© 2026 The Couch Critic
"The truth is that a Nation will only live as long as it has people ready to die"
The Silver Fleet was inspired by a true story from World War II. Holland now under German occupation, a Shipyard owner and Chief engineer Jaap van Leyden is summoned to build ships for the German war effort. The commission would allow Leyden to build sophisticated submarines whilst safeguarding jobs for the local Dutch workforce. A newly built U-boat, named U107 goes out on her first sea trial and is hijacked by a Dutch crew and they re-route the vessel to England. As such it provided an opportunity to refuel patriotism in the face of a seemingly interminable war and almost unbearable civilian hardship.
19 Cast Members
Ralph Richardson
Jaap van Leyden
Googie Withers
Helène van Leyden
Esmond Knight
Von Schiffer
Beresford Egan
Krampf
Frederick Burtwell
Captain Müller
Kathleen Byron
Schoolmistress
Willem Akkerman
Willem van Leyden
Dorothy Gordon
Janni Peters
Charles Victor
Bastiaan Peters
John Longden
Jost Meertens
Joss Ambler
Cornelis Smit
Margaret Emden
Bertha
Neville Mapp
Joop
Ivor Barnard
Admiral
John Carol
Johann
Philip Leaver
Chief of Police
Lawrence O'Madden
Captain Schneider
Anthony Eustrel
Lieutenant Wernicke
Valentine Dyall
Markgraf
