Antarctica during World War II
Asia-Pacific Mediterranean and Middle East Other campaigns Coups International competition extended to the continent of Antarctica during the World War II era, though the region saw no combat.
During the prelude to war, Nazi Germany organised the 1938 Third German Antarctic Expedition to preempt Norway's claim to Queen Maud Land.
[3] Responding to these encroachments, and taking advantage of Europe's wartime turmoil, the nearby nations of Chile and Argentina made their own claims.
[10] The ship landed at the Princess Martha Coast on 19 January 1939 where research soon began after the team constructed a temporary base.
Commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939,[14] Richard.E Byrd supplied much of the equipment which was designated for use in his own planned privately funded expedition.
[16] The expedition begun in late 1939 when 125 men departed on the ships Bear of Oakland[17] and the USMS North Star.
[19] Due to this problem and constant repair and maintenance on the tires the vehicle was abandoned when the expedition team evacuated.
[25] During World War II, Nazi Germany constructed a commerce-raiding fleet of Auxiliary Merchant Cruisers destined to sail through the Pacific and disrupt Allied shipping.
[35] The first expedition happened in 1942 when the ship Primero De Mayo captained by Alberto J. Oddera landed on Deception Island where surveying was conducted.
Its original purpose was to set up bases in Graham Land but Lieutenant Commander James Marr with the help of a Discovery Committee decided to extend its reach to surveying and other scientific research.
[40] It began with the pretense of searching Antarctica's seas for Nazi U-boats and other German shipping threats but was actually a cover for the construction of bases in disputed territory which was claimed by Argentina.
[41] Led by James Marr, who had previous polar experience,[42] the mission team[43][44] landed at Port Foster, Deception Island on 6 February 1944 after departing from Avonmouth on 14 December 1943.
Halfway through the voyage the expedition force switched ships to the Fitzroy and William Scoresby captained by Victor Marchesi.
Due to heavy weather conditions the Fitzroy and William Scoresby left on 10 February 1944 and set up camp at Port Lockroy.
Elke Mackenzie Lamb,[47] a leading scientist in the crew, collected samples of lichen, worms, sea urchins and sponges.
[57] Throughout the years, rumors of a hidden German base in the Antarctic have persisted, stemming from theories of escaped Nazi leaders and the appearance of a U-boat in July 1945.
[60][61][62] They prove through declassified documents that the Nazi regime was present in Antarctica for only a month in 1939 on a simple surveying expedition which left little time to build a city-sized structure in the ice.
