The Last Viking: Roald Amundsen

Roald Amundsen: The Last Viking 

Rich: [00:00:00] It is the 6th of December, 1911. Five Norwegians, led by Roald Amundsen, are sledging across the Antarctic in a race to be the first to reach the South Pole. Somewhere, out on the plateau, their British rivals, led by Robert Falcon Scott, are also heading for the Pole. Thick snow made progress slow, and the team of men and dogs struggled to make progress. 

Dangerous crevasses, hidden by fallen snow, were a constant danger. And each step was made with trepidation. Later that evening, they set up their tent and took readings. They had reached 88 degrees 9 minutes south. They were getting close, and their excitement grew. Over a small fire, a pot of water began boiling, and Amundsen took the water's temperature, as he had every day before. 

As their altitude increased across the plateau, the boiling point of their water had dropped. But today, it [00:01:00] was the same as the day before. Amundsen cries out, We have reached the top of the plateau. The men rejoiced, as this meant they were extremely close to the pole. The following morning, the party quietly eats a quick meal and resumes their march to the south. 

Later, the foremost sledge suddenly stops. After a moment, one of the men shouts, We have reached 88 degrees, 23 minutes. Amundsen stares at the Norwegian flag proudly waving from the back of a sledge, and tears fall from his eyes. He whispers to himself, We have surpassed Shackleton. We are farther south than any human being had been. 

He turns to his men who are hugging each other and shaking hands, and Amundsen joins in the celebration. Gathering themselves again, Amundsen gives a warm acknowledgement to Ernest Shackleton. He proclaims, Sir Ernest Shackleton's name will always [00:02:00] be written in the Annals of Antarctic Exploration in letters of fire. 

But a barren plain of white snow still lies before them, the Pole somewhere in the distance. The men awake on the morning of December 14th to perfect weather. By Amundsen's reckoning, they would reach the Pole today. The party begins their advance again through the unchanging landscape. Nervous energy grows among them as they peer ahead to observe what nobody has seen before. 

In the afternoon of December 14th, the sledges suddenly come to a stop. Amundsen describes the scene.  

Roald Amundsen (AI Generated): At three in the afternoon, a simultaneous halt rang out from the drivers. They had carefully examined their sledge meters, and they all showed the full distance of our pole by reckoning. The goal was reached, the journey ended. 

I cannot say, though I know it would sound much more effective. that the object of my life was attained. I had better be honest and admit straight out [00:03:00] that I have never known any man to be placed in such a diametrically opposite position to the goal of his desires as I was at that moment. The regions around the North Pole, well, yes, the North Pole itself, had attracted me from childhood. 

And here I was, at the South Pole. Can anything more topsy turvy be imagined? After we had halted, we collected and congratulated each other. After this, we proceeded to the greatest and most solemn act of the whole journey. The planting of our flag. Pride and affection shone in the five pairs of eyes that gazed upon the flag, as it unfurled with a sharp crack and waved over the pole. 

I had determined that the act of planting it, the historic event, should be equally divided among us all. It was not for one man to do this, it was for all who had staked their lives in the struggle and held together through thick and thin. [00:04:00] I could see that they understood and accepted it in the spirit in which it was offered. 

Five weather beaten, frost bitten fists they were, that grasped the pole, raised the waving flag in the air, and planted it as the first at the geographical South Pole. Thus, we plant thee, beloved flag, at the South Pole. And give to the plane on which it lies the name of King Harkon VII's plateau. That moment will certainly be remembered by all of us who stood there. 

Rich: Roald Amundsen, the last Viking, today on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs. 

 [00:05:00] Hello and welcome to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, tales of mishaps, misfortune, and misadventure. I'm your host, Rich Napolitano. History is filled with the achievements of explorers and adventurers, and all are notable and significant. Ferdinand Magellan, Henry Hudson, Zheng He, and Hernando de Soto just to name a few. 

Among these names is Roald Amundsen, whose lifelong passion for adventure and polar exploration drove him to two of the most significant achievements in our history. Any one of his expeditions could, and probably will be, their own episodes in the future. But this episode will recount the life of this extraordinary man, who was not without his flaws. 

Roald Engebreth Grafning Amundsen was born on the 16th of July, 1872, in Børge, Norway, to his parents, Jens Amundsen and Hanna Gustava Salkvist. [00:06:00] He was the youngest of the couple's four sons, and the Amundsons lived a modest life at their home, called Tumta. Just four months after his birth, the family moved to Christiania, or modern day Oslo. 

Captain Jens Amundson ran a shipping business with his two brothers and his brother in law, running as many as 22 vessels at its height. Roald grew up watching his father and uncles work, but his mother did not want him to have a life at sea, and urged him instead to pursue a medical career. Jens was a stern and serious man and worked hard to provide for his family. 

He encouraged his boys to use both brains and brawn, once telling them, I had never a chance to get an education and have often felt my handicap. It is not enough to have the will to work. One must also have knowledge. I want you boys to learn more than I did. I don't want you to get into any fights. But if you have to fight, Deal the first blow and see to it that one blow is enough. 

Roald and his brothers spent their [00:07:00] free time skating and skiing, the latter a skill that would prove quite useful to him. Amundsen began reading about Sir John Franklin's polar expeditions to find a navigable northwest passage. He later wrote, When I was 15 years old, the works of Sir John Franklin, the great British explorer, fell into my hands. 

I read them with a fervid fascination, which has shaped the whole course of my life. An adventurous fire was kindled in the young man. He read anything he could find about Franklin and other polar exploration, and became increasingly less interested in school. He often did not complete his assigned coursework and viewed school only as a necessary evil, an obstacle to overcome before pursuing his true interests. 

In 1886, at just age 16, Roald was stripped of his father when Jens Amundsen died after a journey from England to Norway aboard the steamship Rallo. The family's nanny, Betty Anderson, became the primary caretaker of Roald and his [00:08:00] brothers. Roald was very close with her for the rest of her life. His passion for exploration was further ignited when in 1889, he joined tens of thousands of people in downtown Christiania to see the return of Fridtjof Nansen's Greenland expedition. 

He joined the throng of proud Norwegians and watched as they waved and shouted with excitement. He imagined a time in the future when it might be him returning to Norway in triumph, saying, That day, I wandered with throbbing pulses among the bunting and the cheers, and all my boyhood's dreams reawoke to tempestuous life. 

For the first time, something in my secret thoughts whispered clearly and tremulously, If you could make the Northwest Passage. Amundsen was passionate about his dreams, but not about his schooling. He put in just enough effort to get by, and entered the University of Oslo in 1890 to study medicine, to the delight of his mother. 

But in 1893, his mother died of [00:09:00] pneumonia, and he altogether lost interest in his schooling. He left the university, sold all his medical books, and sought to achieve his dream of polar adventures. Later that year, he met another of his heroes, Eivind Astrup, who was only a year older than Amundsen. Astrup had trekked across northern Greenland as part of Robert Perry's 1891 to 1892 expedition of the Greenland Ice Sheet. 

Inspired after listening to Astrup lecture at the local student society, Amundsen ventured out into the wilderness north of the city with some of his friends. He later wrote of Astrup, Eivind Astrup, in particular, had a great influence on my future involvement with polar research, as I spent so much time with him. 

Nansen stood farther away from me. He was the prophet I always looked up to with awe. In January of 1894, Amundsen embarked on his first expedition. A skiing tour of the Norwegian mountains with Laurentius Erdahl and Wilhelm Holst. [00:10:00] The three young men took a circuitous route from Krøderen to Kongsberg in the frigid Norwegian winter. 

Later in 1894, he received his first real maritime experience when he was hired as a deckhand on board the hunting vessel Magdalena. The ship sailed into Arctic waters and brought home over 2, 000 seals. Encouraged and excited about his ocean journey, Amundsen received his helmsman second class certification from the Christiania Seaman School in 1895. 

He returned to the wintry mountains again in 1896, this time with his brother Leon. The brothers attempted to cross the Handangervidda Plateau, but became snowbound and disoriented when the harsh weather got the better of them. Overnight, Roald became completely encased in snow and ice and Leon dug him out of his frozen tomb. 

For nine days, the brothers battled their way through the snow with limited food until finally reaching safe shelter. He later wrote that this experience, quote, involved dangers and [00:11:00] hardships fully as severe as any I was destined to encounter in the polar regions. Amundsen heard of a planned Antarctic expedition by Belgian Adrien de Gerlach and applied for a position on board the vessel Belgica. 

To his delight, he was accepted as a sailor and skier and moved to Antwerp to study navigation. He even learned Flemish and French in order to communicate with the crew. de Gerlache was so impressed with the ambitious and physically impressive Amundsen that he promoted the Norwegian to first mate. 

While the Belgica was being fitted out in Sandefjord, Norway, Amundsen finally got to meet Fridtjof Nansen, who visited the crew to wish them well and offer his encouragement. Amundsen would continue to have a friendly relationship with his mentor throughout his life. After several delays and problems with the crew, the Belgica expedition embarked on the 16th of August, 1897. 

Amundsen watched as de Gerlache climbed to the crow's nest and waved triumphantly to the thousands of proud Belgians cheering him [00:12:00] on. He watched and wanted this for himself someday. It was during this expedition that Amundsen became a lifelong friend and admirer of American Dr. Frederick Cook. Cook was an eccentric man who craved primal adventure and exploration, and he served with Robert Peary's 1891 to 1892 Arctic Expedition to much acclaim. 

Cook was charming and brilliant, but encountered numerous controversies throughout his life, ultimately landing him in prison. Nevertheless, Cook and Amundsen shared a heroic and almost romantic view of polar exploration, so much so that neither of them accepted a wage for their work on the Belgica Expedition. 

While Amundsen was not much of a sailor at this point in time, his leadership and determination proved to be invaluable. After stops at Tierra del Fuego and Punta Arenas, the voyage continued on to Antarctica, discovering a strait along its western shores later named de [00:13:00] Gerlache Strait. The expedition scientists also made significant observations about temperature, geology, flora, fauna, and recorded magnetic data. 

Amundsen, Cook, de Gerlache, and two others were the first ever to sledge on Antarctic ice. Amundsen continually made mental notes of being the Antarctic first. First to sledge. First to ski. First to span a crevasse. First to build an igloo. As winter approached, the Belgica occasionally was trapped in pack ice, and most of the crew wished to head back to Punta Arenas as planned. 

Amundsen had dreams of continuing south and making a trek for the South Pole. He wrote. Unfortunately, the scientists are showing great signs of fear. They are reluctant to go further into the ice. Why then have we come here? Is it not to explore the unknown realms? This cannot be done by lying still outside the ice and dozing off. 

De Gerlache chose to continue south, and by March of [00:14:00] 1898, The Belgica was trapped in the ice. Amundsen wrote again. We are stuck. The freshly frozen ice is already walkable everywhere, and I doubt that Belgica would handle it even under favorable circumstances. We must no doubt spend the winter here, and that is fine with me. 

The winter proved to be extremely difficult, as men became increasingly ill, and Dr. Cook realized the symptoms were that of scurvy. Cook learned much from the native peoples of Greenland. He experienced their diet of reindeer, seal, and whale, often eaten raw, and the people had no problems with scurvy. He ordered the crew to eat raw penguin and seal, or lightly seared at best, and the men slowly improved. 

Cook and Amundsen did much of the hunting, and they too suffered from scurvy but not nearly as bad as most others. The men who refused to eat the fresh meat, including de Gerlach, suffered the worst. As for Amundsen, he ate heartily and enjoyed the [00:15:00] Antarctic game, writing, Penguin beef is absolutely excellent. 

However, care must be taken to separate all the fat from the meat. Extensive preparation and vinegar is unnecessary. Take the meat as it is and put it in the pan with a little butter, and you have the most delicious steak you could wish for. De Gerlach became extremely ill, both physically and mentally, and Amundsen stepped up his leadership role out of necessity. 

Despite their difficulties, the crew of the Belgica became the first ever to overwinter in Antarctica. Commander de Gerlache expressed his regrets about taking the Belgica further into the pack ice, and felt responsible for their predicament. This change of heart did not sit well with Amundsen, who began to lose respect for his commander. 

This was an inkling of a bitter, surlier side of Roald D'Amundsen. His bitterness turned to rage when he discovered the written contract between de Gerlache and the Royal Belgian Geographical Society. [00:16:00] The contract specified only Belgians would command the Belgica, bypassing Amundsen in the pecking order, despite being the first mate of the ship. 

Only an utmost emergency could command be given to a non Belgian crew member. Amundsen felt utterly betrayed by de Gerlache, and in response wrote to his commander, Since learning of the contract between yourself and the Geographical Society. I consider my position on this ship as no longer existing. 

Amundsen removed himself from the expedition and from the command of de Gerlach. However, being stuck in the ice and fighting for survival, he continued to perform his duties. For his part, de Gerlach later decided he would not abide by the contract, and Amundsen would rightfully take command if necessary. 

But Amundsen could not be appeased, as the damage had already been done. The Belgica managed to break free of the pack ice, which was a monumental effort along with [00:17:00] some luck. Finally, on March 28, 1899, the Belgica arrived back at Punta Arenas. Amundsen, still considering himself resigned of his duties, departed the ship and took a passenger vessel home to Norway instead. 

While bitter over his perceived betrayal by de Gerlache, Amundsen treasured his time with Dr. Cook. who taught him much about polar exploration and survival. He recovered quickly from the Belgica Expedition, and in September of 1899, he joined his brother Leon for a cycling trip from Christiania to Paris, a journey of over 1, 000 miles. 

 From Paris, he traveled to the United States, while writing notes of his expeditions and reading Frederick Jackson's A Thousand Days in the Arctic. To further prepare himself for exploration, he traveled to Hamburg, Germany in 1900 to study magnetism. When he finally returned home to Norway, he met again with Fridtjof Nansen and told him of his plan to find the Northwest Passage. 

[00:18:00] and the magnetic North Pole. For the next several years, Nansen advised Amundsen, helped him sort out financing for his voyage, and held creditors at bay. Amundsen purchased a small sloop, Gjøa, in 1901 to begin his preparations, and sailed her into the Arctic Ocean on a trial run during the summer months. 

He spent two years gathering and testing equipment, assembling a crew, and planning his voyage. He chose a small ship and hired the smallest crew possible, which was a strategy he learned after his time on the Belgica. A small crew allowed every person to be fully engaged in activity in order to prevent lethargy, boredom, and mental illness, and helped each person to find value and purpose in their work. 

Amundsen and his team departed Christiania at midnight on June 16, 1903, with the primary goal of finding a navigable northwest passage. and a secondary goal to take magnetic readings and locate the magnetic North Pole. The O. F. first stopped in Greenland where sled [00:19:00] dogs and supplies were purchased. It then sailed west through the Davis Strait into the Canadian archipelago, passing Beachy Island where John Franklin overwintered in 1945 to 1946. 

Amundsen and his small crew battled an engine fire, vicious storms, and submerged rocks, nearly sinking the ship during the early portions But they persevered, and on September 9th, 1903, He had spotted a perfect place to spend the winter, an enclosed harbor on the eastern coast of King William Island, where Franklin's expedition ultimately met its demise. 

 He named this location Gjøa Haven, sometimes pronounced Joe Haven, and made observations and took magnetic readings. He was able to determine that the magnetic North Pole had shifted since James Clark Ross located it 73 years earlier. His work helped him confirm that the magnetic pole was not in a fixed position. 

While Gjøa Haven, the expedition was visited by Inuit people and they [00:20:00] developed a friendly and beneficial relationship with them. They exchanged goods and materials and Amunds had made notes of their customs and techniques and learned much from them. Most notably, he found their clothing made reindeer skin to be far superior to the European style clothing for staying warm and dry. 

The party left Gjøa Haven by summer of 1905 and ventured west through the Simpson Strait. Ice, dense fog, and submerged rocks continuously plagued the expedition. But on August 1905, the Gjøa reached the easternmost point achieved from the Pacific Ocean. After centuries of speculation of the Northwest Passage, Amundsen had found it. 

He wrote, The Northwest Passage was done. My boyhood dream. At that moment, it was accomplished. A strange feeling welled up in my throat. I was somewhat overstrained and worn. It was weakness in me, but I felt tears in my eyes. After reaching Nome, Alaska, he sent a telegram to King Haakon [00:21:00] VII. The expedition was a great achievement for Norway. 

Amundsen returned to Norway in 1906 and purchased property at Uranienburg. including a house for his brother Leon. In November of 1908, he announced his plans to reach the geographic North Pole. But those plans were thrown into question when, in September of 1909, news finally reached Norway that his old friend, Dr. 

Frederick Cook, had reached the North Pole. On April 21st, 1908. Just days later, he learned of Robert Perry's claim of reaching the North Pole in April of 1909. A wild controversy ensued regarding both of these claims, resulting in Frederick Cook being labeled a fraud, and Perry's claim rejected for lack of reliable evidence. 

As a result of these claims and the controversies, Amundsen told his crew that his plans for the North Pole were on hold. Secretly, he planned to go for the South Pole instead. He told virtually nobody, [00:22:00] not wanting to tip his hand. In 1910, he purchased Fritjof Nansen's polar exploration ship, Fram, and began his preparations near his home. 

On June 7, 1910, Amundsen and a crew of 19 men set off from Norway, but only a select few on board knew of their true destination. Not even his friend and mentor, Fritjof Nansen, knew of his plan to reach the South Pole. Amundsen spent a month sailing around the British Isles, testing his ship, his equipment, and the crew, before heading to Greenland, where he purchased 97 sled dogs. 

He then headed south, still keeping his plan a secret. and docked at Funchal, Madeira to resupply on September 9th, 1910. Here, he told his crew of the real plan to reach the South Pole. He wrote in his diary, At six o'clock I called all the men together and informed them of my intention to try for the South Pole. 

When I asked if they were willing to follow me, I got a unanimous [00:23:00] yes. Newspapers in Funchal reported Amundsen must be heading to Antarctica, but this news did not spread to mainland Europe or elsewhere. Leon Amundsen met the ship in Funchal and carried letters from the men back to Norway. Included was a letter from Roald Amundsen to Fridtjof Nansen, revealing his true plan. 

He wrote, It is difficult for me, Herr Professor, to inform you, but since September 1909, my decision has been to take part in the contest to answer this challenge. Many times I have been on the point of confiding all to you, but always waited for fear that you would stop me. I have often wished that Scott had been aware of this decision of mine, so that it did not appear that I would sneak down there without his knowledge to get ahead of him. 

But I have not dared to make any publication for fear of being stopped. His letter refers to Englishman Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who had already publicly announced his expedition to the South Pole. He and [00:24:00] his crew were in Melbourne, Australia, making preparations to launch their own attempt for the South Pole. 

On August 22, 1910, Scott received a letter from Amundsen. Captain Robert F. Scott, SS Terranova, Melbourne. Beg leave to inform you. Fram, proceeding Antarctica. Amundsen. At this time, it was considered unsportsmanlike to launch a competing expedition while another was already planned or underway. Many didn't appreciate Amundsen's secret plans and surprise competition. 

Nevertheless, the Fram sailed directly from Funchal to Antarctica. The crew celebrated when they passed the equator with wine, brandy, music, and dancing. Some even dancing with the dogs. The Fram arrived at the Bay of Whales, directly up against the Ross Ice Shelf on January 14, 1911. Captain Scott had arrived at Ross Island 11 days earlier on board the Terra Nova. 

Amundsen believed his location gave him an advantage. [00:25:00] Amundsen and his crew got to work, hauling supplies and equipment for their winter shelter, which would be built several kilometers ahead on the Ross Ice Shelf. It took 10 days, but their winter home, which they called Framheim, was complete. voyages in February of 1911 took place to stash depots of food and supplies up ahead, along the planned route to the Pole. 

In total, over 3, 000 kilograms of supplies were dropped, and were marked with flags and pennants for easy visibility. The Framheim, with temperatures dropping to negative 30 degrees Celsius. They spent the winter reading, playing cards, and socializing, as well as finalizing their plans. As spring approached, Amundsen grew increasingly impatient and wished to begin the trek to the Pole. 

Hjalmar Johansen warned Amundsen against leaving too early. Johansen was a veteran polar explorer, having joined Fritjof Nansen on his 1893 to 1895 North Pole [00:26:00] expedition. He and Nansen had reached 86 degrees 14 minutes north on skis, closer to the pole than anyone before. Nevertheless, on Friday, September 8th, 1911, an impatient Amundsen ordered his team to depart, despite the negative 38 degree temperature. 

The sledges began their trek across the ice shelf, but three days later on September 11th, the temperature plummeted to negative 55 degrees. Compasses froze and both men and dogs suffered from frostbite. With no other choice, the team left their supplies at 80 degrees latitude and journeyed back to Framheim. 

 Twelve hours later, all the men had returned to Framheim, except for Lieutenant Kristian Prestrud and Hjalmar Johansen. Only after midnight did the men and their dogs stumble to the door of Framheim, suffering greatly. The following morning, Amundsen asked why they had been so late in returning. 

Johansen was furious, and criticized Amundsen for [00:27:00] starting the expedition too early, and then taking the best sledge and dog team for himself, and racing back ahead of the rest of his team, taking the cooking gear and shelter with him. During the return journey, Johansen had stopped to help Prestrud, who was struggling behind and in real danger of freezing to death, and carried him most of the 75 kilometers of the way back to Framheim. 

Johansen had heroically saved the man's life. Amundsen, however, did not appreciate being publicly chastised in front of the other men. And he demoted Johansen. He wrote The grave and unforgivable in these statements is that they were made for all to hear here. The bull had to be taken by the horns and the example established immediately at the dinner table. 

I then said that after these statements of his, I found it most appropriate to exclude him from participating in the journey to the poll. Instead, I have written ordering him to take part in a research expedition to King Edward II Land under the leadership of Pret Rudd. The incident was not well received by the [00:28:00] rest of the team, and the mood soured. 

Amundsen wrote again, At the dinner table, I asked each individual what he thought of my actions. There was only one opinion that I had acted correctly. This was a sad end to our excellent unity. But I found it only right to exclude him after his behavior. On our journey south, there must be no critical elements. 

Especially when they come from an old polar explorer like him, they become doubly dangerous. Hjalmar Johansen felt utterly betrayed, writing in his own diary, They are now relieved that what should be said has been said by another. And they smile and are now even gentle towards the leader. Their scapegoat has been found. 

Morale was low and the team was on edge, but Amundsen was determined to forge ahead. Johansen, Prestrud, and carpenter Juergen Stuberud were reassigned and would not make the journey to the pole. On October 20th, Amundsen departed Framheim with four other men. Four [00:29:00] sledges and thirteen dogs assigned to each sledge. 

The men left behind at Framheim filmed the party as the sledges began their trek. The men were able to follow the previously made sledge tracks to 82 degrees south. Amundsen mapped their progress each step of the way, keeping the best possible records he could to avoid any such controversy as the North Pole expeditions had encountered. 

The men and dogs trudged through ice and snow, blistering wind, and bone chilling temperatures. Crevasses frequently blocked their path and forced the party to trek around them. On the 7th of December, the party reached 88 degrees 23 minutes south, the farthest point reached by Ernest Shackleton in 1909. 

They took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the achievement, but Amundsen's goal was not just to beat Shackleton, but to reach the pole itself. Finally, on December 14, 1911, the five men reached the Geographic South Pole and took readings and measurements to confirm their location. [00:30:00] 56 days after departing Framheim, Roald Amundsen, Olaf Bjalland, Helmer Hansen, Sverre Hassel, and Oskar Wisting became the first human beings to reach the South Pole. 

Amundsen praised their achievements. We managed to plant our flag at the geographical South Pole, King Haakon VII's plateau. Thank God, it was 3 p. m. when this happened. To avoid any controversies, three men were sent 12. 5 miles in different directions, marking their paths along the way. There would be no doubting that the Norwegians had reached the South Pole. 

They erected a tent topped by a Norwegian flag and Amundsen named the site Polheim. On December 18th, the men departed the pole for their long journey back to Framheim, but left several items behind in the tent. Amundsen writes, in the tent are left several things. My sextant with horizon glass. A hypsometer, three reindeer skin foot [00:31:00] bags, some kameeks and mittens and incidentally some trifles. 

I leave in a folder a letter to the king and a few words to Scott, who I must assume will be the first to visit the place after us. To the tent pole we staple a plaque on which we all write our names. And so goodbye, dear Pole. We will probably not see each other again. Five days later, Robert Falcon Scott reached the Pole with his party, finding the Norwegians had arrived first. 

He and the four men with him infamously perished in February of 1912, while trekking back to their camp. Amundsen's party reached Framheim on January 26, 1912, and the expedition reached Hobart, Tasmania on March 7, 1912. Amundsen went ashore in disguise, not wanting any news or press ahead of his own announcements. 

He sent brief coded telegrams to his brother Leon, Fritjof Nansen, and King Haakon VII, informing them of his success in reaching the South Pole. His decoded [00:32:00] message simply read, Reached the South Pole. All well. He then sent his full account on to the Daily Chronicle in London for European release, and to the New York Times to release the story in the United States. 

Amundsen's thorough evidence of reaching the South Pole was accepted, and news traveled quickly around the world. All members of the expedition, including Hjalmar Johansen, were awarded the South Pole Medal by King Haakon VII. Johansen took his own life six months after returning to Norway. The discovery of the Northwest Passage and reaching the South Pole made Amundsen a worldwide celebrity. 

And through publications of his journals, he was able to pay off his debts. However, he had a nonchalant attitude about money. and financial difficulties plagued him throughout his life. 

 In 1914, Amundsen became the first Norwegian to obtain a civil pilot license. Even this proved to be an adventure as he crashed a plane during his training. His [00:33:00] next conquest would be the geographic North Pole, as its location was still as of yet unconfirmed. World War I put his plans on hold, and in 1917, he made news by returning all of his German medals and awards out of protest of German attacks on Norwegian sailors. 

He visited the Western Front and gave lectures in the United States in support of the Allied war effort. Finally, in March of 1918, he launched his Arctic expedition on board the vessel Maud. His plan was to drift across the Arctic Ocean with the pack ice toward the pole. However, the ice did not cooperate and the Maud became locked in place. 

Amundsen was forced to abandon this plan and instead focus on scientific observations and to drift east along the coast of Siberia. In November of 1918, Amundsen was attacked by a polar bear, resulting in injuries to his back and a broken arm. The bear was shot and killed by another crew member, and Amundsen kept the bear's skin and skull as trophies.[00:34:00]  

Later in the voyage, he purchased a polar bear cub from a man in eastern Russia. He attempted to tame the bear as a pet, but after a month, he realized the bear could not be tamed, and he killed the animal. In 1921, Amundsen brought on two young girls of the Chukchi people of eastern Siberia, with permission from their parents. 

His plan was to take them back to Norway and give them a European education. Amundsen left the Maud, traveling to Nome, Alaska with the girls, and continued on to Seattle. While there, he met Hakan Hammer, a businessman, and the two formed a business partnership. Amundsen entrusted Hammer with the financial management for the expedition, a decision he would later regret. 

The Maud was also sent to Seattle for repairs under the command of Oscar Wisting, who had reached the South Pole with Amundsen. His wife, Elise Wisting, along with Amundsen, returned to Norway with the two girls. In June of 1922, the Maud was [00:35:00] loaded for another attempt at the North Pole. Included in its cargo were two small airplanes, a 6 named Elizabeth, and a Curtis Oriole named Kristine. 

Amundsen had made plans to use the Elizabeth to fly to the North Pole. and for Kristine to be used by the crew of the Maud for reconnaissance. By July, the Maud was ready to depart, and Amundsen and the plane Elizabeth were transferred to the cargo ship Holmes. Amundsen traveled to Wainwright, Alaska, but it was too late in the year for him to attempt a polar flight. 

He and pilot Oscar Omdahl built a winter shelter and hangar that they named Maudheim, and Omdahl continued to work on the plane and make preparations. Meanwhile, Amundsen made the long sledge trip to Nome, where he tried to raise additional funding his efforts. He returned to Wainwright in May of 1923, and the Elizabeth was taken for a flight test on May 11th. 

But one of the aircraft's skis were badly damaged upon landing, [00:36:00] requiring significant repairs. On June 10th, they tried another test flight, but the plane's axle broke off before takeoff. With this, they disassembled the plane and left her on the beach. Amundsen returned to Norway in September of 1923, and once again began fundraising for another polar flight attempt. 

But his debts were too great. His partner, Haakon Hammer, had made too many promises to too many people, which Amundsen could not overcome. The government of Norway, who already had given him over 1 million kroner, could do no more. With no other options, Amundsen was forced to file for a highly publicized bankruptcy. 

Later, Amundsen called Hammer a quote optimistic scoundrel adding I had undoubtedly committed a major mistake by leaving my business affairs so blindly to others. The Chukchi girls from Eastern Russia were sent back to their father as Amundsen could no longer provide for them. Meanwhile, Oscar Wisting and the crew [00:37:00] of the mod were still drifting in the ice of the Arctic Ocean. 

In April of 1924. Amundsen sent Whisting a telegram. Go to Nome if possible. The expedition's financial situation is miserable. But the vessel was stuck in the ice and was forced to spend another winter in the Arctic. Finally, in the summer of 1925, the Maud was able to break free and set a course for Upon their arrival, the Maud was impounded due to Amundsen's bankruptcy. Through political negotiations, the crew were permitted to take the ship to Seattle. Where the ship was again impounded, and the men were released from service. The expedition was over. Though bankrupt and coming off a failed expedition, Amundsen was not discouraged. 

In 1925, he embarked on another polar flight from Svalbard. Amundsen and a flight crew of five flew two flying boats as far as 88 degrees north, before being forced to land on the ice. After 25 [00:38:00] days, they were able to take off again and return home. An impressive flight, but short of the North Pole. May of 1926 brought another polar flight attempt, this time aboard the airship Norge. 

The Aeroclub of Norway was financed by millionaire American adventurer Lincoln Ellsworth. Amundsen arranged for the Aeroclub to purchase Italy's N1 airship, designed by Nobile. With Benito Mussolini's blessing, the Norwegians purchased the airship, renamed it to Norge, and hired Nobile and an Italian crew to operate the ship. 

A total of 16 men, including Amundsen, Oskar Wisting, and Umberto Nobile, departed Svalbard May 11, 1926. They flew directly over the North Pole the following day, and tossed Norwegian, American, and Italian flags down to the surface. The following day, the Norge landed successfully in Alaska on May 13th. 

Roald Amundsen and Oscar Wisting were the first people confirmed to [00:39:00] reach the South Pole and the North Pole. Nobile and Amundsen later feuded over who deserved credit for the expedition. Amundsen called Nobile a hired pilot who, quote, cried like a girl at the first sight of danger. Nobile labeled Amundsen as a useless passenger who slept under a pile of dirty clothes during most of the trip. 

Ellsworth, whose money paid for the expedition, called it a triumph for America. Even Mussolini joined the fray, crediting Italy's genius of engineering and exploration. The whole affair turned into ugly, egotistical, and very public international mudslinging. In 1927, Amundsen published his memoir, My Life as an Explorer. 

Upon its publication, he quipped, I am now done with my memoirs. Shit, they are ugly. Later that year, he was visited by his latest love interest, Bess Magids, and she stayed with him at his home for a time. But Bess was married, and she returned to [00:40:00] Alaska in March of 1928. to finalize her divorce from her husband. 

In May of 1928, Amundsen's nemesis Umberto Nobile was on another voyage to the North Pole. He had built a new airship, named Italia, and this time Italy could claim all the glory. The expedition was fully sponsored by the Italian government. The Italia reached the North Pole, but on May 25th, during the voyage back to Svalbard, It ran into strong winds, causing the airship to crash into the ice below. 

When news reached Amundsen of the crash, he insisted on being part of the search and rescue, despite the prior bickering. Needing money to join the search, he first asked the Norwegian government, but was rejected. He then turned to his friend Lincoln Ellsworth, asking for 60, 000, but he too declined. Days later, he received word from a Norwegian businessman who offered him a French seaplane. 

Amundsen and Liev Dietrichsen left Oslo for Bergen by [00:41:00] train, where he met with the French flight crew the following day. Thousands gathered to see them off. After landing first at Tromsø on June 18, 1928, The seaplane took off again to search for the crashed airship. The seaplane, and everyone on board, were never seen again. 

Only a wing float and gasoline tank from the plane has ever been found. It is assumed the plane crashed into the Barents Sea, killing everyone on board. The Norwegian Navy searched for the wreckage, but found nothing, and gave up the search in September of 1928. The fate of Roald Amundsen and the other occupants remains a mystery to this day. 

Umberto Nobile was badly injured in the airship crash but survived and was rescued by a Swedish plane on June 23rd. The remaining survivors were rescued by the Soviet vessel Krasin on July 12th. Roald Amundsen is a legendary name in polar exploration. His achievements spurred on many further geographic and [00:42:00] scientific discoveries in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 

The United States Antarctic Program named its research station the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station. After the Norwegian and his English competitor. Still, the man had his faults, as all humans do. His interpersonal relationships often were cold and contentious, sometimes publicly. Despite having romantic interests, he never married and had no children. 

He has been described as narcissistic and uncaring, often unable to see anything other than his own ambitions. Nevertheless, Roald Amundsen remains one of the world's greatest and influential explorers. 

Like the Vikings of old, he fearlessly ventured into the unknown, and conquered what was before him. That is going to do it for Roald Amundsen, The Last Viking. Thank you so much for listening. Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is written, edited, and produced by me, Rich Napolitano. All episodes, [00:43:00] merchandise, and more can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs. 

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