The adventures and tragic sinking of the Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms. Isaac Sweers during WW-II in color!

[@Rick88888888]

This is spectacular enhanced and colorized footage for naval history enthusiasts. Also this video is of special value to me because it involves my father who was one of the crew members of the Hr.Ms. Isaac Sweers and survived the tragic sinking of this ship. Obviously, not everything was filmed at that moment in time. For the purpose of following the storyline some events have been simulated using footage that resembles what happened. Most of these scenes are briefly marked as such in the top-left corner. About 70% of what you see is the real thing. *Please don't forget to describe to my channel* !

[@misterniceguy7997]

The Year when I was Born., August 1, 1986

[@loriskjerve1]

I just wanted to Thank you for sharing your videos with us. Just like everyone else I’m subscribed to several/KZbin. With saying that: your videos are probably the best videos I’ve ever watched on KZbin ❤️Again Thank You

[@theon9575]

My dear, late father was a 25 year-old Dutch Marine serving on Hr Ms Isaac Sweers at the time of its sinking, and was also a lucky survivor. He suffered a significant ear damage due to severe acoustic trauma at the time of sinking, and was almost deaf for the rest of his life. But more than that, my fsther was seriously traumatised and, suffered debilitating PTSD for the rest of his life, with no support at all, and serious adjustment and depressive disorder, as his long term reaction to this horrific experience. It affected his marriage seriously, and that sinking was for me like a constant unseen depressive presence, a tragedy that shaped my family, an my whole childhood, even though I was not born until a few years after the sinking. This video moved me to tears, being the first time I have seen images of this event that destroyed my father's spirit, and was like a dark cloud that never quite rained on my family life when I was a child. Thank you so very much, Rick 8888888.

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much for your detailed feedback. It was quite emotional for me too while making this film and especially when watching it after it was completed. Please note that the actual sinking is similated in this film with the demise of another ship. What was the name of your father and role on the Isaac Sweers? My father didn't talk very often about his wartime experiences. I regret not having asked him more about it when he was still alive.

[@theon9575]

@@Rick88888888 Dear Rick, I am very grateful for your sensitive reply. My father's name was Johannes Nienhuijs. He now rests in peace. But my father was one of the four sons of my widowed grandmother who lived in Amsterdam that she lost to the 2nd War in an unbelievably tragic life. The first son was homosexual living in The Hague and so he was taken to a Concentration Camp and was never heard of again, presumed dead. The second son was a polio victim confined to a wheelcair so he was apprehended by Germain occupiers in Amsterdam, placed on a train to Germany and was also never heard of again. Then this sinking happened to my father, and he was transferred after the sinking to a Dutch base in North Carolina where surviving Dutch troops remained until the Allies were in a position to retake The Netherlands from German forces. Finally, and tragically, as the Germans finally withdrew from The Netherlands and attempted to eradicate news reporters reporters, my fourth and last uncle was discovered to be involved i the Dutch Resistance as a reporter for the banned Het Parool, and he was transferred to concentration Kamp Amersfoort where he was shot by German firing squad on 2 February,1945. Not surprisingly, when my grandmother in Amsterdam was told this news, she died of heart failure on the spot on the kitchen floor where she stood. Rick, it took me a long time to piece all this story together because my father like yours refused to talk about it ... the reason your father and others didn't speak was because it was unspeakable and your father was in deepest shock and grief. It is common, I've since read. I am myself an old man now, obviously, and younger people tell me I should forgive and forget. After many years, I have truly managed to find forgiveness in my heart for what Germany did to my family and country. But when one's own family, one by one, have been viciously murdered, one cannot forget, and I never will. Every Christmas while others sit enjoying their families, I cannot forget that I sit alone because I have never even met any members of my father's family because the Germans murdered them in unspeakable atrocities. May God forgive them as I have. But I'll not forget.

[@Indylimburg]

​​​@@theon9575Thank you for sharing. Your family's story is one of the most tragic I've heard, but is not surprising. I had other friends who's parents were in Holland during the occupation and they too were apprehended and sent to concentration camps or had their lives threatened for being caught with contraband such as radios. Then there was the famine at the end of the war. Thankfully they survived. Somehow they kept their spirits and were always a joy to be around. They too had trouble forgiving the German people.

[@theon9575]

@@Indylimburg And thank you for your sympathetic response. The story of my family is tragic but, as you suggest, almost all Dutch families suffered tragic losses. Forgiving is difficult but important. I think it's equally important not to forget. To help prevent it happening again, because the savagery showed us what we humans beings in general are capable of at our worst, and not just people of one country. An object lesson for all of us.

[@catherine59226]

Absolutely stunning! Thank you for all you do for us. We appreciate you.

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you so much!

[@pdb1565]

Wat een prachtig staaltje Nederlandse geschiedenis laat je weer zien. Ondanks de tragiek van de film heb ik er erg van genoten. Wat een koene kerels waren het! DANKJEWEL!

[@Iain1962]

Well that's amazing, my Dad served in Malta so your Dad supplied my Dad. Dank U Wel.

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much!

[@brunoterlingen2203]

Thank you Rick. May those who perished rest in peace. Well presented, again.

[@PUAlum]

Thank you for sharing this. And all respect to our friends in the Netherlands who endured so much and contributed so much during that terrible war.

[@robatyrobaty]

hartelijk dank voor het maken van deze mooie film over HR.Ms. Isaac Sweers. Mijn vader was één van de 2 officieren die dit tragische ongeval op de Isaac Sweers heeft overleefd Hij heeft daarna nog op meerdere schepen gevaren oa als commandant op de Soemba en na de 2e wereld oorlog was hij ook nog oudste officier op de Zeven Provinciën en was hij commandant op Hr.Ms. Overijssel op de terugreis in 1959 van Nieuw Guinea naar Den Helder . Zijn laatste dienstjaren voor pensionering bracht hij door in Fontainebleau 1960-1963 onderdeel NAVO , mijn vader geboren Bandoeng 1913 Nederlands Indië, overleden Brasschaat / België 2003 Nogmaals mijn complimenten en dank voor deze prachtige rapportage over de Isaac Sweers

[@Rick88888888]

Graag gedaan. Welke rol had je vader? Dan kan ik hem op de volledige bemanningslijst wellicht terugvinden. Die lijst is door mijn vader bewaard. Hij was barbier op de Isaac Sweers (en ook op de Johan Maurits).

[@robatyrobaty]

@@Rick88888888 Luitenant ter zee S.L. ( Sako Lambertus ) de Jong en stond bij de torpedering op de brug en dat was zijn ' geluk' , alle officieren die beneden dek slapende/rustende waren hebben het niet overleefd , commandant Harmsen heeft het ook overleefd. Na de Isaac Sweers was mijn vader aan-boord van de Johan Maurits van 14/06/43 tot 15/08/44 en daarna commandant op de Soemba van september 1944 tot einde van de oorlog . Wellicht hebben jouw vader en mijn vader dan ook samen op de Johan Maurits gevaren ?

[@robatyrobaty]

er is ook nog een boek uitgegeven door een oud marine man , daarin deelt de schrijver Marinus Olivier zijn ervaring op de Isaac Sweers gedurende de Malta Konvooien en zijn verdere marine ervaringen

[@robatyrobaty]

even ter verduidelijking mijn vader was wel commandant op de Johan Maurits van Nassau

[@mattesrocket]

Completely incredible. I was born in the 70ies in Germany but I can understand, that in the 90ies there were sometimes still some hate from Dutch guys agains Germans, even young ones like me. WW2 started terrible and ended like something there are no words for it. Big ships have something heroic, okay. But at this point, just the construction of these monsters, there ends the glory. If I see the fear in the faces of this young boys on this ships, when the shelling gets serious, terrible. Loosing your young life just because some IDI0TS of politicians decided so.

[@chrisgibson2328]

Thank you for this excellent documentary. My Grand Father served in the merchant marine from the age of 10. He was born in 1895 and originally worked on the clipper ships. He was torpedoed twice in his career and once he was the only survivor. He was a tough old guy.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

As You can see by my name I'm Dutch and my Imediat Family living and dead survived WWII in the Netherlands. We come from Delft and Den Haag. Keep doing wonderful things and great Video's.

[@pradolover]

That's a BBC quality documentary there and a fascinating insight into this sadly short lived ship.

[@janruurddejonge1706]

Thank you Rick for this wonderful historic footage dedicated to the fighting men, their ships and in honor of they who perished..

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

Brilliant footage Rick. My father served in signals as a petty officer in the Royal Navy, just after the war finished. Began at the age of 15 in 1946. Saw the world and spent most of his time at sea. Enjoyed the coverage of Gibraltar, as i served 2 years there with the RAF, also in telecomms in the mid 80s. The Gibraltarians still spoke about how the Allies protected them from the germans, although fortunately Gibraltar and the south of Spain remained undamaged.

[@aartvanderwal609]

God bless your father. Thanks for doing this brillant job!

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you too!

[@jec1ny]

"The next worst thing to a battle lost, is a battle won" -Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington "Old men declare war. But it is the young who must fight and die." Herbert Hoover

[@1davidvano]

My father survived the sinking of the Isaac Sweers as well as the Johan Maurits. He transferred to the. Marines, trained in the US and fought in Indonesia., immigrating to the US at the end of the war.

[@georgewilkinson6510]

Extremely interesting and informative. My father served in the Royal Canadian Navy throughout the war. Thank you.

[@timmc49]

Excellent work and a privilege to see your historical family and other documentaries! I just found your KZbin channel and can't wait to view all of your beautifully enhanced videos. Thanks so much!! God bless your dad for his service!

[@Sox148]

Sooo interesting and beautiful, dank u wel Ricky! Salute and honour to your Father....

[@rajatanpacelana]

mooie... bedankt voor het delen op youtube...

[@James-nl6fu]

This is a lot of work. I'm sure they're proud of you.

[@MarcTinroofcat]

Very impressive footage and great restauration and colorization! Thanks for your work and upload!

[@willmears1111]

A great tribute to the Dutch Navy. My family were inland in Roermond, and my Great Uncle, Harry Stappers and Mother, Anne Marie Mevissen were in the resistence and fought in and around Roermond, Limburg.

[@heipuntnl]

Wat een document! Prachtig.

[@MrJob91]

wow something so personal. tnx for sharing this gift with the world

[@biker_dan]

This was a fantastic piece of work, a mini documentary with great video restoration and good commentary. The historical part was very interesting indeed. I look forwards to more of your work like this.

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much! Have you checked out the other 270+ videos on my channel?

[@biker_dan]

@@Rick88888888 yes I have watched them all. I have been following your work for over a year now.. love it..

[@Rick88888888]

@@biker_dan Great! I'm pleased you enjoy what I do. The next film will be about my fathers time in London during WW-II (1943-1945)

[@biker_dan]

@@Rick88888888 I look forwards to seeing it. I have a great interest in www and www and your restored videos make it all look like it happened yesterday. It really is fantastic work that you do.

[@InnocentLargeWaterfall-js4dk]

My name is Casey sweers I am the 5 or 6 times great grandson of rear admiral Isaac sweers, great to hear the history of the ship named after him first time I heard of the ship was recently had no idea, I live in Canada so never heard of it thank you

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

Wonderful video Rick. It's obviously poignant but also so well put together with great footage. Thanks among other things for informing us ignorant Brits about the Dutch in WWII (or at least me anyway).

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

Must admit the same. I didnt realise until now, the part the Dutch played in WW11. I really thought they were similar to the Swiss, the Austrians and the Spanish and that they kept out of military operations. Thanks Rick. My ignorance is now quenched

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

@@davidwilliamgay4821 There is a history to be written about those who escaped occupied Europe to fight on from Britain: Dutch, Norwegians, Belgians, French, Poles, Czechs etc.

[@dirkbazuin8903]

Top! Dank je wel!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

Wow wat interessant is dit zeg. Je vader is 68 geworden. Hij heeft heel de oorlog overleeft en veel vrienden verloren. Echt bijzonder. Deze mensen hebben gevochten voor onze vrijheid. Daar ben ik zeer dankbaar voor. Groetjes,, Kitty.

[@Rick88888888]

Dank je wel!

[@p_mouse8676]

Very striking story and footage, especially because it's so personal. Your father was one lucky man (and I guess so are you because of that) Unfortunately many weren't, RIP Greet work as always!!

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much. Yes I would not have been born if he had died in 1942. He also would not have met my English mother in London in the following years. My next video will be all about that period (1942 to 1945) in London.

[@Rick88888888]

Here is that promissed video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnfSqIeuet6NmZo

[@pmcg97]

A respectful tribute 👍

[@joebutterman3084]

Thank you for presenting this history.

[@TNWvL]

Thank you so much for this. It is very moving to see the Isaac Sweers in footage. My grandfather served on the Isaac Sweers and was the officer in command when she was towed across to England by the Zwarte Zee. He subsequently went on the win the DSC during the night action that resulted in the sinking of the Italian light cruisers Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano. He would have been on the Isaac Sweers when she was torpedoed but, having recently got married and having a newly born child (my aunt), one of the other officers offered to swap leave with him. As a result, he was not on board when she sank otherwise he would probably have been killed and my father would not have been born.

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much for this interesting info!

[@nesretep08]

My grandfather was Lt Cmndr Joost Ruitenschild, commander of the Douwe Aukes.

[@WilfredZweverink]

Splendid footage again, thank you very much..

[@Rick88888888]

Many thanks!

[@jandick4664]

That was brilliant. Really well done. Thanks Dick

[@terrylarkin690]

Excellent footage I'm a retired US NAVY PHOTOGRAPHER

[@yesteachers]

Prachtig om te zien maar ook even stil staan bij een tragisch einde voor een groot gedeelte van de bemanning.

[@mason-j2x8k]

Thank you 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@adriangutierrez463]

It would also be good to recover and process the images of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee sunk in the Battle of the Río de la Plata in 1939. It would be spectacular without a doubt. Very good videos on your channel.👏👏

[@las1147]

Rick, great video. It was very interesting to watch for me. When my grandfather was 8 years old his big brother (and only sibling) Janus (Bastiaansen, A.P.) left to join the Navy. After May 1940 he would never see him again, as my great-unlce was aboard the Hr.Ms. Nautilus and left for the UK. Later Janus was tranferred to the Isaac Sweers, but I don't know when. I dont know of any documents after 1940, they weren't in his archive in The Hague. He sadly did not survive this incident and I can only try to imagine he was on those long voyages to Ceylon, South Africa etc.

[@scottnyc6572]

This is an extraordinarily done video dedicated to your father and all those who perished aboard ship.Your father took many photographs i see,did he have the motion camera as well?Thank you!!

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you very much. No he only had a photo camera (Agfa anastigmat jgestar), which at the time was rather expensive. Film equipment was too expensive.

[@WombatKnul]

Wederom een geweldige video!

[@andrevdende8244]

Mooi stukje geschiedenis. Mooie beelden ook. Je ziet niet vaak beelden vd NL marine tijdens de 2e WW. Treurig om te weten dat er daar Nederlanders op de bodem liggen. Best ver van huis.

[@nesretep08]

My grandfather was Lt Cmndr Joost Ruitenschild, commander of the Douwe Aukes. Cheers

[@moniquebrood5441]

Ben benieuwd Rick, ik ga kijken...

[@janvisser2223]

Me too.

[@MrHendrikus1977]

En ik wacht ook met smart! Wat hadden we toen toch mooie schepen, niet normaal

[@Rick88888888]

Here is that promissed video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnfSqIeuet6NmZo

[@joopmar6]

Mooi als altijd

[@andysvehiclehistorychannel]

Very very inspirational story

[@qrit91]

This is awesome.

[@Duke-i3u]

a great tribute video. but why no mention of her being part of british destroyer flotilla that sank two italian cruisers of cape bon on 12/13/41?

[@stevenblack7928]

thank you

[@Rick88888888]

You're welcome

[@prosanis1216]

Wel mijn waarde Rick, mijn complimenten voor deze prachtige documentaire BBC stijl. Ik heb met stijgende verbazing zitten kijken naar de ervaringen van uw vader en zijn scheepsmaten. Dankuwel voor het delen van deze prachtig ingekleurde video.👍👍❤️

[@Rick88888888]

Heel hartelijk dank!

[@Rick88888888]

Er staan ook 2 video's over de Hr.Ms. Johan Maurits van Nassau op mijn kanaal: ook mooi om te kijken! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXbYg5JsjMijnMU en kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2W6n5WrZ7p7gbs

[@gnolan4281]

Thank you for your series of informative and upscaled videos. The sailors' hats look exagerrated when compared to those of other navies. Why was that? Perhaps because those large brims could be turned down for protection in rain and high winds? In black & white images of bygone eras the viewer is aware of the barrier to immersion owing to the infant technology and deterioration that happens with the passage of time. Upscaled images like these have a great impact on me as I better internalize just how very much alive these people were.

[@Rick88888888]

My pleasure! These hats were used in tropical areas.

[@HRM.H]

Great video !!

[@Rick88888888]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@keithhazelaar5420]

Very interesting as my uncle was one of those that did not survive the sinking.

[@Rick88888888]

Thanks for telling me. What was your uncle's role on the ship? I am still looking for a complete list of its crew. The list that can be found online and in the book about the Isaac Sweers is far from complete. My father was the barber, but also not on this list.

[@jelleamsterdam6066]

geweldig weer!!! stil van!

[@Rick88888888]

Graag gedaan!

[@chuckcorris2392]

Good looking ship…

[@BayoHunter]

Very good documentary, I enjoy your work. Do you have any film of Arnhem from WW2? Sincerely yours from Richard Abbenbroek and his Evie Dog 🐕.

[@Rick88888888]

Indeed, Arnhem is coming up in part-4 of my current serie about the destruction of the Netherlands during WW-II.

[@johannschiestl2772]

Diese Videos sind wirklich historische Juwelen!

[@Rick88888888]

Danke sehr!

[@andysvehiclehistorychannel]

Did i see the tanker Ohio in the Grand Harbour ?

[@jasonherring2419]

I really enjoyed the hard-to-find footage of the Isaac Sweers and some other great clips from Dutch ships such as Java and De Ruyter. I'm curious why you didn't mention the night of the gun battle in which Isaac Sweers helped sink Italian cruisers Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano - that must have been quite the night for your father. I help develop player-contributed content for a 3D WWII naval simulation game and recently brought Isaac Sweers into the game - I came across your video looking for more information about her!

[@Rick88888888]

Thanks! Very interesting. I didn't know about the Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano. I didn't come across this event in the books that I have about the Isaac Sweers. I read this a moment ago: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Alberico_da_Barbiano

[@afcansf5996]

@ Jason I also never heard of that battle, but after doing some research its one of those cases those events were credited to the Britisch Royal Navy. Its a simular things as with the battle of Monte Casino, who is credited to the Americans while it were mainly Polish forces doing the fighting and even some Indian units. Of course the Americans & Brits did a lot, but its ashame often the contributions of other nations often are forgotten or are just credited to a larger ally.

[@johnjephcote7636]

That looked like the tanker Ohio entering Grand Harbour Valetta, with ships lashed to her sides to keep her afloat. (The carrier shewn at the words, Ark Royal, was not, mowever, the Ark).

[@maxboonkittypoison]

Heb trouwens een vraagje: Ligt het wrak van de destroyer Hr.Ms. Isaac Sweers nog altijd daar op de bodem?? Of zijn ze hem kwijt?

[@Rick88888888]

Volgens mij ligt het wrak daar nog. De positie is bekend: www.tracesofwar.com/sights/135463/Where-is-Shipwreck-Hr-Ms-Isaac-Sweers.htm (even uitzoomen op de kaart)

[@helsdeur]

Top !!

[@richardbinkhuysen5224]

Mooi tribuut👍

[@Rick88888888]

Dank je wel!

[@genekelly8467]

Very interesting..how did these destroyers compare to japanese destroyers of the time-looks like they mounted 6" guns..how were they for anti-aircraft guns?

[@DanSalon]

When seeing these videos clearly, its weird how you can see pollution in them whe. The ships and combustion engines are near the camera, but there are points when our video today looks worst because of the pollution in the air

[@Rick88888888]

I really don't understand this totally off-topic comment. Did you really watch it?? Did you really let it sink in what happened?? Who cares about pollution in relation to war?!

[@ahsansariyadi29]

bombarded by enemy aircraft, torpedoed by german u boat, shelled by enemy ship, or simply having a simple ship accident

[@Rick88888888]

Didn't you watch the film? The answer is clearly given there: it was torpedoed by Uboot U-431. See 16:20

[@1XX1]

Bloody Hell.

[@vandenberg298]

Indrukwekkend

[@iMatti00]

Your father claimed he wasn’t chasing women at bars. Lol. Interesting video again.

[@Rick88888888]

I never said that....

[@iMatti00]

@@Rick88888888 lol