26 Facts About Wilhelm Filchner

Wilhelm Filchner was a German army officer, scientist and explorer.

Wilhelm Filchner conducted two lengthy single-handed magnetic surveys in China and Tibet, often in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions, and was continuing this work when the Second World War began, leaving him stranded in India.

Wilhelm Filchner is commemorated in the Antarctic, where a number of geographical features bear his name.

Wilhelm Filchner was born on 13 September 1877, the son of Eduard and Rosine Filchner.

Wilhelm Filchner might have made his life in the arts, but family traditions drew him towards a military career, and at the age of 15 he was enrolled in the Prussian Military Academy.

Wilhelm Filchner wished to investigate this question, and in 1909, with the support of the Berlin Geographical Society, began preparations for an Antarctic expedition.

Wilhelm Filchner's captain was to be a naval officer, Richard Vahsel, who had previous Antarctic experience, but was by reputation a somewhat difficult and truculent character, "greedy for power and an out-and-out schemer".

Unwisely, Wilhelm Filchner agreed to sail under the German naval flag, placing Deutschland and himself under naval regulations that gave the captain supreme decision-making authority on the ship.

The site chosen by the captain was a berg attached to the barrier edge; Wilhelm Filchner was dubious, but Vahsel assured him that his ice pilot, Paul Bjorvik, had approved the site; Bjorvik would later deny giving any such advice.

Thereafter, Wilhelm Filchner tried for several more days to re-establish the base, but these efforts proved unavailing.

Nevertheless, Wilhelm Filchner still sought to continue the scientific work, in stations set up on the ice.

Wilhelm Filchner hoped that the expedition could be reconstituted for another attempt, but his backers in Germany summoned him home.

In Germany a Court of Honour largely exonerated Wilhelm Filchner from blame for the debacle, but the experience had wearied him of the Antarctic, and he never returned.

In 1924 Wilhelm Filchner published a book, Sturm uber Asien: Erlebnisse eines diplomatischen Geheimagenten, covering the history of Central Asia since the beginning of the 20th century.

Wilhelm Filchner reissued the book in revised form in 1928, under the title Wetterleuchten im Osten.

In 1926, Wilhelm Filchner resumed his prewar survey and observational work in Central Asia.

Wilhelm Filchner made many topographical measurements and produced detailed maps which transformed geographical knowledge of this region.

Wilhelm Filchner was required to link his new measurements with those of the earlier journey.

Wilhelm Filchner was detained by the warlord Ma Hushan, in harsh conditions for seven months, before his passport was returned and he was allowed to proceed.

Wilhelm Filchner then had to navigate the so-called "route of death" over the Karakoram range.

Wilhelm Filchner described this expedition in his book Bismillah, translated into English as A Scientist in Tartary: From the Hoang-ho to the Indus.

Wilhelm Filchner conducted magnetic surveys in the western and south-eastern regions of the country, although the British in India were suspicious of his presence there.

Wilhelm Filchner continued to live in Zurich until his death, on 7 May 1957, at the age of 79.

Wilhelm Filchner's work was recognised in 1937 by his award of the German National Prize.

Wilhelm Filchner received honorary doctorates from the University of Konigsberg and the Technical University of Munich, and was appointed to an honorary professorship at the University of Berlin.

The Wilhelm Filchner Station operated as a German scientific base on Berkner Island between 1982 and 1999.