The interest of the German Reich in Antarctica in the 1930s was also largely economic. Above all, the planned closure of the "fat gap", ie the intention to terminate the dependence of the German Reich on the import of technical fats and dietary fat, was the reason for the expansion of the whaling fleet. In the spring of 1938, Captain Alfred Ritscher (1879-1963) entrusted with the leadership of an expedition to Antarctica.Within six months, it managed to put together to equip an expedition, which create the topographical knowledge of the German whaling fleet, at the same time carry out a scientific program along the coast, taking account of biology, meteorology, oceanography and earth magnets, and by the previously unknown hinterland surveying flights should explore. It was also intended to provide a basis for future German occupation of this sector to create, so the preparations were made for this expedition under the strictest secrecy. The destination of this expedition was the region between 20 ° West and 20 degrees East.The German Antarctic Expedition reached in early January 1939, the work area at the Princess Martha Coast, and discovered previously unknown mountain regions in the hinterland. In seven survey flights between 19 January and 5 February 1939 could be an area of 350,000 sq km recorded photogrammetrically. This region was named by the expedition "Neuschwabenland". Meanwhile, the Norwegian government received by whalers information on German activities and the sector between 20 ° W and 45 ° E on 14 January 1939 as Dronning Maud Land declared to Norwegian territory (without defining its southern extension).The evaluation of the German research activities in Antarctica has been interrupted by the Second World War, and a large part of the 11 600 oblique aerial photographs were lost in the war. Besides the pictures and maps published by Ritscher only about 600 survived the war, aerial photos, which were evaluated but only in 1982 and rediscovered.
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