SS Leopoldville: A Christmas Eve Tragedy

Hey everyone, it’s Jamie from Old Shipping Lines! In this video, we dive into the tragic story of the SS Leopoldville, an ocean liner with a history that highlights both innovation and heartbreak. From her construction in the late 1920s to her transformation into a WWII troop ship, the SS Leopoldville played a vital role—until a devastating Christmas Eve sinking in 1944 changed everything Join me as we explore the rise and fall of this once-grand passenger liner, from her engineering marvels and wartime service to the chilling details of that fateful night. Over 700 lives were lost in this heart-wrenching tragedy, and the legacy of those brave souls lives on. Together, we’ll uncover the stories of resilience, courage, and sacrifice that define this poignant chapter in maritime history. I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support and engagement in the comments section. Your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions are incredibly valuable to me, and I love hearing from all of you. So, please don’t hesitate to leave your comments below and let me know what you think. If there are any particular ships you’d like me to cover in the future, please share them in the comments as well. Thank you all!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
01:09 - Construction and Early Years
02:44 - World War II Impact
04:48 - The Voyage Details
09:13 - The Torpedo Attack Incident
16:35 - William Kalinowski’s Survival Struggle
18:37 - Remarkable Calm on Deck
20:00 - Abandoning the Leopoldville
24:30 - Risky Leap to HMS Brilliant
26:55 - Last Soldiers on Leopoldville
27:47 - Leopoldville Sinks
30:58 - Leopoldville Sinking Events
34:04 - Continued Sinking of Leopoldville
36:37 - Final Moments of Leopoldville
38:30 - Aftermath of Leopoldville Sinking
40:20 - End of Video
40:25 - Outro

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