JOURNEYS TO SOUTH AFRICA

The continent of Africa was a largely unknown destination for Estonians who had escaped to Sweden after World War II. But as Soviet authorities pressured the Swedish government to return “its citizens,” refugees began searching for safer lands far from the Soviet threat.

Author Jüri Vendla writes in Unustatud merereisid (Forgotten Sea Journeys) that Estonians in Sweden contacted the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Stockholm to investigate the possibility of a large group of refugees settling in South Africa. The embassy reportedly contacted the relevant authorities, but the government was not interested in welcoming the would-be immigrants. 

In response, Estonians quietly began making plans that would bypass official channels, just as their brethren had done as they escaped to other parts of the world. The refugees collected funds, bought ships, and set plans in motion. They did not know how long and difficult the journeys to South Africa would be. It is known that six boats left Sweden for South Africa. Three of them, the Dagmar, Ann-Mari, and Ly, were successful and brought about 70 refugees to their new home in South Africa via Lüderitz, German South West Africa (Namibia). 

The boats that didn’t make it are described in Broken Journeys. 

Boat name / Date of arrival / Passengers / Destination

1. Dagmar November 2, 1947 16 Lüderitz
2. Ann-Mari December 8, 1948 44 Lüderitz 
3. Ly June 1949 11 Lüderitz

TOTAL 71 PASSENGERS