SS Rex: Mussolini’s Doomed Mega Liner

Mussolini’s ambition helped create the SS Rex and SS Conte di Savoia, two of the greatest Italian ocean liners ever built. The SS Rex was the first and only Italian liner to ever capture the Blue Ribband. Despite their popularity, neither liner would survive the chaos and destruction of World War II.
Help support this channel with some ship shape merch! www.bigoldboats.com/shop
Instagram: / bigoldboats
Sources:
The Only Way to Cross by John Maxtone-Graham: amzn.to/3lLVFjA
The Liner by Philip Dawson: amzn.to/31SAOBK
www.italianliners.com/rex-en
www.italianliners.com/conte-d...
Music:
LEMMiNO - Siberian / siberian
LEMMiNO - Triangular / triangular
Other music provided by Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Jobii - Tea Tree
Lennon Hutton - Ceres
Justnormal - Po' Prayer (Lofi Version) (Instrumental Version)
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:05 Chapter 1: Italian Ambition
4:27 Chapter 2: Crowning Rex
9:13 Chapter 3: An Embarrassing Start
12:30 Chapter 4: War and Death
Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing free high-quality historical content.

[@BigOldBoats]

Two minor corrections! 1. Rex is LATIN for King, not Italian, and 2. Rex captured the Blue Riband from Germany's Bremen, not the Mauretania :)

[@SeaTravelr123]

Wonderful job either way. ❤️😎

[@RESPONDSTAT]

Reply to this message please you should have mentioned the part Rex ultimate fate before mentioning she was scrapped in 1950 instead you mention being scrapped first and then mentioned being destroyed in 1945 they got me confused

[@SeaTravelr123]

@@Momo_Kawashima ❤️❤️❤️

[@dfdemt]

Ok, just finished binging all your videos. Now where’s the next one? We all know you’re gonna do one on the titanic, so let’s see it…..

[@michaelwhite2823]

I have watched a lot of documentaries on ships and own the four part series Floating Palaces. Your channel gives greater detail and is very informative and entertaining. I hope you make more episodes! Would love to learn about the da Vinci and her sister ship, among others.

[@davidfaulkner8201]

There is a old movie from the late 1930's called "Dodsworth". The Rex is actually in the movie near the end . She is shown docked in Naples in a beautiful panoramic view . It sad to think that the moment she only had a few years left.

[@jeffearle8172]

Fabulous movie!

[@JPKnapp-ro6xm]

It's a good movie, too.

[@dimitri6128]

On days when there's a low tide the wreck of the Rex is still visible right off the Slovenian coast between Koper and Izola (or Capodistria and Isola as they were known in Fascist times). It is quite easily accessible by boat or even just by swimming, but not much remains of the liner. There's also commemorative plating on the coast as part of a historical landmark.

[@xr6lad]

Co-ordinates? Google maps?

[@luca-pk5ff]

I live 5km fromt there and never know it🙀

[@tundrawomansays694]

@@xr6ladGoogle it for more info. The above mentioned plating should help with the location as well. I’m sure you’ll find the information you seek. Best wishes!

[@steventoby3768]

My grandfather used to take me on Caribbean cruises out of New York in the late 60's - early 70's. We used several Italian Line ships but he always said his favorite was still the Rex, which he'd traveled on from Italy to New York. It's great to see the lavish interiors of that ship. But while we ate extremely well on the more recent Italian Line ships (my own favorite was the Michelangelo), he said the food on the Rex was the best he'd had anywhere.

[@Waddles1.4]

The Caribbean is in the North America

[@andyn46]

It seems Italy has about as much skill making boats as they do cars. Gorgeous, top of the line interiors, swooping modern exterior lines, mated to faulty engines. Some things really don’t change

[@quercus5398]

Italy ship building today is concentrated on cruise liners and war ships including air craft carriers.

[@LASTCARonBROCK]

Thank you so much for doing this one. The SS Rex seems so overlooked between the breakthrough Bremen and Europa and the revolutionary Normandie. Learned a lot in this that I hadn't yet heard.

[@akselisrael]

I totally agree, the 2 contenders for my favourite ocean liner is Normandie and Rex. Both with stunning interiors and exteriors

[@falcon664]

I love that their interiors were not at all similar, as was the usual practice in ships at the time. It would have been great to travel on one each way of a round trip.

[@cleverusername9369]

Provided they had normally functioning electricity and no fleas, of course

[@NashmanNash]

@@cleverusername9369 Screw the fleas...i have cats and the habbit to pet every cat i can get my hands on...So..i have always some fleas around...if those things would just stop bothering my cats and focus on me instead..

[@lordshipmayhem]

I must admit that as attractive as SS Rex is, I would have preferred the Art Deco/Streamline Moderne style of SS Conte di Savoia. Both are wonderful looking ships, so I think it comes down to personal taste. A pity that neither could be successfully salvaged and returned to service after the war.

[@thepopulistgamer4879]

Me personally i prefer the andrea doria

[@TheVaughan5]

@@thepopulistgamer4879 The Andrea Doria was a lovely ship for sure but design wise no match for the perfection of the Conte di Savoia though of course her cabins would have been more up to date.

[@davidrichie9570]

The cost to refurbish and return them to service, could never have been recovered in the few scant postwar years before the jet age killed the ocean liners.

[@fritzbasset8645]

@@davidrichie9570 They never should have been bombed; at that stage in the war it was a waste of time and accomplished nothing. The Brits did the same thing with the CAP ARCONA, no reason to bomb it in May 1945.

[@dumigamez397]

@@davidrichie9570 Savoia could have been preserved until recovery.

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

For sheer beauty, Conte di Savoia was one of the few ships that could be mentioned in the same paragraph as Normandie.

[@billhowcroft5751]

Rex briefly appears in the Fellini film Amarcord. The popular Peroni lager Nastro Azzuro is named for her Blue Riband. My Uncle flew one of the Beaufighters that attacked her with rockets.

[@leleroi]

Correct!!

[@ruthiehensh]

So much was lost with the war that my Heart aches. Bremen, Normandie, Conte di Savoia, Rex and so many other beautiful liners lost

[@djscottdog1]

They are peices of metal and the ones that wernt have been scrapped now

[@Oxurus]

@@djscottdog1 Grow a heart, will you?

[@TSR1989FF]

@@Oxurus This. Life is fleeting; but the results of human technical skill can transend generations; either in terms of outliving the creators (like the Queen Mary I), or in posthumous adoration (Rex, Andrea Doria, Olympic, et al).

[@johnmiller8975]

Ignore the edgelords Stupidity doomed Normandie -- not the war

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

@@djscottdog1 Hey there, Mr. Scottdog- that's a very unusual name, reminds me of a feller I used to work with by the name of Skjødtdaag. Different spelling, of course, but you know how that goes with Ellis Island and all that. Anyhow, this feller was a riveter at the shipyard I worked at until one day he got hauled off by the authorities. It was a big scene- he was all kicking and screaming in this high-pitched voice like a lady, practically foaming at the mouth. Some time later we heard that he'd previously worked as a clown for a circus and was wanted for several counts of 'indecent or immoral activities involving circus animals'. Now, you may be no relation, but you just might want to steer clear of circuses, zoos, and the like. Just in case.

[@fatovamingus]

I don't know how I started watching these videos but I can't stop. There's so much history surrounding each tale! There is so much that I did not know. Thank you for your efforts

[@Mess-Lab-Kitchen-Show]

I'm a pretty well read history dude; I've read pretty much all of Sir Antony Beevors WW2 and Spanish Civil War books, and I learned something new here! Great job bud!!

[@Brock_Landers]

It's funny how Titanic was about the same size as Rex, but with 110,000 shp less and Titanic could max out at close to 23 knots, whereas Rex could average 26, but had a top speed of 29 knots. Queen Mary had 220,000 shp and could manage close to 33 knots at full steam, but was 1,018 feet long and didn't have a bulbous bow, but had a modern clipper stern. Edit: my point is that how far maritime technology had come since 17 years earlier.

[@thomasvodopi3348]

I have to say that, as an Italian, I mostly ammire the SS Rex and the other Ocean Liners of Italy, but I simply love this ship. I love his design outside and inside and I love her lines, maybe SS Conte Di Savoia, It is a little bit more modern, but Traditionalism of Italy it's such a beautiful design, I simply love everything about her, and I am so happy when we admire Italian Ship, this is like an Italian Drop inside the Sea of the great Liners of Britain, France and Germany, it is a little voice that says "We're here as well, ready to compete at the same level". Anyway besides how much I love the ship, I also loved the video, I learned new things. Also your videos are simply beautiful, how they describe the ships you talk about hit me right in the heart, and simply give me more passion for this world, so in that way I must thank you. Keep that way of making this great videos :)

[@reenabearkitty]

Out of all the ocean liner history channels I watch, SS Rex and SS Conte di Savoia are hardly talked about. Thank you for covering these liners!

[@Unownshipper]

I like the style with which you make your videos: the quick cuts of vintage footage at the start of each chapter, the chapter fonts, the delicate music in the background, etc. It all makes for quite the pleasant and appropriate mood for a discussion on ocean liners.

[@haroldchipman8590]

This was an excellent presentation, thank you. In Fellini's famous film 'Amarcord', the Rex makes a memorable appearance as the 'ship of dreams' ...

[@Kaidhicksii]

Did hear of that recently! That must've been so cool :D

[@squashgaming9279]

so glad i found this channel! not many ocean liner channels out there, so it's great to have someone producing a steady stream of videos about them. great work!

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

If you haven’t found it already, another great channel is Part-Time-Explorer

[@leroyholm9075]

Very stylish as you would expect from Italian design. Well put together video highly recommended. Thank You

[@gordonjustin4787]

Thank You for this Video. There was little information about the Ocean Liner Rex. The Pride of Italy. I learned a lot from this Video. Two more Italian Ocean Liners you might be interested in making a Video about are the Raphael and the Michelangelo. I was on board the Raphael as a child in the mid 1960's. Thank You Again!

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Colour photographs and motion pictures of Rex and Conte di Savoia seem to be quite rare, which is a shame. They loooked truly magnificent with their funnels in the company colours of red, white, and green.

[@DylanKelleyVA]

Damn, I don't know if it's just me, but a number of these shots of Rex show her funnels absolutely BILLOWING smoke all over the place, more than I've seen from footage of most liners of the era.

[@aegonthedragon7303]

Oooooh I’ve been hoping someone would make a video on the Rex!

[@sorosaltgaming]

sussy baka

[@ExAnimoPortugal]

I love that the ship's whistle sounds more like that on a steam locomotive

[@wills_corner]

I didn't even know SS Rex existed, so this is pretty cool

[@Jetchisel]

Hi Bradley, KZbin recommended this video to me today and I enjoyed it so much that I went on to view your story of the SS Bremen and Quarter Life Crisis. Excellent, captivating and highly professional! I look forward to devouring the rest of your vids over the coming days and eagerly look forward to more. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia.

[@lokey1057]

The stretch of land where Rex sank, near Izola, Slovenia now, is still known locally as "na Rexu" or on Rex.

[@johnkringe]

In the Mid 20th Century, Italian Liners ruled the waves. Such as Rex, Andrea Doria, Conte di Savoia, and many more. They really were the gems of the seas. They mastered the italian artsy art deco styles, and they were go beautful.

[@boardxtremist]

My Family came to America from Sicily on this ship! Thank you for the deep history of this magnificent ship!

[@mayneeyuh8713]

That’s amazing! Anything else about their journey you could share?

[@sitara2783]

In terms of looking at the interiors I prefer the Rex, but I know that were I to sail, I'd more comfortable on the Conte de Savoia. Great video as always.

[@jakes.7201]

Another fantastic and educational video! You have no idea how happy I was when I saw a new video from you, thank you so much!

[@jubuli2440]

Hearing the story of the guy being lowered over the side to plug hole in the sister ships side was surprising wholesome, hope that guy got his 800 dollars and more!

[@litamtondy]

I can't wait! Awesome ship, one of the best, in my opinion. Super fast, incredibly beautiful inside and out.

[@angellight495]

While I like the Rex & her interiors I'm definitely more of a fan of the Conte. Her exterior profile & Deco interiors make her, to me, the best decorated & finest looking Italian liner of all.

[@Makeyourselfbig]

A bygone era when people were still impressed by a large ship.

[@johnc2438]

They still are!

[@zanith56]

Conte di Savoia for me. Absolutely gorgeous liner.

[@johnwick-ii6il]

Again, another great video. Easy to watch, listen to, and comprehend.

[@briannelson3686]

Thanks for doing this video. It seems aside from the Andrea Doria there is just not that much content on Italian Line ships. Nice job telling their stories. I believe though that the Rex did not win the Blue Ribbon from the Mauritania, but from the Europa (which after WW II became the Liberte). Even the Rex was a stunning ship I prefer the Conte Di Savoia for her external beauty and art deco interiors. Thank again and I look forward to more of your videos!

[@Kaidhicksii]

It was from the Bremen.

[@briannelson3686]

@@Kaidhicksii According to John Maxtone -Graham in his book The Only Way to Cross, the Bremen took the Blue Ribbon from the Mauritania in July of 1929, and he writes "it was anticlimactic when the Europa, making a stormy maiden crossing the following March, took the record herself by a scant eighteen minutes."

[@1940limited]

Italy made a comeback with ocean liners with the Doria and nearly identical sister ship the Cristoforo Colombo, a nearly identical sister. It's a terrible tragedy what happened to the Andrea Doria.

[@aegonthedragon7303]

Also with Michelangelo and Raffaello.

[@OllieRamone]

I’m pleased by your videos. We need more like these.

[@povilasstaniulis9484]

Never knew these ships even existed. Thanks for the history lesson.

[@michaelsowden5892]

I really like and appreciate this channel and series. Good data and footage and a clear well-spoken narrative. So much information from the age of great ships. I wish these recordings could go to the Library Of Congress so future generations could learn what it was like then.

[@caiopagano606]

Bravo, I am very glad to see these videos. I traveled myself on several liners, but from Brazil to Europe: the ANDES ( Royal Mail Line), the Conte Biancamano and the Eugenio C. Unforgettable experiences when time was a different concept...

[@aelialoves2judge90dayfianc8]

Fascinating- I have loved the history of transatlantic vessels since I was a child and read John Maxtone-Graham's The Only Way to Cross. I don't recall reading or hearing much about the Rex and the Conte di Savoia- I am much more familiar with the more recent Raffaello and Michelangelo. Thank you so much for this mini-documentary!

[@denniscostabile4264]

My Grandparents came to the U.S. on the Rex from Torello, Italy in the 1930's!

[@ChristinaGXL]

I've loved this ship for a long time, since the hachette build the titanic first came out in the early 00s. It came with profiles on different liners, and this one was just so beautiful.

[@tomslegotrains7285]

this video is absolutely wonderful! well done!

[@earthking12]

The Art Deco modernist interiors of the Conte di Savoia are absolutely beautiful! And that anti-roll system is incredible. I'll vote for the Savoia.

[@lucavitti8030]

The n.3 Sperry gyroscopes were practically unused due to the fact that the whole structure of the ship was compromised when in use. So they will be taken unused for the ship life. A wrong technical decision!

[@3storiesUp]

The interior of the Conte di Savoia was insanely beautiful ..

[@TonysGym07]

FINALLY someone has made a video on her!

[@notthatdonald1385]

Excellent post. Well done!

[@apexxxx10]

*Thanks, 'Big Old Boats' Outstanding documentary. Solid research, unique images and footage of Mussolini and Italy of the the 30s. 'Big Old Boats' my favorite ocean liner Channel*

[@will-qw1tk]

Nice, I’m excited for what’s next!

[@Vajrubaj]

Dude i love your music taste its like a dream its like boards of canada/bonobo and more i love it ,and that silky smooth voice of yours . gr8 work give this men many more subs

[@themoonman-4]

Awesome liked both ships but wow on the background and story of the REX

[@albertoasi1654]

Amazing video, I always loved this ship. Thank you from Italy

[@MIKES0029]

These videos are so great! I’d love to see one on the Andrea Doria, SS Morro Castle, Yarmouth Castle...

[@thomassecurename3152]

Great history lesson. Thanks for the work an efforts. Tom.

[@RichardBenge]

This was a very interesting informative documentary thank you..I liked the story presented amid the Italian political situation. Great to learn the story and see great images of the REX.

[@richardvear4413]

Not so Pretty or Fast as Telstar though,does that ring any bells.

[@rev1hard]

just found your channel and I can't wait to watch more.

[@Kaidhicksii]

My favorite Italian liner of all time. I'm sorry, but I can't see what it is about the Savoia that you all love. The Rex is far more beautiful in my eyes, inside and out. The best I can say about the Savoia is that she seemed to be the more reserved one in her design. Since I've got a pretty good feeling that was the intention with her, there's nothing wrong with that. Guaranteed both of them would've continued to do very well as cruise ships even when the jet age arrived. They had it all, as did the Normandie, and the only improvement I could possibly see being made right now would be reducing their power to be more economical. Two wonderful liners created by ambition and destroyed by ambition. I know this video was about the Rex, but you oughta rename it to the Rex and the Savoia, for you covered both of them brilliantly. Job well done once again. Maybe do the Michelangelo and Rafaello next. Those are my second favorite pair of Italian liners. :D

[@markmatousek9427]

Some of my wife's Italian Relatives immigrated to the USA on the Rex, seems like they avoided some of the worst of the war

[@angelsone-five7912]

Interesting story as usual. I have a preference for the SS Conte di Savoia because of its` lean towards art deco which I am very fond of.

[@louisbofferding5831]

I very much enjoy your videos, and this one too -- but it is mostly about the Rex, so why not do another on the Conte di Savoia? As you point out, she was more innovative in design, what with the gyroscope, and yet, surprisingly, she wasn't engineered to be the fastest. The interiors by Pulitzer (a Jewish designer) were first rate, but her most important room, the grand salon, was shockingly retarditaire. The great Italian designer Gio Ponti, who was also the publisher of Domus magazine, ignored the Rex, but ran Savoia. Please do another episode!

[@russbrovald5537]

love ur videos, great job, I also love liners and cruise ships, they are Marvels of mankind.

[@medea27]

Great video, molto bene! 👌 The _Conte di Savoia_ is definitely more my taste... both from the perspective of the aesthetic & decor, as well as the technology it used. The use of a gyroscope is fascinating.

[@MichaelKennedy-tr1xc]

Excellent video..these ships were both gorgeous and elegant, Diffificult to choose between them🙂👍

[@patriotforlife6592]

My grandfather came to America aboard the Rex when he was 4 years old and he made a painting of the vessel based of an old image of her. It saddens me that this ship is nothing but a memory, in a way I wouldn't be here if it weren't for this ship

[@haroldchipman8590]

My grandfather Kommerzialrat Willibald Duschnitz, Viennese industrialist and art collector, traveled on the Rex from Genoa to New York in 1933.

[@nicopavvi8494]

My great grandfather worked as a ship builder in the 1920s and 1930s in Italy, I'm pretty sure he worked for the same company that built the Rex, maybe he actually built the Rex.

[@tamahagane1700]

"Rex" left its trace in 20th century zeitgeist and is remembered in a nostalgic manner. Late Yugoslav-Croatian singer and composer Arsen Dedić recorded a song "Parobrod Rex" ("Steamboat Rex") some thirty years ago...

[@gijsv8419]

As a child I experienced a trip on an Italian liner from the Caribics to Genua, Itali. It was in the sixties. The best thing was the Gelati, icecream.

[@robkunkel8833]

The show was about a boat but it gave me a much better insight into Mussolini than I ever have had. A good one. Thanks for posting.

[@Farmtractor]

Yeah sure. Go on Wikipedia and it will say the same thing. Everything that was stated about Mussolini in this video was FALSE! It’s the biased look on things. *Let me educate you..* -never a dictator. He still had a parliamentary counsel and had moderates and conservatives in the counsel as well -was not totalitarian. Was authoritarian, but not totalitarian. He never had TOTAL control. In fact not even close. Hitler was a totalitarian. -Was not ever a “master of propaganda”. Just like any political party, the party has advertisements. The socialist party of Italy (still existed) also had many ads. So did liberals and conservatives. So you are just using blank useless terms simply because you dislike it. -the Italian people never hated Mussolini. And they never killed Mussolini either. That’s also more propaganda. The COMMUNIST PARTISANS murdered Mussolini ruthlessly. -Mussolini had no choice to join the axis. How STUPID would that be for Mussolini to join allies RIGHT after France fell? Your logic of hitler and Mussolini being partners in crime is ridiculous. And this whole video was nonsense. Well, at least the video talking about Mussolini. -Mussolini is the reason Italy was so successful. After ww1, Italy was in ruins. Mussolini established order, and peace. EVEN if Italy stayed neutral Germany would March into Italy and take away the government like France did. He had no choice! In the end, this video speaks just as the allied propaganda speaks of. If he wouldn’t have joined the axis, he wouldn’t have called him such nasty things and LIES. This persons opinion is just like every other moron on the internet!

[@gaius_enceladus]

Great video! I think I had heard of the Conte di Savoia but not the Rex! Both of them looked like lovely ships!

[@Drash2005]

Can you maybe please make a video about the S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam from 1938? It´s an amazing ship and deserves much more attention in my opinion.

[@BigOldBoats]

Coming soon!

[@jamesjohnson5235]

Just from the standpoint of personal taste I prefer the Art Deco interiors of the Conte di Savoia.

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

Well done! Great Ocean Liner👍

[@cruisepaige]

Great job!

[@rpsmith2990]

Actually, parts of the Conte Di Savoia didn't entirely escape the classic style of interior. Its Colonna Hall was far more traditional Italian palace, complete with ceiling murals, than Art Deco.

[@Blaklege63]

Excellent video

[@cayasta1970]

Very good, accurate and well balanced short documentary.

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

19:38 - DANG Moussolini had a fine horse. That swan neck, those jutting, Spanish Barb-esque shoulder blades, racehorse hindquarters...wow.

[@madgary5827]

Great pronunciation, LOL. For real. Great job and thank you and like 🙂

[@timothyortiz2222]

Enjoyed it. Thanks

[@taylorclifford6364]

Have been waiting for this so sad how she came to her end though

[@goochfitness26]

That’s a sad end for such a beautiful ship

[@joemazzola7387]

My dad and my grandparents sailed on both ships in the 1930s on a vacation to Italy my dad would tell me stories about the ships now I know what they were all about

[@bennybenitez2461]

Great presentation.

[@simonf8902]

Italy still builds huge ocean liners !

[@riedmill]

Thank you for doing these great short documentaries 😃. P.S. I also love in depth interior pictures and film footage. So you have any sources for these?

[@alistairmcelwee7467]

Conte di Savoia with interiors by Melchiorre Bega, one of my favourite designers of the Italian take on Danish Modern after WWII. How glorious this ship must have been! Wish I could have taken a cruise on it, although or course, not on its maiden voyage!

[@timmotel5804]

Very good and educational. Thank You

[@lklpalka]

Nice job! Great music too. The Savoia would be my design pick. Too bad for both of them, what a waste.

[@dumigamez397]

Agreed. Wonder why no-one wanted Savoia, she was salvaged only to be unwanted. She could have certainly been useful to the french line, who had lost normandie.

[@odenviking]

From a technical stand point my favorite is the conte di savoia. Keep up the good work. ✨✨✨✨✨🇸🇪🇸🇪

[@BHuang92]

Seems to be a trend for Italian passenger ships. Many of them were the epitome of style and luxury but yet when disaster strikes, they fail spectacularly.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Kinda like Italy in wars

[@xr6lad]

One forward gear and five reverse.

[@jimgreen4422]

Great piece of History, thanks.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!

[@bradfry5403]

What a great video , very informative ,

[@johnhaxby306]

You remind me of Napoleon Dynamites brother Kip, LOVE IT! Keep it low and quiet.

[@christopherhanton6611]

your right even japan lost most of there ocean liners, most were sunk by aircraft or subs . only one did not get sunked or scrapped that is Hikawa Maru. she now is a Museum ship in Yokohama japan .

[@claudermiller]

My great grandmother took the children to Germany via Trieste italy right before the outbreak of war. Usually they sailed to La Havre France en route to Germany and Austria.