A Passage Through History: SS Brittania & SS Normandie Voyage During the Outbreak of WWII (1939)

📌 Discover the remarkable 1939 passage contract of SS Brittania & SS Normandie, issued just as World War II erupted. Explore historical passenger details, ticket costs, and maritime significance—essential for genealogists, historians, and ocean travel enthusiasts.

SS Brittania & SS Normandie Passage Ticket, Rotterdam to Southampton & Southampton to New York, departing 6 September 1939, issued to Mrs. Agnes de Linia (or de Lina). GGA Image ID # 1fa55cbf18

SS Brittania & SS Normandie Passage Contract (6 September 1939) 🚢✨

This historically significant passage contract offers a rare glimpse into transatlantic travel on the brink of World War II. The SS Brittania & SS Normandie voyage, undertaken on 6 September 1939, serves as both a maritime and geopolitical artifact, shedding light on the uncertainty, urgency, and complexity of ocean travel at the outbreak of global conflict.

This passage contract, issued to Mrs. Agnes de Lina, an American traveler, details her journey from Rotterdam to Southampton aboard the SS Brittania, before transferring to the luxurious SS Normandie for her transatlantic crossing to New York.

This historical document is invaluable for:

✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – A primary source for research on transatlantic travel, WWII, and evacuation routes.

✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – Provides insight into passenger migration and the urgency of wartime departures.

✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – Highlights one of history’s greatest ocean liners, the SS Normandie.

✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – A detailed cost breakdown of the ticket’s inflation-adjusted value from 1939 to today.

Summary of Passage Contract

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 6 September 1939
• Steamship Line: CGT French Line
• Steamship: SS Brittania / SS Normandie
• Route: Rotterdam to Southampton / Southampton to New York
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Cabin
• Name on Contract: Mrs. Agnes de Lina
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): American
• Contract Terms: Transcribed
• Cost of Ticket: $114.93 / $2,140.00 USD in 2020

Passage Contract Details

On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from the west; two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany, beginning World War II.

Ticket No. 20082

First portion of journey was Rotterdam to Southampton on 1 September 1939 aboard the Brittania. Mrs. Lina transferrred to the Normandie for the voyage across the Atlantic.

Cost of Passage: 215.00 (Currency assumed to be in Dutch Guilder)

The Receipt Section states: Received the sum of $7.00 les 7 1/2% ($0.52)= $6.48 at exchange of $4.72 = £1 7s. 5d.

The reverse side was blank.

Ticket was discovered tucked away in a voyage scrapbook. Mrs. de Lina had visited Norway, Denmark, Holland, and England, just before war broke out.

Arriving Passenger Record New York

• Name: Agnes De Lima
• Gender: Female
• Marital status: Divorced
• Age: 52
• Birth Date: abt 1887
• Birth Place: New Jersey
• Other Birth Place: Holywood
• Departure Port: Le Havre, France
• Ship Name: Ile de France
• Arrival Date: 9 Sep 1939
• Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA

Source Citation
Year: 1939; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 26; Page Number: 43

Source Information

Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Original data:

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. NAI: 6256867. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls. NAI: 300346. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Supplemental Manifests of Alien Passengers and Crew Members Who Arrived on Vessels at New York, New York, Who Were Inspected for Admission, and Related Index, compiled 1887-1952. Microfilm Publication A3461, 21 rolls. NAI: 3887372. RG 85, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Index to Alien Crewmen Who Were Discharged or Who Deserted at New York, New York, May 1917-Nov. 1957. Microfilm Publication A3417. NAI: 4497925. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Passenger Lists, 1962-1972, and Crew Lists, 1943-1972, of Vessels Arriving at Oswego, New York. Microfilm Publication A3426. NAI: 4441521. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

215 Dutch guilder [1660-2015] in year 1939 could buy the same amount of consumer goods and services in Sweden as 114.93358979520787 US dollar [1791-2015] could buy in Sweden in year 1939. This comparison should be used if the purpose of the analysis is to compare absolute worth over time rather than relative worth. Historical currency converter

In 2020, the relative values of $114.93 from 1939 ranges from $1,710.00 to $25,700.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $2,140.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $114.93 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1939 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.

If you want to compare the value of a $114.93 Commodity in 1939 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $2,140.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $4,620.00
• labor value of that commodity is $5,130.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $5,840.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $10,200.00
• economic share of that commodity is $25,700.00

If you want to compare the value of a $114.93 Income or Wealth, in 1939 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $2,140.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $4,620.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $5,130.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $5,840.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $10,200.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $25,700.00

If you want to compare the value of a $114.93 Project in 1939 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $1,710.00
• household cost of that project is $4,620.00
• labor cost of that project is $5,130.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $5,840.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $10,200.00
• economy cost of that project is $25,700.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

🌍 The Historical Context: War Looms Over Ocean Travel

This passage contract was issued just days after the start of World War II.

• 1 September 1939: Germany invades Poland.
• 3 September 1939: Britain & France declare war on Germany.
• 6 September 1939: Mrs. Agnes de Lina sets sail from Europe as war tensions rise.

💡 Why It’s Interesting: This voyage represents a critical moment in ocean liner history, as civilians sought passage out of Europe before wartime restrictions and attacks on passenger vessels became a harsh reality.

📸 Noteworthy Image:

📷 SS Brittania & SS Normandie Passage Ticket (1939) – A tangible reminder of a voyage taken under the shadow of war.

🛳️ The Ships: A Tale of Two Vessels

1️⃣ SS Brittania (Rotterdam to Southampton)

A smaller vessel used for regional travel, transporting passengers from the Netherlands to Britain.

Purpose: Likely used as a feeder ship to connect travelers to larger transatlantic liners.

Historical Relevance: The Rotterdam-Southampton leg of the journey became increasingly perilous as WWII unfolded.

2️⃣ SS Normandie (Southampton to New York) 🌟

The Normandie was a legend of ocean travel—one of the most luxurious and advanced liners of her time.

Launched in 1935, she was known for her Art Deco design, speed, and elegance.

Noteworthy: This was one of the last civilian voyages the SS Normandie would make before being requisitioned for war service.

📸 Noteworthy Image:

📷 Artist Conception of the SS Normandie (1930s) – One of the most visually striking and luxurious ocean liners ever built.

💡 Why It’s Interesting: The Normandie’s fate was tragic—she was seized by the U.S. in 1941, renamed USS Lafayette, and later caught fire and capsized in New York Harbor in 1942. This ticket represents one of her last civilian journeys before war changed her destiny forever.

🧳 Passenger Details: A Journey of Urgency & Escape

The passenger listed on this contract, Mrs. Agnes de Lina (or de Lima), was an American traveler.

• Name: Agnes de Lina / de Lima
• Age: 52
• Ethnicity: American
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Birthplace: New Jersey, USA

Journey:

• Departure: 6 September 1939 (Rotterdam to Southampton)
• Arrival: 9 September 1939 (New York, via Le Havre, France)

📸 Noteworthy Image:

📷 Arriving Passenger Record – New York, 9 Sep 1939 – A snapshot of her arrival at Ellis Island during a time of global instability.

💡 Why It’s Interesting: Genealogists and historians can use this record to trace individuals who fled Europe as WWII erupted.

💰 The Cost of Travel: Then vs. Now

💸 Ticket Cost in 1939:

• 215 Dutch guilders (~$114.93 USD in 1939).
• Equivalent to $2,140 in 2020 dollars.
• Relative economic value: If measured by labor wages, this would be worth $5,130 - $5,840 today.

📸 Noteworthy Image:

📷 Passage Contract Cost Breakdown – A fascinating look at historical ticket prices and inflation.

💡 Why It’s Interesting: The cost of luxury ocean travel was comparable to airfare today, but with far greater social and historical significance.

🧾 The Passage Contract: A Document of Historical Value

🔹 Ticket No. 20082 – Issued in Dutch guilders for Rotterdam-Southampton-New York.

🔹 Cabin Class Travel – A more luxurious option than standard steerage class.

🔹 Reverse side of ticket was blank – Suggesting a straightforward, pre-paid transaction.

🔹 Ticket found in a scrapbook – A personal memento, later preserved as a historical artifact.

📸 Noteworthy Image:

📷 SS Normandie Passage Ticket (Front & Back) – A tangible piece of maritime and WWII history.

💡 Why It’s Interesting: The discovery of this ticket tucked in a scrapbook suggests this voyage was profoundly significant for Mrs. de Lina—possibly an escape, a return home, or a final trip before wartime travel restrictions tightened.

🌊 Why This Document Matters to Historians & Genealogists

This passage contract is more than just a ticket—it is a testament to history.

• It captures a civilian journey just as WWII began.
• It documents ocean liner travel at the dawn of wartime restrictions.
• It preserves the legacy of the SS Normandie, one of the most famous luxury liners in history.

💡 For Students & Researchers:

This primary source can be used in essays and research on:

✅ WWII civilian travel & evacuation.

✅ The role of ocean liners in transatlantic migration.

✅ The economic impact of war on travel & trade.

🔎 Final Thoughts: A Rare Look at Wartime Ocean Travel

The SS Brittania & SS Normandie passage contract from 6 September 1939 is an extraordinary artifact that bridges the worlds of maritime history, genealogy, and World War II studies.

📖 For educators and students, this document offers a real-life perspective on the intersection of civilian life and global conflict.

🌍 For genealogists, it provides insight into wartime travel and passenger records.

⚓ For maritime enthusiasts, it marks one of the final transatlantic crossings of the SS Normandie before her tragic demise.

💡 Encourage students to use the GG Archives materials when writing essays on wartime travel, maritime history, or transatlantic voyages.

🔍 Explore this passage contract and uncover a voyage taken at the very edge of history. 🚢✨