German Greenland Expedition

For the 19th century venture, see German North Polar Expedition.
Alfred Wegener (left) and Rasmus Villumsen shortly before their ill-fated journey to the Western Station.

The German Greenland Expedition (‹See Tfd›German: Deutsche Grönlandexpedition), also known as the Wegener Expedition, was an expedition to Greenland in 1930–1931. It was led by German scientist Alfred Wegener (1880–1930), who had previously taken part in two other ventures to Greenland. His purpose was to make a systematic study of the Greenland ice sheet.

In 1929, as a preliminary expedition (‹See Tfd›German: Vorexpedition), Wegener went to Greenland to explore a suitable place to reach the Greenland Ice Sheet.[1] The main expedition would begin the following year with the goal to establish three Arctic stations on the same parallel. The central station was named Eismitte and was located at 71°11′N 39°56′W / 71.183°N 39.933°W / 71.183; -39.933 near the center of the ice sheet. In the end this venture would claim Wegener's life during a return trip from the Eismitte station together with expedition member Rasmus Villumsen.[2]

Wegener had experience as an Arctic explorer. Previously he had taken part as a meteorologist in the 1906–1908 Danmark Expedition and the 1912-1913 Danish Expedition to Queen Louise Land.

  1. ^ Alfred Wegener. Vertraulicher Bericht über die Grönland-Expedition 1929, 2017 ISBN 978-3744875295
  2. ^ The German Greenland Expedition 1930–1931