SS Bremen: Germany’s Fugitive Ocean Liner
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
- After the devastation of World War One, Germany’s SS Bremen (1928) and SS Europa (1928) reignited Europe’s stalled race to build the greatest transatlantic ocean liner. The two ships were ultra-modern and fast, both capturing the Blue Riband for Germany. But as the Nazi party rose to power, the Bremen’s popularity waned and she would be forced to make a covert dash for Germany at the outset of World War Two only the be destroyed by fire a few months later.
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Sources:
Shadow Voyage by Peter Huchthausen: amzn.to/3d3vj8F
The Only Way to Cross by John Maxtone-Graham: amzn.to/3lLVFjA
The Liner by Philip Dawson: amzn.to/31SAOBK
Music:
LEMMiNO - Aloft: / aloft
LEMMiNO - Cipher: / cipher
Other music provided by Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Lofive - A Most Violent Man
Pollyanna Maxim - Dark Moment
Lovren - Contraband
Brendon Moeller - Campfire Tails
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: SS Bremen
1:22 Chapter 1: A Troubling German Rebound and the Blue Riband
4:42 Chapter 2: A Gathering Storm
8:10 Chapter 3: Escape New York
11:34 Chapter 4: A Long Journey Home
15:58 Chapter 5: Up in Flames
18:44 Chapter 6: Lost Potential
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Thank you so much for watching! This video made me fall in love with the Bremen. Is she one of your favorites too?
Posted this on our ship group on FB
What is the “Garmany” from the Chapter 1 titles?
yes. i love these types of streamlined liners.
This is one of my favorite liners. Once, I was able to check out a book about the ship, given to passengers on its maiden voyage, from the library at William and Mary. To the best of my knowledge, it's in their reference section these days. Someone realized its value...
Yes she was a head of her time a most beautiful ship to see while under lower
My friend just sent me her painting of the Bremen as a gift, oil painting. It's such a treasure.
That honestly sounds beautiful. I'd love to have an oil painting of the Titanic over my bed.
Even the passen
ger planes Germany built in the mid 1930's
@@Brock_Landers Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist Chinazi IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO Project.
Bremen is one of my all-time favorite ocean liners ever. When entering service she was shockingly modern, very radical, her funnels were short and aerodynamically shaped. She also was if I am right the first ship along with her sister Europa to feature a bulbous bow. By far the coolest thing onboard the Bremen and Europa were those catapults for launching mail planes. Thank you Big Old Boats for this very interesting video of the Bremen. Will you also make a video about the SS Columbus?
The Berman was the first civilian ship to use a bulbous bow. David Taylor the designer of the bow was a us navy designer. The uss Delaware was the first ship to use the bow.
Such a tradgedy that so many of the great ocen liners of the past have met such inglorious ends...
Good video, thanks. May I point out that a Royal Navy ship is never 'the' HMS... She is simply HMS. It belongs to the monarch, you see, so the prefix explains His, or Her, Majesty's Ship.... Descriptive rather than titular. Also, HMS Berwick? Pronounced 'Berrick'. One of those weird British silent ws. I hope you don't mind that advice from a veteran British sailor. Regards, William. P. S. A ship in the UK is always a lady as she is your mother, while the captain is traditionally your father.
Thank you! I really appreciate the respectful advice.
@@BigOldBoats The rum was in the tact was out... Thank you for your prompt reply, sir. It really was a very competent video.
@@williamnorton7697 Thanks for your comment, I appreciate the little bits of knowledge
That's very condescending. So much work and and study goes into his channel. Looking for a small flaw to point out publicly is a little rude at best
Irrelevant. It's a prefix denoting it's classification. It is common to use a determiner. Especially when speaking in past tense. The RMS Titanic.
The Brother of my Grandfather sailed on this ship (and the sister) as an officer. My Grandfather had the chance to join him on one of his journeys to NY in the 30s. He was so proud on his big brother. This ship is one of the reasons why I'm interested in Ocean Liners since my childhood (and the visit on the Queen Mary when I was 8 years old in the middle of the 80s).
That first captain was a legend
The SS Bremen and SS Europe are my favorite ocean liners. I just love the low streamlined design
It is so saddening to learn that liners like the Leviathan would meet such inglorious fates. I only wish that I could have experienced such as those before they passed into history.
I'd love to hear about the MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
Your writing is really excellent. Research is thorough. Images are gorgeous and fascinating. So glad to have found a ship channel of this caliber.
Love your old boat videos. They take off where documentaries of the golden age of ocean liners end & just keep going. It's like a window into a world of geniuses who built & sailed them & mad men seeing how many met an untimely end.
Good video. Breath of fresh air. So many low quality attempts to present history on TH-cam. Thus is not one of these at all. Excellent work .Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for telling Bremen's story. She was a beautiful ship, and heavily influenced the next generation of North Atlantic express liners. I'm not wild about the original short funnels, but with the heightened funnels I think she was
gorgeous.
Bremen had a very interesting ship's whistle installation called a 'Nautophone', in which a selection of notes are controlled electrically. It is mentioned in John Maxtone-Graham's outstanding book 'The Only Way To Cross'* but I have had a heck of a time finding more information on this intriguing device. It can be briefly heard in period newsreels that were filmed with sound. I would dearly love to find any more information regarding the mysterious 'Nautophone'.
Keep up the excellent work!
*'The Only Way To Cross' by John Maxtone-Graham is essential reading for those who love the old Transatlantic mailboats. I highly recommend it and anything else by him.
Thank you! Agreed, it's a fantastic book.
p
John Maxtone-Graham will always be one of my favorite sources of information on all things liner related. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you watch a four part series called, "The Liners" here on TH-cam. I've watched them all SO many times. I have been a maritime historian for the past 32 years now and my favorite ocean liner ever built is Titanic (for obvious reasons), but I still love other ships and liners.
@@Brock_Landers
Thanks for the suggestion- I will definitely watch 'The Liners'.
@@BigOldBoats Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist Chinazi IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO Project.
Thank you, Big Old Boats! A great production about a ship that has become obscured in history. The Bremen deserves much more recognition. She had terrific interiors. It's sad that there are so few good-quality pictures of the inside of the liner and that there are even fewer in color. I'm glad you were able to use the motion picture footage of the interior. Do you know if that was filmed on board or was a studio re-creation? Either way it's still valuable in giving us a sense of the Bremen's interior.
Thank you! I was wondering the same thing about that footage. It was a bit hard to tell but some shots that I didn't use looked very much like a studio. Either way, I liked that they gave a decent sense of the atmosphere in her public spaces.
Finally a new video! So Bremen and Europa never achieved a two-ship weekly express service and the honor of being the first truly does go to the Mary and the Elizabeth. Good to know: that was an answer I've been searching for for quite some time now. Yeah, the Bremen really does represent lost potential. One of my favorite liners for that reason, and probably my favorite German-built liner of all time, for she represented the start of a new era. It's sad her life ended the way it did, especially since she was initially a ship of peace. Her crew and the passengers who sailed on her wanted nothing to do with war, and I can't help but think if Captain Ahern decided to either leave the ship in the US or take her to a place where she would be truly safe from the war, then no matter what the cost may be, Bremen may have survived. Who knows. Thanks again. :)
This is EASILY the BEST ocean liner channel on TH-cam!! All your videos are entertaining and educational!! Professional scripted and narrated!! PS. Your speaking voice is great! Smooth and easy to listen to!! On one of your other videos, you made fun of your voice? Stop being so hard on yourself!! Thank You for all your hard work! The ocean liner enthusiasts of the world AND the great ships of the past are in debt to you!!
Sir, your channel is truly underrated. I love the ship story videos. I wish I had found the channel earlier. Keep up the great work sir !
Particularly before they raised the height of the funnels, the Bremen had to be one of the sleekest looking ships. Looked like a race horse in full flight.
Never knew the story. What a courageous captain!! Learned a lot!! She was the German answer for the French Normandie, which also was a fantastic ship!! Too bad the war had to get started. Shows Roosevelt was planning for a World War as well. I am glad that no passengers or crew had to die. The captain was a real man of Iron, a real hero!!
My cubicle mates and I had a debate that if a movie is made about this voyage which actor should be cast in the role of Captain Ahrens. I don't think that there is any actor that can do him justice.
*Too bad the Germans started the war
@@bellairefondren7389 The Anglos have always been warmongers and the villains, not the Germans.
@@KillerofWestoids Germans were definitely not villains when they genocided Jews, Slavs and other undesirables?
Please tell me how far do you buy into German Propaganda?
Do you believe Czechoslovakia was doing stuff that justified it being fed to the Third Reich?
Do you believe that Poland started the war?
As 1st Gen American , my parents took us in 72 to Germany aboard the second built Bremen I don’t remember much about the second one as I was seasick the whole time ( and only 5 years old) but the History of German Transatlantic crossing is interesting. All the Blue Ribands German liners had ...
The Imperator tho a lister was a beautiful Ocean Liner
The Imperator was a beautiful liner,but personally, I prefer the SS Bismarck.
Ah, so you are indian
Thank you for mentioning this fact. After seeing this video I was completely confused. As child I recalled boarding the Bremen for a small bon voyage get together for the German niece of my mom’s friend sometime in the 50’s. It left a lasting impression upon me. Then I saw this video and decided I must have misremembered the name of the ship. If not for your comment, I would have questioned my memory for the rest of my life.
@@lindan2836 Why do you think he is Indian?
An excellent video of a little known incident at the start of World War 2. The conclusion was particularly well done, when compared with most posters who just chop the story off after the end of the story. A professional and informative video. Well done.
this was great - well researched & presented. lovin' the snow effect at 16.49 lol. a bit of history on her proposed role in 'operation sealion' would have been a good intro to the 3rd act
Wow such interesting videos, thanks for taking the time to make them. Am a Ocean Liner enthusiast but have learned a lot from your vids!
I never comment on videos, but I just watched all your videos and I just wanna say that I LOVE your content. They are so interesting and so well done, so please continue. youre work is amazing and very apperciated!
Fascinating documentary! Thank you for posting.
Thank you for that video.
My grandfather was on Servicing on HMs Salmon at the time she challenged the SS Bremen. He was with HMs Salmon before the outbreak of the war based in Malta. My father and grandmother was with him and had to travel across Europe to get home during the phony war.
The officer in charge Bickford had a special meeting with Winston Churchill after this and other actions at the start of the war to discuss the use of Submarines.
My grandfather left HMs Salmon and transferred to another Sub. HMs Salmon was lost in 1940 along with many of my grandparents pre war friends. It was interesting to find out that it was only crew on board SS Bremen.. and no passengers
This was nicely done. The lost potential in the final chapter was a fitting conclusion - usually posters leave you hanging after chopping the story off. A professional job, well done.
This is such an awesome channel. Thankyou for your amazing content.
Excellent! This feeds my hunger for history & therefore a view / tunnel into the present and how humanity should & can survive. Thank you.
Another awesome video buddy thanks
Brilliant video - I didn’t know about the Bremen or that fascinating story. Can’t wait for the next video!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
You're definitely getting subscribers day by day! Rightfully so... This is top-tier content my friend. Keep it up brotha! 😉
Aww hell yeah, the Bremen is one of my favorite ocean liners!
Thank you for this snip it of history that I didn't know!
Amazing vid! I never really knew the story on the Bremen but now I do thanks to this video, and now I'm really fascinated with her story. so excited for more! :)
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed! :)
The ship that broke RMS Mauritania's speed record that she held for two decades.
I love this videos on lesser known ships you deserve more recognition.
Thank you!
@@BigOldBoats Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist Chinazi IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO Project.
I hope you continue this series. Your voice is the definitive voice for these documentaries.
[Pedantic note - you spelled 'Germany' as 'Garmany' at the start.]
Yep great vids, only discovered this channel today, sunday 6th June 2021. But at 8:04-8:05 does he say Franklin DONALD Roosevelt?
The Bremen class Ships are probably the most Beautiful Ships i know, their long bow section and the Low Silhouette,
the Funnels are the Exact perfect size for them and the slight slant at the Bow and the Cruiser stern
makes then look Majestic..
*Absolutely incredible documentary truly felt like a Hollywood thriller movie, loving this amazing channel!*
I subscribed immediately after seeing the Naronic video. You cover ones that are much less known but every bit as interesting
6:30 i like how the USA Handled the situation
Excellent video about a great ship. I love the detailed facts you gave. You are right, a sad ending to a beautiful ship. Thank you so much for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The art deco Lloyd Express poster with the red hulls is so coool
You really should get more subscribers, this is amazing!
His voice is shit he needs serious speech therapy unfortunately life isn't fair his voice just puts me to sleep talking in a boring monotone doesn't go well for big TH-camrs sorry. He could have gotten it in school if he did they did terribly he mumbles and still can't sound like he's not drunk or stupid..
Thank you!
@@ScoobyShotU woah chill man chill
@@ScoobyShotU 1aq++++
@@ashimata9766 Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist Chinazi IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO Project.
I'm not at all certain why I had never been recommended videos from this channel, but now that I have watched a few...they seem to be very well done. Sometimes the video repeats but sometimes there just isn't any video from way back!
Hey here is a video request! SS Europa (sister ship of the SS Bremen.) She sank 3 times.
Ooh
Sank 3 times as in assumed to have been sunk like Ark Royal and Enterprise got some times or litelarry sank to the bottom, then got resurfaced or salvaged and proceeds to stop swimming?
Rlly
People can’t emagine being on those liners , not like today’s ships plastic palaces slave crews , lwas on q e 2 which was rubbish plastic Art Deco a laugh now the empress of England was brilliant Saxonia to
Brilliant video thank you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Very enjoyable and informative vid! Look forward to more of your excellently researched videos.
Thank you! More coming soon!
beautiful video and story thank you for creating this
My mother crossed the Atlantic twice on the Bremen and said that it was an amazing experience.
Really informative video! Thx!
I get seasick when the ship is still tied up at the dock, and I don't know a keel from a kipper, but your channel is absolutely fascinating. Thanks very much for providing this great content.
When I was going through photos for my family tree I discovered I had a relative that worked on the Bremen.
Its a document hanging on the wall in the back of a family picture congratulating them for years worked. I wonder what they did?
After watching this video, I just had to learn more about the Bremen and this voyage. One of fhe books I got a hold of was Shadow Voyage by Peter A. Huchthausen, a retired US Navy captain. Huchthausen draws excellent portraits of the Bremen's crew, in pariticular the captain - Captain Ahrens is both a very couragous man of iron using his wits to accomplish a near impossible task and at the same time very human like the rest of us. The voyage does take a toll on Ahrens. Ahrens is well aware of how much he owes to his crew and is thankful for them.
Recently I was able to get hold of a book written by Captain Ahrens: "Die Siegesfahrt der Bremen" (The Victory Voyage of the Bremen).
Well done. What a fascinating story in a fascinating subject. Today's cruise ships are bigger and more advanced, but the transatlantic liners of the 20th century are immortal.
Superb documentary thank you.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you , such a very interesting video.
I'm so glad you liked it!
What an amazing quality documentary
Great video!
I wasn’t familiar with the Bremen.
Thanks for this great video presentation and narration.
Just subscribed. Fantastic job!! I love these ships and the age in which they ruled the waves. I’m looking forward to more videos. Many thanks for all your hard work:-)
Thank you so much! :)
@@BigOldBoats You’re welcome. Our thanks to you :-)
I LIKE BIG BOATS AND I CAN NOT LIE
I like your clever little side comments.
I sort of knew this history from my reading, but you really make it interesting and dramatic. The race across the Atlantic would be very cinematic. I have a matchbook from her sister Europa in my collection. (Well, after she became the French Line's Liberte.)
Great story. Thank you.
Very underrated channel 👌🏻
Love this channel just found it.👍👍
Really interesting. Thanks! :-)
I love your videos. I knew the Europa had a sister ship but I never knew what happened to her
Although not as large, the SS Columbus also had to run for its life, but without success however. I have a shore excursion brochure from one of her S. American cruises. It was scuttled
trying to run the British blockade at the start of WW II.
fascinating! loved it!
Glad you enjoyed!!
Great great video
Good stuff. Subscribed.
Thank you!
That was thrilling movie worthy story, shame there would never be such a movie due to its nation of origin though I'm sure the captain and crew during the actual covert escapades was only concern about themselves and their ship rather than their country and government.
Big old boats I love your voice omg I be watching u All day
My mother and grandparents sailed on the post-war SS Breme, I photos of them at the Captains table. They also sailed on the Italia and I have photos from that cruise as well.
I love the German Ships unique on their own Ways, Can you do a Video about the Conte De Savoia? She deserves a little Fame
Anyways, Great Video!
Absolutely! Rex was dealt a crappy hand during wartime and Conte de Savoia didn't get her share of attention throughout her short career. Both beautiful art palaces, but neither got much fame other than Rex when she won the Blue Riband of the Atlantic between 1933 and 1935. They were both absolutely works of art in themselves.
Personally I prefer the Europa over the Bremen but I love the Bremen. She was very art deco and I love that.
I wish I could have included more Europa! She has such an interesting story, she might get her own video one day.
@@BigOldBoats that would be awesome if you do that. Great work as always. To my knowledge besides the "Great Floating Palaces" documentary this is the most detailed video on these ships
Same here: The Bremen and Europa were both sensation liners but I find the Europa to be a little bit more attractive. When you look at the forward superstructure, the bridge front, of both liners you can seem some resemblance to those of the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. The Bremen and Queen Elizabeth had more vertical bridge front while those of the Europa and Queen Mary had a more stepped appearance. The forward superstructures of the Europa and Queen Mary are so alike that I think of them as ocean liner cousins!
Man someone needs to make a miniseries of this
Great video thanks! Bet the Brenan was an awesome ship with opulent amenities...shame to see her story come to an abrupt and fiery end.
Actually considering the captain's attitude towards the party it was probably an act of the resistance therefore an honorable ending. 😇👑🌎🌏🌍💚
I like your channel (I have subscribed), great accurate (amazing how hard those are to find) videos on the liners. If I may add one small critique, slow down, the tempo of your voice does not match the videos, it's a small thing, but it will take your videos to a different level.
This was great.
I adored the Bremen. A very stylish ship for her time. Attractive, modern and elegant
...some of the beautiful thoughts man has produced...and how sad and thoughtless their demise
Sad fate for Such a magnificent ship. May her spirit live on those who remember her.
I love your videos!
Great channel. I swear this is the guy from strange familiars podcast.
Good story about one of the great ships.
Really got to give it to the captain of that ship the man went through hell trying to keep that ship safe and after all that effort and all that travels and all of the maneuvering and politics it was a young man lashing out at his superiors that took the ship down
I’ve always loved being on deck and watch the shore fade into the distance while aboard ship. I’ve sailed on most of the research vessels on both US coasts. I did a cruise ship once and really isn’t my cup of tea. I’d rather be able to hang out in the galley than have to do “fun” things on a cruise ship.
I love your little asides.
great video. cheers, ex seaman, Australia.
What a beautiful ship. A shame it had such a sad ending.
Man, these ocean liners do have a habit of catching fire.
I like the story of the Bremen. It was stately, speedy, and represented the hope of a country rising from the ashes of war. Her first captain resisted the madness of Nazism and ultimately she took no lives as part of the war effort. She represented what could have been.
SS Bremen, Queen Elizabeth, Normandie, and Rex. What is it with these massive ships catching fire
That beauty at 4:53 is the Austrian actress and singer Susi Lanner (1911 - 2006). She is shown here while filming German movie Spiel an Bord (Game on Board) in 1936.