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

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click

Recommended Reading:

Sources:
The Only Way to Cross by John Maxtone-Graham
The Liner by Philip Dawson
Bremen and Europa: German Speed Queens of the Atlantic by J. Russel Willoughby

Music tracks used in this video:

Video sources:

Chapters:
00:00 SS Europa
3:39 Chapter 1: An Economic Miracle
7:19 Chapter 2: Brave New Liners
12:15 Chapter 3: The First Fire
14:48 Chapter 4: The Golden Age
20:14 Chapter 5: The Second Fire
25:55 Chapter 6: Liberté

Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with my links, 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 Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing free high-quality historical content.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]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click

Thank you so much for watching! Which is your favorite, Bremen or Europa?

[bluesteel]

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

[thomasfinch]

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

[wendywhite]

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

[pedenharley]

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

[jonathanstewart]

So glad to see that subscriber count finally matching the content quality!

Congrats on 100k Big Old Boats!

[leonardorighini]

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

[karenc]

Love the editing, vintage newsreels and movies and the integration/choice of music…all wonderfully constructed, better than a lot of the so called professional stuff I see on TV.

Plus being so well written and NO hyperbole, clickbait, incorrect use of words or mispronunciations like in so many other YouTube videos! That is a huge peeve of mine lol. Just a really great job, thanks for all the hard work!

[TheRavendearest]

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

[markallen]

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

[MitchellTremblays]

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

[musicmanGTA]

Thank you so much for this excellent video! You have a great radio voice - smooth, easy-going, and relaxing to listen to. You take us back in time and briefly away from all of the issues of modern day and your collection of film footage is amazing, as well as your superb research and script. Yours is one of the best documentaries I've ever watched. A blissful way to spend a Saturday. Thanks again! God bless you, in Jesus' Name. Enjoy your weekend. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[kittybitts]

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

[louisaugustexvi]

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

[SeaTravelr]

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

[zeddeka]

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

[bartmuller]

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

[TRH]

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

[robber_h]

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

[the_major]

Congratulations on 100k subscribers! You earned it!