Inside a WWII Rescue Buoy: Exploring the Last Secret "Floating Hotel"

Download and try Opera for free! That screenshot feature is the best: opr.as/Opera-browser-Calum
Last year, I made a video all about the "Rettungsboje" or Rescue buoys, a unique rescue craft designed to act as floating rescue stations for the lufftwaffe during WWII. What I didn't realise was that one had survived - and so I went out looking for it.
Bunkermuseum Terschelling:
bunkersterschelling.nl
Gert's Website:
gertkracht.nl
The amazing 3D Models by Brendon Kibler! Check him out: lumoize.artstation.com
One of Our Aircraft is Missing:
amzn.to/3QYcTZL
Some great info on the Rettungsboje
www.luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seeno...
Videos of Buoy Being Moved & Recovered:
• Verplaatsen Udet Boije...
• Berging Duitse Rettung...
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Thanks Opera!
02:39 - Development of the "Lobster Pot"
04:11 - What Happened to the Rescue Buoys?
04:56 - A Surviving Buoy?
05:28 - Gert's Story
07:53 - Almost Lost
08:09 - Saving the Rettungsboje!
10:09 - Visiting the Buoy!
11:24 - Lets Climb Inside!
14:29 - Meeting Martin & The Team
16:10 - Contribution from Daisy (the Dog)
16:16 - A Familiar Voice?
17:00 - Waffling on a Bit
Twitter......................► / calumraasay
Instagram................► / calumraasay
Discord.....................► / discord
Website....................►calumgillies.com

[@CalumRaasay]

Try Opera for free! That screenshot feature is the best: 😩opr.as/Opera-browser-Calum

[@007Kiristo]

I used Opera for years, til ~version 12 or something made some changes I hated (can't even recall what, anymore). Anyway, I switched to Vivaldi, which was based off that last version of Opera a bunch of us enjoyed, and have used it ever since. Like Opera, they add a bunch of new, innovative features that Chrome and others eventually copy.

[@rodc2678]

Normally sponsor support sections wash over me, but your spiel was compelling and personal, I had to stop your video, install opera then continue watching. Was not expecting a fantastic browser upgrade by watching your amazing old world technology videos but there you go:)

[@paweszymonjasinski7158]

Opera is REALLY good! I'm using it for years now.

[@RWBHere]

They're doing a sterling job with that recreation. I look forward to seeing it when they have finished their task. Thanks Calum. 🙂👍

[@legbreaker2762]

Been running Opera since about version 8. Love it and Opera Mail as well (which used to be combined with the browser until 12 I think).

[@SuperDiablo101]

Wow not only is this fascinating historically but for an entire island to come together as a community and volunteer to recreate history is amazing

[@jfu5222]

Until your first documentary I didn't know these rescue bouys existed. Thank you for furthering the expansion of our knowledge.

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SampoPaalanen]

Yeah I didn't know about them either, now they make sense but I guess I never thought they had did something like that. So a thank you for adding to my knowledge as well.

[@Anthonys_S]

I’ve literally just written the same thing then seen this lol. I guess most of us have never heard of them , it’s strange because I’ve heard and watched and seen so many things about ww1 and ww2 so I’m suprised he never ever heard of them at all .

[@GudieveNing]

I've just learned of both this channel and the rescue islands this minute. Incredible!

[@Thunderous117]

So remarkable to have one of your documentaries enshrined in a museum next to the very last German rescue buoy. Fantastic and well deserved for your phenomenal work.

[@CalumRaasay]

It was certainly an odd feeling!

[@Anthonys_S]

@@CalumRaasayyou should be super proud . From a fellow Scotsman , well done and again thank you for your video, you’ve got a new sub in me , I’m going to enjoy having a look at as many of your videos as I can today .

[@KrisDouglas]

​@@CalumRaasaythis is what happens when you do a bloody good job Calum, your approach to documenting things in your videos exceeds many commercial endeavours by huge margins.

[@KibuFox]

I remember hearing tell of one of the german ones being 'captured' by a British patrol ship, and being dragged into the harbor. The young captain of the ship that found it, expecting to be rewarded, was rather shocked when his commanding officer practically berated him and ordered him to turn right around and put the thing back where he'd found it.

[@sandralavinia5908]

Because the commanding officer was a dumb ass.

[@JK360noscope]

A man who respects life! And how easy to lose it in the North Sea

[@patricksanders858]

Since it's a life saving device, there was agreement with the Axis to not attack the other sides bouys. If the Germans had found out it might have nullified the agreement. Not likely but perhaps.

[@matthewschoen9827]

The ability to follow up on videos from the past makes your channel one of the most interesting to watch long term. It feels very alive. Kind of like checking in on a friend or family member you only see once a year and catching up on all the stories they have to tell.

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha thank you! I really love building on stories. Always more to learn

[@qwertyTRiG]

You really put the effort in, and the videos you make are genuinely documentaries.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! This was meant to be a short video and it ended up spiralling!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

​@@CalumRaasay You left out one important detail. When the Luftwaffe found themselves in a Rescue Buoy, they waited to signal a ship for rescue until they made sure that it wasn't the Kregesmarine, as they wanted to survive the war. The same reason that the British Home Guard would usually find Luftwaffe crews surrendering while laughing & happy to be taken as a Prisoner of War, meaning they would survive Adolf Hitler's insane & stupid war...

[@CalumRaasay]

Please hit the like button if you would stay in a novelty rescue buoy Airbnb

[@dutch6857]

A floating reproduction would be so cool. If the seas were calm. So maybe firmly on land would be best after all.

[@Tclans]

In Scheveningen we had an Airbnb/hotel room in a ship/rig rescue pod.

[@Skilan506]

⁠@@dutch6857it would be cool in a protected harbour, like a houseboat. You have some movement from the water but not as hard as on the high sea.

[@Nyctophora]

Ha, I would! Thanks for a great video :)

[@jfu5222]

Brendan's recreation was incredibly rendered. The shadow, swaying back and forth with the waves was next level detailing!

[@BonesyTucson]

As a kid I used to think these would make awesome zombie proof hideouts :) Very cool work finding one.

[@thomasmartin7816]

As an adult it's the first thing I thought as well.

[@snowysnowyriver]

Same here! It would be a great bug-out place, especially if a small engine were added to move it along the coast.

[@keithdurose7057]

For further reference. One of these rescue bouys is featured in the old movie, "We Dive at Dawn." Also. If a dog eats grass it's for its medicinal properties. That's why this type of grass is known as dogsgrass. It helps with digestive issues. It works for humans too.

[@LockHeatLockpicking]

and dont forget Dutch grass is the best 🤣

[@kristianturner-zq2fm]

and also the classic one of our aircraft is missing

[@michaelimbesi2314]

Props to the islanders for going through the trouble to rescue and preserve this piece of history.

[@king_br0k]

Must be surreal to hear your own narration and see your video playing in a museum

[@CalumRaasay]

It was VERY odd

[@davidhollenshead4892]

@@CalumRaasay Not as odd as you will find taking pictures of a Rescue Buoy while in use, once I finish my time machine...

[@xara505]

Calum is becoming a foremost expert on WW2 rescue buoys at this point!

[@SVanHutten]

A year ago I didn't know these bouys ever existed, and now can't get enough of them! Great video, production and filming, as usual. Thank you for such great content on this sort of topics.

[@hes98]

So cool! I’ve been telling people about these rescue buoys ever since your documentary! Now to see the restoration of one in my own country, with the video of the excavation made by a “Hessel” - my own, quite rare, name that mostly occurs only in the Northern province of Friesland and Terschelling, just made my day! Thank you for your efforts ❤️

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you the kind comment!

[@tripackdroned4626]

Calum and team. I look forward to your videos. The combination of high production standards, history, storytelling and insight always entertains and educates me. Thank goodness you are here doing this work. I worked in television and later as a picture editor, freelance and for the BBC but never found the type of commitment to programme making, great ideas dashed at the hands of career ‘producers’ and weak ideas made by self promoters always looking for the next thing. You've done a great job, from a 32 year veteran of television production. Stay safe, be happy.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! That means a lot. Doing all this solo can be a lot of pressure sometimes but on the other hand, how many would dream of being able to make what they want without messy oversight! I’m a lucky guy.

[@ClanMcDuck]

WOW! So excited to watch this. Can't believe someone still has one you can visit!

[@CalumRaasay]

I was amazed as you!

[@jfu5222]

​@@CalumRaasayYour enthusiasm is readily apparent. What an adventure these two documentaries must have been!

[@johnjensen8470]

The fact that they are using YOUR original documentary to educate others on these pieces of history is phenomenal!

[@rubenskiii]

This video brings a huge smile on my face! When i was a kid going to the Tigerschtellung was always amazing, the site itself is incredibly preserved and maintained by lovely volunteers, walking to it is beautiful and you have amazing views over the gorgeous island. They also had(hope still have!) amazing Apple pie made by one of the volunteers, sitting down with my dog and eating that next to a bunker is an amazing memory. The whole island is filled to the brim with history and you nearly trip over all the fortifications left by the Germans. Het Wrakken museum is one of these places that is from floor to ceiling full of stuff, u can just sit on the floor and look around you for hours and you'll still miss things. Good pancakes too! It makes me so glad to see people i have met in my youth still being passionate and working on projects there. It's a wonderful island, in my opinion one of the most beautiful places on earth. Thanks for doing such a in-depth dive into this subject and showing the world the effort the islanders went through. Warm greetings from the Netherlands🇳🇱.

[@CalumRaasay]

Absolutely fell in love with the island. I cannot wait to return again!

[@paulmanson253]

One bit of history you did not mention,if you speak Frisian, linguists state ihat modern Frisian is the closest to what Anglo Saxon would have become without AD 1066 and the Normans.Just as Icelandic is important for its link to Old Norse,so too Frisian to English. Terrific video,this is great. All the best.

[@rubenskiii]

You should! It’s one of the view places where you truly can see how horribly cramped and tiny WW1 submarine’s where, they have original conning towers and those things are almost the size of a phone booth so small… Must been hell, no radar no nothing as well, very primitive and dangerous!

[@pistonar]

I'd seen somewhere (possibly your channel) that it had been recovered and was undergoing restoration. I'm very pleased that they did it. it may be an obscure and forgotten bit of history, but it's very much worth being remembered and restored to some extent. Well done to the people responsible.

[@lc1138]

Thank you very much for ypur work, and huge thanks to the museum for this work of preservation and re-creation ! I can't wait to see what it will look like when the interior will be made. No wonder why they put your previous documentary on display. Such passionate people recognize each other :) I appreciate that effort can be put in preserving something about this war which wasn't about killing people, but saving some.

[@boltonky]

It kinda boggles the mind how much history is still around but no-one really knows exists except for the few. In this day i would consider places like this need to go digital/virtual so more people can visit cause sadly not all of us can travel and to grow and learn takes leaving our space. Thanks for the upload, and really appreciate the work

[@hesseldijkstra5327]

As a child our family visited as of 1955 every year during the holidays the island Terschelling. As a small boy it was an exiting place to visit, first the steamboat ferry, sea, beach, dunes and forests. We played in the dunes hide and seek in the bunkers and trenches. Some bunkers were even converted into holiday homes. One day our father took us out for a hike on the Bosplaat. The Bosplaat is a huge nature reserve at the eastern side of the island. During our hike on the beach we saw according to my father a conning tower of a WW I submarine. We also saw the reddinghuisje translated in English would be rescue house instead of drowning house. I am very pleased to come across this posting and find out about its true purpose of this rusted steel tower, thanks!!

[@DSlyde]

You know what, seeing you on the inside was actually super interesting because it really showed how tight the conditions would be all the stuff AND multiple airmen wedged inside. The photos don't capture the space nearly as well as a quick pan around. Edit: haha well, he says something very similar just 30 seconds later. Whoops.

[@jellegepkens3586]

I noticed this video and thought, that looks exactly like the buoy in the museum by my house on Terschelling, great video.

[@internetquickie]

It's lovely that your original video will be part of the exhibit! Its a testament to your research and filmmaking that your work will be preserved for generations to learn from and marvel at an answer to a question I never previously even thought to ask! Great work and looking forward to even more great films for you! 😊

[@15halerobert]

I remember your first video about this subject. I thought I knew a lot about WW2 but until your first video came out I had no idea that such efforts where taken to save pilots lives. It shows that not only human life for both sides was important but also like now how valuable the lives of trained pilots were. These rescue buoys are amazing.

[@Tonytyga88]

I am ecstatic that you managed to get out there to see it. Can't wait to see the follow-up when they've finished the interior. This has been an incredible labor of historic appreciation. From the rediscovery, the museum and, of course, Calum as well.

[@diamondcreepah3210]

I should've known you'd go there. I live in the netherlands, and Terschelling (roughly pronounced as "tear-skelling") is only 2,5 hours away with public transit including the ferry. Nonetheless, a beautiful documentary about a truly rare piece of ww2 history!

[@jespervanstrien3042]

I grew up on terschelling and my entire familly still lives there. when we were kids we played in the old german bunkers very often, i remember this buoy from when it was displayed in its unrestored form in the harbour next to the diving club, good to see they restored it

[@rocbolt]

They did a great job! Better late than never when it comes to saving relics of the past

[@PANNARALEJ]

It must be such an honor to have your video be the documentary featured at a future museum exhibit. Looking forward to a return visit when the interior is finished.

[@CalumRaasay]

Can't wait to go back! Maybe I can stay the night in it to complete the story!

[@andrewhofmann5453]

Simply amazing. You all have so much history over there, hope I get to visit someday and see this all.

[@jonbroadsword7572]

Thank You to the good people of Terschelling for lovingly saving this important piece of History and the bunker system so our future can see and touch our past. And Thank You to Callum for bringing this quirky little bit of WWII history to us -- I can't wait for part 3 when they finish. Happy Holidays to you, Mrs. Callum, and all the viewers who love this stuff as much as I do.

[@mariusg866]

incredible to see one of my favorite youtubers visit the island I've spent so much time on as a kid, glad you were able to see the buoy in the flesh and doubly glad you visited het Drenkelingenhuisje, where my name too is on the wall from back when I was a child

[@WeyounSix]

I have a feeling that small videos like this will one day become our only resources to learn about these things in a visual capacity. History will be kept by these random videos not knowing that they might become the last visual resource for this piece of history.

[@stevejake4316]

Have been looking forward to the possibility of a follow-up video on this subject. Really fascinating pieces of history and i can not thank you enough for yet another quality video. Merry Christmas and happy new year!

[@douglasboyle6544]

This is an amazing act of preservation of something so unique and forgotten, so happy to see it being done right.

[@bigratkiller1]

Another gem of a video. Thanks for all your hard work. Have a great Christmas

[@greenbimoon]

Fantastic productions you make, I really appreciate all the research and fine details. Awesome

[@TychoNorris]

It's so great to see that your research into these buoys is so detailed and thorough enough that it's being used in an academic setting to help teach others about the historical significance of these buoys keep up the amazing work I can't wait to see what next interesting topic you talk about

[@Valentijnzz]

Looking forward to another great video, thanks!

[@DavidS5118]

Great follow up to the original docu on the Buoys. Happy holidays and thanks for the great content.

[@brianmorris8045]

Great vid, Calum...can't wait for the full restoration to be completed.

[@Emppu_T.]

Another absolute gem video i saved up to watch. Can't wait for this story to develop with the bouys restoration

[@vortega472]

So much history in the little details, so much forgotten, so I'm happy your channel (no pun intended) looks at some of the quieter parts of WWII history so it can be discovered and preserved.

[@bradnutter41]

I can’t believe this video popped up! I first came to know about these rescue buoys a little over a year ago. And became fairly obsessed about these myself. I have no idea why ! But searched any and everything I could find. Anyway thank you so much. The best pictures and info. Thanks again

[@b1laxson]

This is the best way to get people to rewatch a wonderful prior video. Love the preservation of history.

[@Robslondon]

This was fascinating Calum, very enjoyable video.

[@markmitchell457]

Interesting video. Thanksfor doing this one. Looking forward for the interior rebuild.

[@WoodsPrecisionArms]

You’re videos are awesome - you bring a new life to long forgotten engineering wonders and oddities that helped shape so many huge innovations.

[@zerocool5395]

I get so happy whenever one of your videos comes out. I'm finally watching after getting home from work, they're always so good. Cheers from Chile!

[@unclejoe7466]

What an excellent video, and beautiful recreation of the buoy interior! I hope the museum includes this one along with the first video in their display.

[@NemetskyCzar]

Thanks so much Calum, Merry Christmas to you!

[@CalumRaasay]

You too!

[@CycolacFan]

As usual with the majority of your videos a fascinating look at something I was previously unaware of. Thank you.

[@stevemerrick192]

Great Vid Callum! Keep em coming! Cheers from Canada.

[@robertwatford7425]

I had a vague idea about these bouys but your videos are excellent, and I can't wait for the next one. And congratulations for being immortalised :-)

[@Dave2108]

So interesting. Cant wait for h update video showing the interior all kitted out. Thank you for another great video. Your time and effort is much appreciated.

[@CalumRaasay]

I know, I'm actually really glad to have been able to see it at this stage and then compare it to the future fitting out!

[@davewright3088]

Absolutely brilliant..! The topper for chapter 3 would be an account from a survivor of the experience in what you and I might call the 'vomit hotel'..! Low probability given the time gone, but what a find if an ancient gent could relate his time aboard...

[@TheElnots]

Good find! Loved the first video! Learned a lot about something I've seen lots of times in photos.

[@BigDickMark]

So proud of that community. Great job, Terschelling! -Tim from California, USA

[@tazbertdt]

Had never heard of these things before! Fascinating stuff. Glad you got to see one in the flesh as it was!

[@someoneelse7629]

I saw your fist video, and somehow I knew that these bouys exited efore that, and I was so happy to stumble upon that video, and now you followed it up AND promised another followup. I hope that many people support the bunkermuseum so that they can restore the internals soon!

[@georgenaidoo9553]

I love your research and effort you put into videos , well done 🙌🏼

[@james94582]

Another amazing and informative video... Look forward to seeing a return to see the progress of this amazing project...

[@KrisDouglas]

These guys have done an awesome job, they are preserving an incredibly important piece of history

[@Chill_Mode_JD]

Never ceases to amaze me the amount of passion you have for these research projects! Hopefully it’s contagious 💯🤙

[@Luftkuhlt964]

This is amazing. The first one was one of my favourite videos of yours

[@enriquelandaf]

Thank you for your beautiful fun fact naratting of these historic buoys Love your style of telling the story.

[@joshuacooch4789]

Thank you ever so much for your hard work I saw your original video about the rescue buoy it was so interesting you are such an amazing technical artist There is one thing to read or watch about history but it is truly another to be able to touch and feel something from the time. Thank you again to everyone who put in their own hard work to bring it back to life so others can learn about rescue buoy. I wish everyone very merry christmas and very happy new year

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you so much!

[@Robutube1]

Your graphics are next level on this one Calum! Thanks for continuing to bring us these intriguing tales - I suspect that it is a red letter day for many of us when you post.

[@davidnash1220]

This has been absolutely excellent 👏 thank you for posting - brilliant 👏

[@sherryberry2394]

I saw your first video, so I was delighted to find the second one to watch! I would love to see this restored bouy in part 3👍.

[@donaldmatthies6026]

Wow! That's awesome! Thank you for the opportunity and a second follow up video. I'll definitely be looking forward to the third video. Thank you for taking time to research, film, edit and post this video

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you for watching and the lovely comment!

[@joeystonehouse8768]

You never miss. Love the shout outs to all collaborators and people you meet along the way, just pure class man. Absolute grade A KZbin and always looking forward to whatever you do next.

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha thank you! Really appreciate that. Comments like yours make it all worth it

[@aghauler1964]

Well done Sir, Thank you so much for sharing your time and resources, All the best from Iowa US.

[@GlanyNiebieskie]

Every single video of yours is such a treat

[@jonbutzfiscina1307]

At least these volunteers appreciate history and preserve it for future generations.

[@Never_heart]

I love seeing a piece of history being rebuilt that was about saving lives from a time and event that was so much about taking them

[@mumblbeebee6546]

Huge congratulations to have your efforts as a historian and communicator validated by being ‘installed’ in such a great museum!

[@infinearts745]

Excellent story and video! Thanks

[@dkins8]

Great video as always and it must be humbling to have one of your videos preserved and displayed in a museum

[@CalumRaasay]

It was certainly an odd feeling!

[@unknown-ql1fk]

Calum is a great video producer and he finds the most obscure tops but covers them so well

[@ceirwynsinclair4198]

Once again Amazing work Brendon!!!

[@tacticalmanatee]

what great work by the locals! Thanks for bringing this little known history to life.

[@humankapital2000]

This is highly fascinating! I need to visit this museum next time I'm the Netherlands. Thanks for sharing.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

It'll look great once all the holes are filled in a the insides installed. A real work of love to recreate history

[@adampoll4977]

Always great content. Well researched, and teaching me something I didn't even know I wanted to know about, but somehow did 😁

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@uzetaab]

I love this channel, so obscure and yet so fascinating. For anyone who has not seen the Jerry Can video, it's in my opinion the most interesting video on this channel.

[@ajfoster3920]

It seems like it'd be wiser to recreate the interior of the buoy in a bunker at the museum rather that in the buoy itself. That way everyone could experience its interior not just those capable enough to climb the ladders there.

[@pistonar]

Sadly, completely interactive displays where you can 'fondle the goods' tend to get theft and damage. I think that folding doors like they've put on with a window would be best to show a restored interior while minimizing problems. If they were able to put something together that one could walk around in that accentuated the small amount of space, that would be great.

[@CL-vz6ch]

Good idea. An interior to scale with a couple of perspex walls?

[@pistonar]

@@CL-vz6ch Yeah, that would be great. :)

[@brolohalflemming7042]

I think this is one of the cool things about technology. So collect every photograph and remaining artefact, scan and digitise and create accurate 3-D models. Then those could be used to generate plans for building physical reconstructions. I've seen archaeologists using photgrammetry for this and creating virtual representations of sites. It's neat to see their virtual representations, then explore the site and imagine how it must have been in it's hey day. Plus as a gamer, the potential to turn those into assets and games. Your rescue bouy washes up on a strange island, there are bunkers to explore, mysteries to solve etc.

[@RichardAmmo1]

Excellent Video! History is intriguing and awesome to see! Thanks for doing all that was necessary to make this and sharing it with us! Rich - USA

[@214rwoz]

Thanks for all your time and effort.

[@CalumRaasay]

My pleasure! Best job in the world.

[@314299]

Another top notch video by Calum!

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Good on these ppl for preserving a piece of our World History, it's a wonderful thing to see especially when so many today are hell bent on revising and forgetting our History. 👏👏👏 Great video as always Calum, thank you for uploading! 👍👍

[@oldnstillworkin5709]

What a fantastic job they have done to restore this historic piece of equipment. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Thank you. Rich in Florida

[@CalumRaasay]

Cheers Rich, so excited to get back and see what it looks like when complete!

[@Magemanbob]

great video. loved the extra detail of highlighting the broken mast and the two light housings

[@CalumRaasay]

must have had something on my mind

[@smudgey1kenobey]

Love this follow-up! Thank You.

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jonathanduchesne8437]

these are a great concept, should continue to be used

[@theduke9292]

Not much point. With GPS and advanced tracking any crashes close to the shore would be rescued almost immediately And deep in the heart of the ocean so far from shore you’d need millions in order to properly screen the Cora anything less and there’d be no point

[@timondijkstra5825]

As a Dutchman I’ve never visited Terschelling (visited the other wadden eilanden) but seeing this I now I is have to go there!