The Liner That Wouldn't Die: SS Europa (SS Liberté)

[@BigOldBoats]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click betterhelp.com/bigoldboats for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs. Thank you so much for watching! Which is your favorite, Bremen or Europa?

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Please make a video about the beautiful Wilhelm Gustloff Class, the first modern cruise ship class!

[@SixstikaiStvdios]

If it makes u feel better, ur a very attractive dude

[@JesusIsaFlatEarther]

I love seeing all that flat water with sea level and a horizontal horizon but still people think they live on a CGI globe.

[@jacobschweitzer1068]

I know a ghost for you if your interested. Jc cousins pilot boat. It is a mostly forgotten ghost ship

[@chezsnailez]

Liberté was broken up at La Spezia in Italy, not India...

[@bluesteel48]

When I was a kid my aunt traveled to France on the Liberte out of New York. My parents drove her to the pier and I got to go along. We all boarded the ship and spent the day. I remember walking all over the ship with my dad and exploring everywhere. For a kid it was a pretty exciting experience. I’m almost 76 now but I still recall the sights.

[@kasvinimuniandy4178]

Wowww... Thank you for sharing your memories

[@kasvinimuniandy4178]

How did people dress back then? Always wearing hats? I'm soo curioussss...

[@bluesteel48]

I can’t really say how people dressed. I was too young to notice or care about fashion. All I knew was that I got to spend the day on one of the premier ocean liners of the period and just wanted to check out as much as I could before the call of “All ashore that’s going ashore !”

[@skyedog24]

Wow you got to spend the whole day on the ship that's very cool. Thank you for your recount.

[@pedenharley6266]

Bradley, many, many congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers! I truly appreciate the wonderful, well researched, and well presented ocean liner documentaries. I look forward to everything to come! Thank you!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you so much, Peden! The kind words and support mean a lot!

[@jonathanstewart8106]

So glad to see that subscriber count finally matching the content quality! Congrats on 100k Big Old Boats!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!!

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

Almost to 130k now (8 months later), wow!

[@thomasfinch8599]

As a kid growing up in suburban NYC during the Sixties I used to visit all the great liners. Although by the age of 11 I had already visited the Queen of Bermuda and the Independence, I never got to visit the Liberte before she left service. I always look forward to enjoying your videos, and today's Liberte video was no exception. Just one thing jumped out at me towards the end...the Liberte was scrapped in La Spezia, Italy, not in India.

[@wendywhite4537]

I like your videos so much. You tell the facts. And are compassionate about the liners. I sometimes think I was born to late. Keep them coming. I love hearing about them.

[@roboboydax]

Congrats on 100,000 subscribers 🎉

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!!

[@miapdx503]

KZbin won't let me like your comment! I've tapped it many times, it doesn't show up. First widespread censorship now this...☹

[@jonrmartin]

@@miapdx503 Lol just refresh your browser

[@miapdx503]

@@jonrmartin yes, thank you 😏

[@JumperSig]

@@jonrmartinWhy do Browsers do that? Do they get weighted down with information? That is the only answer I can think of.

[@karenc4544]

Love the editing, vintage newsreels and movies and the integration/choice of music…all wonderfully constructed, better than a lot of the so called professional stuff I see on TV. Plus being so well written and NO hyperbole, clickbait, incorrect use of words or mispronunciations like in so many other KZbin videos! That is a huge peeve of mine lol. Just a really great job, thanks for all the hard work!

[@MitchellTremblays]

you look fantastic, great lighting! I always love your vid drops, your calm cadence and deep kniwledge along with the way you approach tragedy is very soothing to my myriad of anxietiss. congrats on 100k! heres to 500k soon.

[@SeaTravelr123]

Without even watching, I know this is gonna be great 😎😍. Favorite under rated ship. ❤.. Update!! As expected, a wonderful way to spend my morning coffee. Well researched and beautiful narrated...I consider your videos informative and relaxing because of your soothing voice. Two points about Liberte's career... she was used as a background for several of the 50's movies, no doubt Hollywoods nod to help get people back to sea, and she had probably the most funnel redesigns of ANY ship in the era. Wings, no wings, raised domes etc.. But truly a favorite ship.. One of my english teachers sailed on her in the late 50's or just before her withdrawal in the 60's. And the only "correction" that you might be able to edit out, is that she was scrapped in La Spezia, Italy. I think this was long before India became the graveyard of the great liners...Congratulation on your 100,000 subscribers.. well deserved!!!

[@kittybitts567]

100,000 subscribers, Congratulations! It always makes me sad when I hear about the scrapping of one of these beautiful, old boats. It reminds me of the Stan Rogers song, Last Watch. Thank you for another wonderful video

[@leonardorighini1762]

I read that Rex had a major electrical breakdown on her maiden voyage . Italian Line offered free trips to Gibraltar to the passengers awaiting for spare parts being delivered by SS Vulcania. Still some passengers chose to take an express and embark on SS Europa. When Europa arrived in New york passengers saw ss Rex already moored . It's only a little backstory to maybe one of the most resiliant liner of the golden era of that decling breed . She burned once in her birth and not give up becoming a well beloved ship. She burned one more in ww2 and still she did not gave up changing hands and serving under the french flag . It is so sad that she did't survive to tell her amazing story to the world . My most apreciacion goes to your final lines they hit very hard . And as always marvellous work mate

[@louisaugustexvi4515]

this youtube channel is still a childhood dream. all of my re-reads of Lost liners by rob ballard as a second grader led up to this

[@mgjmiller1995]

I still have "Lost Liners" on my bookshelf!

[@louisaugustexvi4515]

@@mgjmiller1995 it was my OBSESSION as a kid i have every page memorized

[@Kaidhicksii]

I have Ghost Liners. Not sure if it's just a re-edition of Lost Liners, but either way also an excellent book! It was one of my favorites to read at the library when I was younger; now I own it. And it's also one of several others in my collection! :D

[@louisaugustexvi4515]

@@Kaidhicksii i believe ghost liners came out before? or it was a slimmed down book of lost liners. i got ghost liners as a kid and then got lost liners for christmas around 2013. But i remember almost all the content of ghost liners was in lost liners just expanded upon

[@markallen3293]

Fun fact, on the Titanic, there was a pastry chef that had drank so much alcohol that his blood did not freeze when he was swimming, amazing, I believe he actually swam to a lifeboat after a very long time in the Atlantic. There also was an Oriental man who survived in his underwear and volunteered to row just to keep warm. m

[@yoptastic8463]

Was that Charles Joughlin your on about?

[@thedaisiesgrow]

“Oriental?” Is it 1953?

[@louisaugustexvi4515]

@@thedaisiesgrow😭😭😭

[@PhyllisJerry]

@@thedaisiesgrowto be fair, the clerical staff at Southampton Terminal probably weren’t especially nuanced in the different nationalities of Asia, so they just listed his nationality as “Oriental”. I believe the passenger they’re referring to was Chinese, but I think his exact story wasn’t common knowledge until relatively recently.

[@wheressteve]

​@@thedaisiesgrow"oriental" is far nicer and more accurate name than what a significant portion of 1953 society would have referred to the gentleman as.

[@zeddeka]

Europa was the intended original name for the Imperator, but the Kaiser took such an interest in the Imperator project that the name was changed in his honour (Imperator is Latin for Emperor).

[@Kaidhicksii]

Imperator was a better name anyway. 😏

[@marcox2937]

Quite ironically enough when Cunard Line took over Imperator they renamed it after another royalty, Queen Berengaria of Navarre, to keep in rhyme with the -ia naming of Cunard ships lol

[@trapdoorguppi]

As someone who has had 2 boa constrictor imperators. I always thought the would imperator sounded bad ass. Thank you for these wee history lessons I love people like you in the comments

[@the_major]

Congratulations on 100k subscribers! You earned it!

[@TheRavendearest]

I have PTSD from witnessing all of my friends die with AIDS back in the 80’s and 90’s, depression and anxiety are something I’ve lived with for years, if it hadn’t been for my therapist I doubt I’d be here now. It’s so nice to see your handsome face here now, I hope we get to see those big lovely eyes and gentle smile more often!

[@urNbrTotoro]

fair play for admitting to your anxieties and not feeling well all the time. It´s difficult to admit sometimes, but it´s OK to be not OK. Much respect mate.

[@bartmuller9797]

One of my ancestors was her chief engineer, another ancestor held the same position on the Bremen they would invite my father and his dad aboard, with my great grandfather who sailed around both capes under sail always thought the Europa was the better ship by a wisker, my dad thought the engineer 's elevator on Europa was faster, , All the ancestors there were more then the engineers would gather at my grandparents and greatgrandparents for meals one Christmas the NDl Commodore joined them and ended up shooting the Christmas Bulbs off the Christmas Tree with my dad's pop gun 211th Street in Queens Village was rocking

[@carlmanvers5009]

100k subscribers. I love seeing quality channels grow and find a following. Looking forward to the next 100k.

[@robber_h]

Absolutely nothing wrong with you being on camera. Well done for working to overcome your anxieties. You are a great presenter - keep at it :)

[@WILLIAMHERZEL]

Beautifully done documentary - thank you !!! Europa / Liberte is one of my favorite liners. I especially relished the fine quality interior photos of the Europa, how did you find these gems? Most I'd not seen before. I've often wondered if the US Navy documented their takeover of the Europa when she was found abandoned at Hamburg in 1945. Wow it would be interesting to read an account of the first boarding and the conditions they found. You have shared your work with ship aficianados like me. I am most grateful.

[@Feline_Frenzy53]

Big grats on 100,000!!! Your channel certainly deserves it.

[@stacypeterson3685]

I love this channel! I never realized how much I like hearing about boat history lol

[@TRH46]

I find it ironic that about 90 minutes ago, I was scrolling through this guys content, and the only one i really remember from memory from just scrolling through for a sec, was the video on the Bremen lol

[@wm7089]

Your videos are the best and your calming voice makes it nice to listen to at night when winding down

[@jesterr7133]

I know many others have already said it, but congrats once again on reaching 100K! That is one of the things I love about KZbin. I love seeing people I have watched for years grow and become successful. Here's to many more.

[@livingthroughtheblue]

I was thoroughly impressed with your work here. And I learned so much about something I didn't know anything about. Your presentation skills are awesome!!

[@paulsullivan3291]

Thanks!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!

[@Tobenator1200]

Thanks!

[@BigOldBoats]

Really appreciate it. Thanks!

[@sprague49]

During the opening credits of the 1953 Marilyn Monroe-Lauren Bacall-Betty Grable film, "How to Marry a Millionaire", there is a beautiful shot of the SS Liberte sailing down the Hudson against the NYC skyline...all captured in the glorious new CinemaScope. Breathtaking.

[@jakeshort5659]

The Liberté also made an appearance at the end of "Sabrina" with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

The Liberte makes a brief appearance in the Jane Russell movie "The French Line". Much of the movie takes place aboard the Liberte, but the studio sets were used instead, but early in the film there's a view of the Liberte at the pier in New York.

[@victoriadiesattheend.8478]

​@@andrewbrendan1579Oooh. I've never seen this film and I adore Jane Russell. I will check it out, thank you!

[@andrewdonaldson8332]

I’ve watched ya since your first videos, the quality increase is insane and you’re killing it, I used to stream games and I’m thinking about getting back into it because of you!

[@Madhouse_Media]

Top-notch video as always, but I have to say specifically I really liked the background music in this one. Kinda reminds me of an early '80's John Carpenter score early on.

[@FiveSigma72]

Until finding this channel I had no idea how fascinating this subject was. Just binged the amazing White Star line stories. So good.

[@paullewis2413]

Thanks so much on your story of s.s. Europa , along with Bremen two of my all time favourite liners. As a kid I just managed to see the final days of the great trans-Atlantic liners, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, France, Nieuw Amsterdam, United States but I was too young to see s.s. Liberte when she was finally laid up.

[@randa200771]

Another well researched and presented documentary. First class.

[@marymiller6637]

Congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers! I really enjoy your channel.

[@jared1870]

I needed a dose of Big Old Boats today. Thank you.

[@jetsons101]

I think when I get my Delorean fixed and gassed up I'll go back in time for a Voyage. Another great watch from Big Old Boats, the narration is top-notch.

[@ikkelimburg3552]

I love your channel. My grandmother sailed on some of the most iconic oceanliners. Only in tourist class and for ‘the short leg’ (Cherbourg- England or from Holland to Germany). She kept memorabilia from all and she even added a menucard from the Normandy although she never set foot on the Normandy (my grandfather drew the line at those prices I guess 😂). In the eighties I sailed with her and one of my cousins on the SS Rotterdam for the ‘full journey’. Sadly I don’t remember much of it as I was still a small child but I do remember the excitement of my grandmother for each diner and the crew being very nice to us kids since we were one of the few children on board. My cousin remembers we even were allowed for a short visit to the bridge but I only remember the older gentleman that taught me how to fold swans out of napkins 😂

[@michaelaltig5519]

I'm not 100% sure how I missed this one. Paused, while I make popcorn!

[@c-man7740]

Right on queue, we are delivered another masterclass video. This channel is something all of us ship lovers cherish!!

[@d-fens1]

So happy to see a video on this ship finally! One of my all time favorite liners. She looked amazing in the French Line paint scheme (I actually prefer the taller funnels).

[@SpearFisher85]

"Babe wake up! New Big ol Boats just dropped!"

[@Brock_Landers]

So sad that Europa's debut to the public was cut short by a fire that almost destroyed her before she was able to even go to sea for the first time. Bremen and Europa were SUCH beautiful ships with their aerodynamic forward superstructures, their powerful geared steam turbines, cruiser sterns, beautiful squat stacks, and their amazingly gorgeous interiors, they were built to embody the German sense of speed, strength, and luxury, but their lives were tragically cut short by war and incompetence on many levels. What makes it even more sad is that Albert Ballin took his own life before these amazing ships came to fruition because he would've been so proud to see them, but he would've absolutely detested Adolf Hitler, his ideaology, and the Nazi party along with all that they stood for. It's almost like he could foresee what was in the distant future for his Fatherland in the 20s, 30s, and 40s.

[@redstonetorch1214]

Was great to see your face! Love your videos.

[@BHuang92]

To have Europa converted into an aircraft carrier is itself quite dubious in the way Germany was going to reconstruct it as such, let alone how they plan to use it.

[@SeaTravelr123]

They actually considered that for the hulk of the Normandie, but I think it was too much work too late in the war... ;-( The italians did it with some of their ships, I dont think it was the brightest moment

[@BHuang92]

@SeaTravelr123 The U.S did actually considered to have Normandie converted to an aircraft carrier but was dropped due to more capable vessels. So they then converted her into a troop carrier. Then she caught fire........

[@SudrianTales]

​@BHuang92 Rumor has it the Mafia set Normandie on fire as they offered to protect other ships afterwards in return for the US helping the Mafia return to power in Italy. Not one of our better moments if true

[@SeaTravelr123]

@@SudrianTales hmmm. It could be related to them not letting anyone on board to save her if they were “controlling the piers”

[@SudrianTales]

@SeaTravelr123 True, this is conjecture though and not proven. Just incredibly convenient for the Mafia if they didn't play a role in it.

[@Stellaknot]

Thank you and your team for the great content! Congrats on 100k!!!!

[@donaldhawkes5226]

SS lle de France was in the movie "the last voyage" .the SS lle de France also help in recovery passengers on the Andrea Dorian when it sunk

[@victoriadiesattheend.8478]

Wait a second, are you telling me that the handful of night watch crew couldn't even ATTEMPT to put the fire out after they discovered it and simply waited for the firemen to get there? That's disgraceful, that is. While I understand they weren't trained firemen, for God's sake they didn't even TRY? Jeez.

[@chezsnailez]

Built a model of the Europa out of cardboard sometime in the early-1990s. Have since redone the funnels in French Line livery. Have 1/1250 diecast models of the Europa _and_ the Liberté as done by Mercator. They sit on a shelf with my aforementioned cardstock Liberté and 1/250 examples of the Imperator, Normandie and the SS Paris (in cruising white livery).

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

WOOOOO Let's go BOATS

[@debbybuff4361]

Really nice to see the face connected with the voice.❤

[@ShaunHopkinsAVFC]

You always do such great work. And you should have no qualms about putting your face on camera. You’re a good looking kid and your voice goes well with your face. Keep up the terrific content!

[@jeanpierreburel6606]

Europa / Liberté was broken up in La Spezia , certainly not Alang . Her successor was B/U in Alang !

[@thorstenh.5588]

A very interisting video from a nice and friendly looking youtuber. Greets and thanks for this.

[@DieUnstillbareGier]

Amazingly done, just amazing!!🤩

[@jec1ny]

Great video about a magnificent liner. Her career which started late, was all too short. The depression devastated the Europa and Bremen. By the late 30s anti-Nazi sentiment in the US meant that German liners were routinely sailing from New York virtually empty save for any German nationals sailing for home. The ships were only able to continue to operate thanks to huge subsidies from the Reich.

[@dl11950]

As a faimly connection to the Europa, my father was a US Navy Quartermaster - and was on the bridge for several USS Europa crossings.

[@arthurschipper8906]

From liners to battleships, them Germans made some awfully pretty ships.

[@brober]

One correction Liberte was scrapped in La Spezia Italy not India. Great vid!

[@BigOldBoats]

Yes! You're right. Thank you for the correction!

[@donaldlyons537]

I believe my mother and sister and I were on the Liberte' in 1961 going to France or on our return voyage. I think I still have a paper saying it was her last voyage. I'll have to find it or ask my sister. I was only 4 but my sister was 13. Mother is passed but she was From Paris and we were going to visit her mother.

[@matt1985matt]

Great video! And can you please tell me what that piano piece that starts at 14:52 is? It’s beautiful.

[@100brucebrown]

Well researched!

[@zeddeka]

Particularly before they raised the funnels, the Bremen and Europa were amongst the best looking ships. So sleek looking.

[@Nils_Ki]

At 1:30 you make a statement about German ship building: "Germany would never again build a liner that could touch their size, power or beauty." Well, I guess the word "liner" is essential to make this statement truthful. Several of todays most impressive cruise ships have been built in Germany by the shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg.

[@SchuminWeb]

You got a big detail wrong when it came to the scrapping of the Liberté. She was not scrapped in India, but rather, she was scrapped in La Spezia, Italy. Scrapping ships in India and other third-world countries came later on, after the 1930s-era liners had mostly gone to European breakers.

[@gofanman8455]

The ship was scrapped in Spezia, Italy. Not india

[@randomrazr]

congratz100k

[@donaldlyons537]

Thanks for the history lesson. I remember bits of the Voyage...we took

[@rumplestilskin5776]

Do you have a shiner or pink eye???

[@Martin-q7w]

in 1930, the Europa carried over 40,000 passengers, more than the entire Cunard fleet, a ship sunk twice who lived to tell the tale each time

[@alexnevermore9574]

Okay, so I think I know what your number one favorite liner is; the Normandie, but I have a feeling that, from the way you spoke so poetically about her, the Europa/Liberté ranks pretty highly up there for you as well. I'm wondering now, out of curiosity, what your top 5 favorite ocean liners are.

[@Kaidhicksii]

Finally made time to watch. Yeah, Bremen and Europa were cool. It's a shame that another war broke out and they got caught up in it. They'll make for pretty interesting characters when I get to my alternate timeline ocean liner series, "Transatlantica." I had no idea that NDL were able to buy back some of the ships they lost in the Treaty of Versailles. Makes me wonder if there actually realistically could've been hope for the twins to stay under the German flag in that case if Normandie wasn't lost. Oh and congrats on 100K subs! Somehow missed that. You earned it!! :D 🌟✨

[@gregvassilakos]

Great video, but I have one minor correction - Europa/Liberte was scrapped at La Spezia, Italy, not India.

[@thomasfinch8599]

see below

[@Xavier-jh8qy]

You should cover the French Titanic story: the "AFRIQUE" Ship. There is a France 3 documentary about it you can buy. Basically struck an uncharted shipwreck in a river estuary...then sank out at sea during an ensuing storm. All were lost... Tragic story.

[@valeriebolejack5957]

I have an original lighter from the Bremen. Love ocean liners.

[@principeraphael4859]

Not to be a pedant, but wasn't the LIBERTE' scrapped in Italy at La Spezia, and not India?

[@talkinghead3169]

The ENGLISH COAST between ABERDEEN and Newcastle?!?! Aberdeen is on the east coast of Scotland! Tut tut!

[@nickfoy7430]

I’d like to hear a story on the Roy a Jodrey if possible …. Love the content man

[@Sailor_alan]

I think you'll find most of the coast between Aberdeen and Newcastle is actually Scotland, not England.

[@federicomalignani4957]

The Libertè was not scrapped in India:she was scrapped in Italy,in La Spezia.

[@chrisi06]

Imo Bremen's hull is somewhat more elegant than Europa's as she did not feature such a thicc bulbows bow

[@jeangenie68]

27 minutes in... did you say it cost $90m to refit?

[@BigOldBoats]

19 million!

[@jeangenie68]

@@BigOldBoats 👍That was still a massive sum!

[@theunkownbanana1823]

The Europa sounds like the ship of Theseus paradox.

[@auntbarbara5576]

Aunt Barbara adores you!

[@TheronAnderson-hy3lp]

Just found your channel. Very enjoyable. Good narrator, good stories. Good Job 👍🏼

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

Who else was dancing to the techno jazz in their kitchen this morning?

[@ShelterCats]

Wasn’t she scrapped in spain? Not India.

[@Davey-Boyd]

Italy - in La Spezia

[@charlietbarnes4842]

Oh I can get lost I the past in these videos sometimes even tho it's way B4 my time x

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

Her bigger and elder sister, the 'Bremen' from Bremen (51,656 gry) was destroyed by fire once, but for good. In March 1941; there were rumours about well-prepared sabotage. 'Europa' from Hamburg did much better. Narrowly escaped conversion into aircraft carrier, as did the French 'Normandie', which 'escaped' top her further existence... ♍

[@miapdx503]

I just love this channel. Your research, writing, editing, and presentation are on point. I've learned a lot from you. Also, your voice is a plus. I can't stand the robo-voice, so annoying. Thank you for the work you put in. 🌹⚓

[@Brock_Landers]

I literally had no idea that Kaiser Wilhelm II became the USS Agamemnon during WWI.

[@tubthump]

Background music volume seems way too high

[@JarJarIsMyLover]

Every country has always relied on American credit 😂😂😂😂

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

Didn't they steal her super liners after the war?

[@Ironwolf96-og]

I just realised that all but 2 super/mega liners from the 1930-40s burned…..

[@johnjohnson2825]

You are very handsome. Don’t hide yourself. 😊

[@grabthecat]

So sad only Queen Mary survived from the golden age of Ocean Liners :(

[@jamesberlo4298]

"Germany would never build another Liner that would touch their Size Power and Beauty" ? they Build lots of them, and do it indoors! maybe not Ocean Liners , but Giant Cruise Ships,