The Zamzam Story

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In the spring of 1941, before the United States had entered World War II, the passenger ship Zamzam was sunk by a German raider in the South Atlantic.  Among the Zamzam's 201 passengers were 142 Americans, most of whom were missionaries en route to Africa. The dramatic sinking and miraculous rescue became headline news in 1941.

The Zamzam Story continues to draw interest through new publications, interviews,  presentations, and reunions of survivors.

Survivor Luella Faith Holwerda has recently published a children's book about the Zamzam.  It is titled  "Zamzam's Faith in the Middle", Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse, 2011.

Peter Levitt, also a Zamzam survivor, has written a book titled "A Memoir on the Sinking of the Zamzam", Toronto:  Lugus Publications, 2011.

In May 2011 Peter Levitt  was interviewed by Steve Paikin, Anchor and Senior Editor of the public affairs program "The Agenda with Steve Paikin".  The interview, which focused on Peter's new book and the Zamzam and internment experience, was televised on TVO, the public TeleVision station for Ontario, Canada.

Photos and comments from the 2010 reunion of Zamzam survivors and families may be viewed in the "Survivors and Reunions" section.  Also, two interviews by Laurence Danielson in 2010 have been recorded as YouTube segments and may be viewed in "Resources".

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Last update:  August 17, 2011