By Chuck Kemman
Special for The Reporter
On Aug. 9, 1945, 16 Estonian refugees set sail from Sweden in a 37-foot sloop to cross the Atlantic to America. Four and a half months later, they arrived in Norfolk, Va. The Küün daughters, consisting of Black Diamond resident Ulla Kemman and her two sisters, Aimi Brown of Flagler beach, Fla. and Inga Barrett of Mount Pleasant, Texas, recently gathered at Kemman’s home on Lake Sawyer to celebrate the anniversary. Kemman and her two sisters represent three of the four voyage members still living.
At the time World War II broke out, Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union. A year later, the Red Army was driven out of the country by Hitler’s Nazi forces. During the German occupation, Estonians of Swedish decent were allowed to immigrate to Sweden. The Küün family qualified and moved to Sweden. In 1944, as the Germans began losing the war, the Russians once again gained control of Estonia and insisted that all former Soviet citizens be repatriated.
Fearing persecution by the Russians, the Küün family made plans to flee to America.
Arvid Küün, the girls’ father, found a 50-year-old mail carrier vessel, the “Erma.” To raise money for needed repairs, the family took on additional passengers. Arvid, a graduate of the Estonian Merchant Marine Academy, knew that it was possible to cross the Atlantic under sail power by using the trade winds and following the route of Columbus.
After 127 days at sea, the small boat and its 16 passengers landed in Norfolk, Va. on Dec. 15, 1945.
The voyage of the “Erma” is memorialized in the book, “Sailing to Freedom” by Voldemar Veedam and Carl B. Wall. The story first appeared in the February 1947 issue of Reader’s Digest. A British press review declared the saga of the “Erma” the most epic historical sea voyage of our time.
To recognize the anniversary, a reception was held at the Kemman’s home on July 25 to share the story of the voyage. Invited guests included Black Diamond Mayor Carol Benson, Councilwoman Janie Edelman and Stevan Smith, an independent documentary producer.
Chuck Kemman is Ulla Kemman’s (Küün) husband.
The Küün daughters, Aimi Brown, Inga Barrett and Ulla Kemman, reunited for the 70th anniversary of their voyage to America July 25. Courtesy Photo
