Dutch steamships loading petrol in Romania for England according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 2 December 1939

Launching Manvantara on 22 August 1931. Stadsarchief Amsterdam

In his letter dated Istanbul, Turkey 2 December 1939 No. 491 g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland that he suspected that Dutch steamships loaded petrol for England pretending it was for the Netherlands. The ships were of the shipping company La Corona [N.V. Petroleum Maatschappij La Corona] at The Hague, Netherlands. The reason for his suspicion was the fact that the steamship Manvantara [built Amsterdam, Netherlands 1931] of this company full loaded with petrol for the Netherlands but unloaded in England. Now passed the Omala [built Monfalcone, Italy 1938]of this company towards Constanta, Romania en expected to return within a week.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.