Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:35:25.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The career and disappearance of Hans K.E. Krüger, Arctic geologist, 1886–1930

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

William Barr
William Barr
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

On 19 March 1930 the German geologist, Hans K.E. Krüger, accompanied by a Dane, Åge Rose Bjare, and an Inughuk, Akqioq (the latter driving their dog sledge) set off westwards from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police post at Bache Peninsula, Ellesmere Island; two support sledges, driven by Inughuit, escorted them. It appears to have been Krüger's intention to study the geology of the coasts of the outer islands of the Canadian Arctic archipelago and to carry out soundings of the continental shelf and slope. The two support sledges turned back at Depot Point, Eureka Sound. Krüger, Bjare, and Akqioq were never seen again. This article reviews Krüger's background, his preparations for the expedition (which included two summers of field work in West Greenland and a wintering in northwest Greenland), and the extensive searches mounted by the RCMP in 1931 and 1932. Finally, it analyzes the evidence provided by three messages left by Krüger and subsequently recovered, with a view to making an educated guess as to the fate of the expedition.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 29 , Issue 171 , October 1993 , pp. 277 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, R.M. 1924. Letterto O.S. Finnie, 23 December 1924. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.M. 1929. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 6 02 1929. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.M. 1931a. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 29 May 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.M. 1931b. Letter to J.H.MacBrien, 8 September 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Anstead, E. 1929a. Letter to Officer Commanding, Headquarters Division, RCMP, 19 August 1929. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 1, p. 15.Google Scholar
Anstead, E. 1929b. Report re: Patrol on west coast of Ellesmere Island. In: Bache Peninsula Detachment Reports, NAC RG 18, Vol. 3013, 22 May 1929.Google Scholar
Anstead, E. 1988. Letter to R. Osczevski, 17 July 1988. R. Osczevski's personal files.Google Scholar
Barr, W. 1984. Lieutenant Herbert Schroder-Stranz's expedition to Svalbard, 1912–1913: a study in organizational disintegration. Fram: the Journal of Polar Studies 1 (1): 1–64.Google Scholar
Barr, W. 1991. Back from the brink: the road to muskox conservation in the Northwest Territories. Calgary: Arctic Institute of North America.Google Scholar
Burwash, L.T. 1931a. Telegram to O.S. Finnie, August 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Burwash, L.T. 1931b. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 24 September 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Byrd, R.E. 1925. Flying over the Arctic. National Geographic Magazine 48: 519–532.Google Scholar
Canada. 1927. Report of the Royal Canadian Mounted PolicefortheyearendedSeptember30, 1926. Ottawa: Annual Departmental Reports, 1925–1926 III: 5–112.Google Scholar
Echo, Darmstädter. 1955. Missing in the Arctic. Darmstadter Echo 26 03 1955.Google Scholar
Tagblatt, Darmstädter. 1931a. The Darmstadt Greenland explorer Kriiger missing. Darmstadter Tagblatt 28 August 1931.Google Scholar
Tagblatt, Darmstädter. 1931b. H.K.E. Krüger missing. Darmstadter Tagblatt 1 September 1931.Google Scholar
Tagblatt, Darmstädter. 1931c. Has polar explorer Kruger perished? Darmstädter Tagblatt 2 September 1931.Google Scholar
Tagblatt, Darmstädter. 1933. What became of the German explorer Dr. Krüger? Darmstädter Tagblatt 21 October 1933.Google Scholar
Zeitung, Darmstädter. 1925. A German Arctic Expedition: the preliminary expedition sailed in July. Darmstädter Zeitung 8 August 1925.Google Scholar
Zeitung, Darmstädter. 1926. The Hessian Greenland Expedition, 1925. Darmstädter Zeitung 16 01 1926.Google Scholar
Dersch, P. 1932. Report on sledge trip in search of missing expedition, 6 April 1932. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/ 048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Zeitung, Deutsche Allgemeine. 1931. Three men disappeared in the Greenland ice. Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung 8 November 1931.Google Scholar
Dinwoodie, D.H. 1972. Arctic controversy: the 1925 Byrd-MacMillan Expedition example. Canadian Historical Review 53 (1): 51–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drescher-Käden, F.K., and Krüger, H.K.E.. 1928. The peridotite from Kaersut (Greenland) and its dike rocks as an example of differential secretion. NeuesJahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaontologie Supplement 57, Sect. A: 569–616.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1925a. Letter to H.K.E. Krüger, 2 03 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1925b. Memorandum to W.W. Cory, 13 03 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f.4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1925c. Letter to O.D. Skelton, 4 June 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1926. Letter to L. Kempff, 17 May 1926. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1929. Letter to L Kempff, 31 May 1929. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1930a. Letter to L. Kempff, 5 September 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1930b. Telegram to Hilda Schad von Mittelbiberach, 17 September 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1930c. Letter to L. Kempff. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1931a. Northwest Territories and Yukon, report of the Director. In: Canada. Annual Report of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1930. Ottawa: King's Printer 140–156.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1931b. Letter to H.H. Rowatt, 24 September 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Finnie, O.S. 1931 c. Letter to H. Schad von Mittelbiberach, 29 July 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Georgi, J. 1935. Mid-ice: the story of the Wegenerexpedition to Greenland. New York: E.P. Dutton and Co.Google Scholar
Hamilton, R.W. 1932. Report to Officer Commanding, Headquarters Division, RCMP, 12 July 1932. NAC RG 85, Vol.756, f.4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Hattersley-Smith, G., and other members of the expeditions. 1955. Northern Ellesmere Island, 1953 and 1954. Arctic 8 (1): 3–36.Google Scholar
Landeszeitung, Hessische. 1933. From Darmstadt. Last news from Dr. Krüger. Hessische Landeszeitung 29 July 1933.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1931a. Letter to Granlands Styrelse, 24 April 1931. RAK Gronlands Styrelse j. nr. 349/129.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1931b. Letter to Lauge Koch, 8 May 1931. RAK Gronlands Styrelse j. nr. 349/129.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1931c. Letter to Lauge Koch, 15 May 1931. RAK Gronlands Styrelse j. nr. 349/129.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1931d. Letter to R.M. Anderson, 15 May 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1931e. Letter to R.M. Anderson, 26 August 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Holler, K. 1958. Letter to R. Thorsteinsson, 23 02 1958. R. Thornsteinsson's personal files.Google Scholar
Hume, H.E. 1932. Report of the Chairman, Dominions Lands Branch. In: Annual report of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1932. Ottawa: F. Acland 25–50.Google Scholar
Hume, H.E. 1933a. Report of the Chairman, Dominion Lands Branch. In: Annual report of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1933. Ottawa: O. Patenaude: 25–43.Google Scholar
Hume, H.E. 1933b. Letter to H. Schadvon Mittelbiberach, 30 May 1933. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Joy, A.H. 1930. Letter to Officer Commanding, Headquarters Division, RCMP, 16 October 1930. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File 804–9, Pt. 1: 2.Google Scholar
Joy, A.H. 1931a. Letter to the Commissioner, RCMP, 17 –06 1931. NAC RG 18, Ace. no. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 1: 31.Google Scholar
Joy, A.H. 1931b. Letterto the Commissioner, RCMP, 25 September 1931. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, File G 804–9, Pt. 1: 73.Google Scholar
Joy, A.H. 1931c. Telegram to A.H. MacBrien, 13 August 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Joy, A.H. 1931d. Letter to OfficerCommanding, Headquarters Division, RCMP, 28 September 1931. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 1: 76.Google Scholar
Kempff, L 1926. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 1 June 1926. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Kempff, L. 1929. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 20 02 1929. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Kempff, L. 1930. Telegram to O.S. Finnie, 4 September 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Kempff, L 1934. Letter to O.D. Skelton, 26 01 1934. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9: 202.Google Scholar
Koch, L. 1931. Letter to Kurt Holler, 18 May 1931. RAK Gronlands Styrelse, j. nr. 349/129.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1923. Letter to the Secretary forthe Protectorate of South West Africa, 23 03 1923. NAN Krugerfile.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. [F.C.]. 1924. Letter to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 16 October 1924. STEF Krugerfile.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925a. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 17 01 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f.4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925b. Plan of an Arctic expedition. Geographische Zeitschrift 31 (1): 38–41.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925c. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 25 03 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925d. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 11 May 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f.4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925e. Letter to O.D. Skelton, 14 June 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1925f. Letter to O.D. Skelton, 18 July 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. [F.C.]. 1926. Letter to V. Stefansson, 4 03 1926. STEF Krugerfile.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1927a. A so-called basalt breccia in the Cretaceous Tertiary formation of West Greenland. Notizblatt des Vereins fur Erdkunde zu Darmstadt 5 (10): 270–281.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1927b. Recent geological research in the Arctic. Notizblatt des Vereins fur Erdkunde zu Darmstadt 5 (10): 282–291.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1927c. The Arctic and the airship. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen 73 (11/12): 321–323.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1927d. Development and status of the South African economy. Jahrbuch fur National-Okonomie und Statistik.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1928a. Curriculum vitae. In: Zur Geologie von Westgronland, besonders der Umgebung der Diskobucht und der Umanak-fjords [On the geology ofWest Greenland, especially the area around Diskobugt and Umanakfjord]. Kobenhavn: Bianco Lunos Bogtrykkeri: 137–138. (also published in Meddelelser om Grønland74(8), 1930, but without ‘Curriculum vitae’.)Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1928b. Once again: the Arctic and the airship. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen 74 (3/4): 103–107.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1928c. Demographic and racial problems in South Africa, Pts. 1 and 2. Jahrbuch fur National-Ökonomie und Statistik.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1928d. Angola today. DerKolonialdeutsche.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1928e. Letter to R.M. Anderson, 17 November 1928. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1929a. Greenland's rocks and ice cap, in terms of their mutual relationships and impacts. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde 17: 1–32.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1929b. Recent geological research in the Arctic. American Journal of Science Ser. 5, 17: 50–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1929c. Letter to Dekan der Naturwissenschaftlich-Mathematischen Fakultät, Ruprecht-Karls Universität, Heidelberg, 19 02 1929. ARKUH Krügerfile.Google Scholar
Krüger, H.K.E. 1929d. Letter to Deputy Minister of the Interior, 4 August 1929. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Kruger, H.K.E., and Klute, F.. 1926. The Hessian Greenland Expedition, 1925. Petermanns Mitteilungen 72 (5/6): 105–110.Google Scholar
Krüger, O. 1931. Letter to H.K.E. Kruger, 27 July 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.H. 1932a. Report of the Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In: Report of the RCMP for the year ended September 30, 1931. Ottawa: F.A. Acland, 5–156.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.H. 1932b. Letter to H.E. Hume, 14 September 1932. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.H. 1933a. Report of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the year ended September 30, 1932. Ottawa: F.A. Acland.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.H. 1933b. Letter to H.H. Rowatt, 8 May 1933. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.H. 1933c. Letter to H.H. Rowatt, 28 October 1933. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 3275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
MacBrien, J.J. 1933d. Letter to Under-Secretary of State, 8 November 1933. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 2, p. 184.Google Scholar
Mackenzie, G.P. 1930a. Telegram to O.S. Finnie, 14 August 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Mackenzie, G.P. 1930b. Telegram to O.S. Finnie, 19 August 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Mackenzie, G.P. 1930c. Telegram to O.S. Finnie, 6 September 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
MacMillan, D.B. 1918. Four years in the white north. New York, London: Harper Bros.Google Scholar
MacMillan, D.B. 1925. The MacMillan Arctic Expedition returns. National Geographic Magazine 48: 477–518.Google Scholar
Mathiassen, T. 1945. Report on the expedition. In: Report of the Fifth Thule Expedition 1921–24: the Danish Expedition to Arctic North America in charge of Knud Rasmussen, PhD. København: Gylendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag 1 (1).Google Scholar
McLean, N.M. 1930. Annual Report 1929–30, Bache Peninula Detachment. NAC RG 18, Vol. 3012,29 July 1930.Google Scholar
New York Times, The. 1931. Wegener's body found in Greenland wastes. TheNewYorkTimes 2 May 1931.Google Scholar
Nieland, H. 1930a. The progress of the Second Hessian Greenland Expedition, 1929. Forschungen und Fortschritte 6 (34): 453–454.Google Scholar
Nieland, H. 1930b. Permafrost and patterned ground in West Greenland. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde 18: 346–351.Google Scholar
Office of the Commissioner of the North West Territories. 1926. Scientist's and Explorer's Licence, No. 7,1926, issued to Dr. H.K.E. Kruger, 17 May 1926. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4725, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Osczevski, R.J. 1992. The hunt for marine reptile fossils on western Ellesmere Island. Polar Record 28 (165): 105–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peary, R.E. 1907. Nearest the Pole: a narrative of the polarexpeditions of the Peary Arctic Club in the S.S. Roosevelt, 1905–1906. London: Hutchinson & Co.Google Scholar
Mitteilungen, Petermanns. 1924. North Pole expedition planned to the north of the Franklin Islands. Petermanns Mitteilungen 70: 232.Google Scholar
Polar Record. 1934. Krüger search expeditions, 1934. PolarRecord 1 (8): 121–129.Google Scholar
Rasmussen, K. 1927. Across Arctic America: narrative of the Fifth Thule Expedition. New York, London: G.P. Putnam's Sons.Google Scholar
Rowley, G. 1977. Bernard Hantzsch: the probable cause of his death in Baffin Island in 1911. Polar Record 18 (117): 593–596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal Geographical Society. 1928. Certificate of Election as Fellow, H.K.E. Kruger, 19 November 1928. RGS, Fellows File.Google Scholar
Schad von Mittelbiberach, H. 1930. Telegram to Department of the Interior, 17 September 1930. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Schad von Mittelbiberach, H. 1931a. Telegram to H.H. Rowatt, 16 May 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Schad von Mittelbiberach, H. 1931b. Letter to the Departmant of the Interior, 21 June 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Schad von Mittelbiberach, H. 1931c. Letter to H.K.E. Kruger, 18 June 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Scholz, A. 1932. Kruger polar expedition missing. Darmstadter Tagblatt 26 June 1932.Google Scholar
Skelton, O.D. 1925. Letter to O.S. Finnie, 9 July 1925. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Skelton, O.D. 1932. Letter to H.H. Rowatt, 3 03 1932. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Sorge, E. 1931. How we found Wegener. Hessische Landeszeitung 30 July 1931.Google Scholar
Sorge, E., and Weiken, K.. 1939. The finding of Alfred Wegener's body. In: Wegener, E. (editor). Greenland journey, the story of Wegener's German expedition to Greenland in 1930–31 as told by members of the expedition and the leader's diary. London and Glasgow: Blackie & Son.Google Scholar
Stallworthy, H.W. 1931. Letter to CO, RCMP, Headquarters Division, 30 July 1931. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Stallworthy, H.W. 1932. Report to Officer Commanding, Headquarters Division, RCMP, 25 June 1932. NAC RG 85, Vol. 756, f. 4275, Pt. 1.Google Scholar
Stallworthy, H.W. 1933. Telegram to Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, 4 May 1933. NAC RG18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 2.Google Scholar
Stallworthy, H.W. 1957. Letter to R. Thorsteinsson, 12 December 1957. ABC ED Stic.Google Scholar
Stames, C. 1931. Letter to R. Anderson, 6 June 1931. NAC RG 18, Ace. No. 85–86/048, Vol. 33, File G 804–9, Pt. 1. P-29.Google Scholar
Stefansson, V. 1921. The friendly Arctic: the story of five years in polar regions. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Stefansson, V. 1924. Letter to H.K.E. [F.C.] Krüger, 13 November 1924. STEF Krüger File.Google Scholar
Stefansson, V. 1926. Letter to H.K.E. [F.C.] Krüger, 2 June 1926. STEF Krüger file.Google Scholar
Stefansson, V. 1957. Letter to R. Thorsteinsson, 2 August 1957. R. Thorsteinsson's personal files.Google Scholar
Thorsteinsson, R. 1957. Letter to H.W. Stallworthy, 5 November 1957. ABC ED St1c.Google Scholar
Thorsteinsson, R. 1961. The history and geology of Meighen Island, Arctic archipelago. Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 75: 1–19.Google Scholar
Wegener, E. (editor). 1939. Greenland journey, the story of Wegener's German expedition to Greenland in 1930–31 as told by members of the expedition and the leader's diary. London and Glasgow: Blackie and Son.Google Scholar