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

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:

Gert's Website:

One of Our Aircraft is Missing:

Some great info on the Rettungsboje

Videos of Buoy Being Moved & Recovered:

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

[SuperDiablo]

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

[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.

[Thunderous]

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.

[jfu]

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

[matthewschoen]

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.

[qwertyTRiG]

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

[jfu]

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.

[keithdurose]

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.

[michaelimbesi]

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

[king_brk]

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

[CalumRaasay]

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

[xara]

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.

[hes]

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 ❤️

[tripackdroned]

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.

[ClanMcDuck]

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

[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.

[jespervanstrien]

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

[lc]

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.