During this expedition she was taken further south in the Weddell Sea than any previous vessel in those waters, but became trapped, surviving an eight-months long drift in heavy ice before being freed.

Deutschland began her career as a Norwegian bottle-nosed whaler and sealer, built at the Risør shipyard in 1905 for Christen Christensen.

He wished to land there, and to examine the nature of the connection between the eastern and western sectors of the still largely unexplored Antarctic continent.

[6] Under guidance freely provided by Shackleton, further strengthening of the hull took place, with additional 20 cm (8 in) diagonal braces, and protection at the stem by iron plating.

The interior of the ship was substantially redesigned to meet the requirements of an Antarctic voyage; sixteen cabins for officers and scientific staff, an extended fo'c'sle to accommodate the crew, and a purpose-built laboratory on the main deck.

[5][11] In the course of the ensuing seven-week voyage, often held up by thick ice, she travelled further south than any previous ship in this sea, surpassing James Weddell's 90-year-old southernmost mark of 74°15'S on 29 January 1912.

[12] On 31 January, at 77°48'S after steaming through open waters, she reached the southern limits of the Weddell Sea at a vast ice barrier, later named after Filchner.

[13][14] Here, in a small inlet christened Vahsel Bay, Filchner attempted to establish a shore base, but was unable to do so – the camp was set up on a berg that broke loose in a tidal surge.

[13][15] Further attempts also failed, and it now being late in the season, on 4 March 1912 Deutschland was turned northwards, to head back to South Georgia and await a further opportunity in the following summer.

[18] Vahsel had died during the drift,[19] internal dissents and disagreements among officers, staff and crew had degenerated towards outright violence, and morale was at rock-bottom.

[20] Meanwhile, Shackleton's ship Endurance entered the Weddell Sea in January 1911 but failed to reach Vahsel Bay, was caught in the ice, and drifted until October 1915 before being crushed and sunk.