of prisoners.
The Oria was one of the vessels chosen to transport Italian prisoners. On February 11, 1944 it sailed from Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
directly to Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, carrying 4,046 Italian prisoners (43 officers, 118 noncommissioned officers and 3885 soldiers) , 90 Germans on duty or en route, and the crew. The next day the ship was caught by a storm and sank at Cape Sounion. Some tugs, arriving the next day on the scene, could only save 21 Italians, six Germans and a Greek. All the others, an estimated total of 4,074 souls, lost their lives.
See also
- Gaetano DonizettiItalian ship Gaetano DonizettiThe Gaetano Donizetti was an Italian merchant ship, which sank on September 23, 1943 in the Aegean Sea, killing some 1,800 people on board, 1,576 Italian POW's and 220 guards and crew.- Background :...
- Mario RoselliItalian ship Mario RoselliThe Mario Roselli was an Italian cargo ship, which sank on 11 October 1943 in Corfu Bay, killing some 1,302 Italian POW's.- History of the ship :The Mario Roselli was built by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico in 1940...
- Massacre of the Acqui DivisionMassacre of the Acqui DivisionThe Massacre of the Acqui Division , also known as the Cephalonia Massacre , was the mass execution of the men of the Italian 33rd Acqui Infantry Division by the Germans on the island of Kefalonia, Greece, in September 1943, following the Italian armistice during the Second World War. About 5000...