To commemorate the opening of the International Transport Exhibition at Munich on June 25, 1965, a set of six stamps was issued depicting various forms of transport, the 70 pf. stamp showing the passenger liner Bremen and the Hammonia of a century ago. The Bremen is the fifth ship of the name and was completed in 1939 for the Cie. de Navigation Sud Atlantique as the Pasteur; under the latter name she is depicted on a French stamp issued in 1941.
Her maiden voyage from Bordeaux to the River Plate was scheduled for September 1939, but war broke out and the voyage was cancelled. In June 1940 she sailed from Brest to Halifax, N.S. and was subsequently taken over by the British Ministry of War Transport, her management being placed in the hands of Cunard White Star, Ltd. As a troopship, she carried some 220,000 servicemen during the war and after returning to the French Flag in June 1945 she continued to act in that capacity, carrying French troops to Indo-China. Her work was recognised by the French Government in 1948, when the Croix de Guerre was conferred upon the ship.
Laid-up at Brest in January 1957, the Pasteur was bought in September of that year by the Norddeutscher Lloyd and was sent to Bremerhaven for an extensive refit. She commenced North Atlantic service between Bremen and New York, with calls at Southampton and Cherbourg, in July 1959. Originally her gross tonnage was 29,523, but considerable alterations and modifications brought this figure up to 32,336 by the time she was ready for service with her new owners.(Info E Argyle SB 11/65) Germany- SG1395
Bremen 1939
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