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vast treasures and documents saved were beneficial not just to the would have been no mystery because the Germans allowed none preservation of Norway but to British Intelligence. of its conquered peoples to sail too far from land; but because the Hitler was furious with Vidkun Quisling, whom he had hoped captures took place in the Southern Ocean off Neuschwabenland, would aid the Nazis more comprehensively. Quisling ultimately the news when it filtered through could only have sent shock would have no power, and his inability to stop the evacuation of | waves through both the British and Norwegian governments. the monarchy, the government and not least the vast treasures and However, the mystery deepened further because the subsequent documentation caused Hitler to lose faith in him and declare him night the German commandos resurfaced and captured three more a Norwegian traitor. Those who failed Hitler lost their standing— — whaling ships and also 11 catchers. Hitler made sure of that. Even so, Quisling claimed publicly that The German Antarctic Fleet was active and prospering—mines he had been offered "safe refuge". Whether the statement was they had laid around Australian ports sank the first US vessel lost that of a madman or was an honest admission, it echoed the to enemy action—but it was the Antarctic coast and islands where claims of others. they mainly loitered. The Atlantis,” the Pinguin,* the Stier® and Though Hitler had only wished to beat the British to Norway, the Komet® were just four of the documented ships that had his War Cabinet knew that Norway was vital to virtually all the anomalous reasons for being so far south. All four were branches of Germany's armed forces and was more beneficial to eventually sunk by the British Navy, far from Antarctica in its war effort than any other conquest. Nazi Germany's occupa- various parts of the world from France to the Ascension Islands. tion of Norway brought immense benefits to Now that the Antarctic Front had been the Reich. There were thousands of miles of truly opened, Britain increased its Antarctic protected fjords for the German U-boats, and bases and personnel numbers and even there was the possibility of the Nazis exert- issued a postmark. However, possibly the ing pressure on neutral Sweden.* The Third most important area that demanded a base Reich now had a border closer to the Britain nonetheless was in Neuschwabenland, officially known Arctic,* and there was also the chance to train its soldiers in polar conditions, espe- as Queen Maud Land. Through Norway's assistance with information and maps, was more active in cially after the acquisition o f Spitzbergen,” Antarctica during the Britain envisaged Maudheim as the most Minnie Aas atom | 19408 than any other | tll npr an eas mic "Norway ands ports sso made mare | MACON, yet the only ns a highly wained and dipined shalling the Aretic Sea and the North Antarctic mission military unit. The seeds for the Atlantic far more profitable. These benefits, mentioned in depth Neuschwabenland campaign had been sown. From 1941 until the start of the British-Swedish-Norwegian Expedition of 1949-52, Britain sent at least 12 official missions to Antarctica—half of them between the end of the war and the beginning of Operation Highjump, led by Admiral Byrd, starting in December 1946. Even more intriguingly, Britain sent no missions from the commencement of Highjump until 1948, during which time the US had Antarctica all to itself. Britain nonetheless was more active in allied with the primary reasons, made Norway a highly prized conquest. However, Germany's occupation was not without problems. Britain heavily financed the Norwegian Resistance and it was due to their cooperation that the Vermok hydro-electric plant was targeted and sabotaged so successfully. Information was passed on a two- way basis and the SOE and SIS were privy to any revelation uncovered. British Intelligence also had access to all the Norwegian Government's files, no matter how "sensitive" the Antarctica during the 1940s than any information. Britain at that point stood other nation, yet the only Antarctic alone: any information, no matter how trivial, was indispensable. mission mentioned in depth by historians is Admiral Byrd's. His Many Poles had gone to the UK after the start of the German mission still overshadows every other mission and is the main occupation with intelligence on the Germans as well as with one focus of attention for many conspiracy theorists. Britain's exer- by historians is Operation Highjump, led by Admiral Byrd, starting in December 1946. of the first prototypes of the Enigma code-making device. tions were and still are totally overlooked; and with Admiral Byrd Similarly, with the invasion and occupation of Norway, many spreading misinformation, the true conspiracy concerning fleeing Norwegians brought secrets of the Reich to England. Antarctica as a Nazi haven was forgotten. After Britain frustrated Germany in the Battle of Britain and, as After the German surrender, Norway still needed to be mopped a result, instilled hope in the numerous governments in exile, in up, the possible Nazi exodus needed to be ascertained and the 1940-41 it could only fight the Germans in Africa or bomb their secrets that Norway held still needed more investigation. The dis- cities. But news was soon filtering through about a new front, and coveries further confirmed that the war had ended just in time, but one that both the British and Norwegian governments had hoped suspicions were still aroused about the estimated 250,000 missing would never be opened—a front for which there was little in the German personnel—including Martin Bormann and thousands of way of contingency plans. other wanted Nazi war criminals. The enigma of the submarines On 13 January 1941, German commandos under the leadership that were presumed to have been utilised in their escape also of Captain Ernst-Felix Kruder from the commerce raider, the required consideration. However, even though a percentage of Pinguin, stormed and violently captured two Norwegian whaling Germany's U-boats may have fled Norway, what was uncovered ships. If that had happened around European coastlines, there was still intriguing and certainly proved that the Germans had Antarctica during the 1940s than any other nation, yet the only Antarctic mission mentioned in depth by historians is Operation Highjump, led by Admiral Byrd, starting in December 1946. 26 = NEXUS Britain nonetheless was more active in www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2005 — JANUARY 2006