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ss NORMANDIE 1935-1942

ss - te NORMANDIE
by Earl of Cruise
ss Normandie in drydock, outfitting
ss / te NORMANDIE im Trockendock, während der Endausrüstung - courtesy colourized by Daryl LeBlanc
Heute, am 29. Mai, vor genau 80 Jahren, 1935, begann, das kurze aktive Leben, des großartigsten Passagierschiffes der Welt. Um 18:26 legte der Stolz der Grande Nation, NORMANDIE, in Le Havre ab, und segelte über Southampton nach New York.
Dort wurde dem Schiff ein triumphaler Empfang bereitet, als NORMANDIE in der neuen Rekordzeit von 4Tagen, 3h und 2min den Atlantik zwischen Bishop Rock und Ambrose bezwungen hatte.
ss Normandie by Scott McBee

Sie (er) hatte alles, die (der) NORMANDIE. 
NORMANDIE war nicht nur der größte, der längste, der schwerste und der schnellste, sondern auch der berühmteste Ozeandampfer des Jazz Zeitalters. NORMANDIE war von den besten Köpfen des französichen Art Déco ausgestaltet, und von genialen Designern und Ingenieuren entwickelt worden. NORMANDIE erfasste die Fantasie von Millionen Menschen am Vorabend des 2.Weltkrieges. NORMANDIE war das Schiff welches Frankreich auf See am besten Repräsentierte. NORMANDIE war der Botschafter Frankreichs.

Die auf der NORMANDIE reisenden Passagiere zahlten nicht so sehr für den Transport über See, von Europa nach den USA oder umgekehrt, vielmehr für die Atmosphäre an Bord. Und besonders der Grand Salon I.Classe war ein Tempel des Glamour.


CGT, French Line, Cie Gle Transatlantique, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique houseflag

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