Many former Exodus 1947 passengers moved to friends somewhere or other in Europe to escape the life in the camps. Others, in small groups, again made their way to Palestine, via the DP camp Belsen-Hohne, in the Lüneburg Heath. There was little change in camp life. The collective experience made the camp inhabitants into a group with a common destiny from which many marriages resulted. Some inhabitants formed kibbutz groups (collective agricultural settlement) for life in Palestine. Youths were sent to a Jewish hostel in Bad Harzburg, in the Harz Mountains, to recuperate, and for their health. Despite good medical care and sufficient food there were deaths. The Jewish camp inhabitants often attended cultural events outside the camps. Relations with the local inhabitants were problem free.
On 14th May 1948, the Jewish State of Israel was established in the former British mandate of Palestine. Consequently, the emigration restrictions were soon abolished. In mid July 1948, following nearly eight months of occupation, the Emden camp was evacuated. The remaining inhabitants of the Emden camp were transferred to other camps, from where they began their journey to Palestine. Women, and the sick, were taken to the Bergen-Hohne DP camp. After some days, the camp in Sengwarden was also cleared. Around 500 Jews were taken by lorry to Bergen-Belsen, from where they arrived in Marseille by train on 15th August 1948.
In Marseille these former Exodus 1947 passengers began anew the sea journey to the land of their hopes.
