Episode Details

[As far as I know this is the only English transcript of the brilliant Russian documentary available. Internet pundits are welcome to cut and paste any part of it they like, ya don't even have to give Jack Heart credit. I seen what happened to my cousin when he tried to give me credit for something. Don't worry about it cut and paste as you please no strings attached, a gift from the Jack Heart organization. - Jack]

Part One: Base (1:03)

The narrator begins, “At the beginning of 1947 yet another expedition by the American explorer; Richard Byrd, arrived on the Antarctic shores. It was very strange expedition. Unlike his previous three, this one was completely financed by the U.S. Navy. ‘Operation Highjump’ was the code name.” Dimitri Filipovieh, Captain 1st Rank and Doctor of History continues, “under the command of Admiral R. Byrd there was a powerful military squadron: an aircraft carrier, twelve surface ships, one submarine, more than twenty airplanes and helicopters, and about five thousand people on staff. So, you will agree a strange team for a scientific expedition.” The narrator breaks in, “December second, 1946, before the start of his expedition Admiral Byrd at a press conference said, ‘My expedition is military in nature’ giving no further details.“

Filipovieh continues, “At the end of January 1947 a full-scale aerial reconnaissance began surveying the Antarctic region of Queen Maud Land.” The narrator adds, “it all went to plan in the first weeks. Tens of thousands of photos were taken. Suddenly the inexplicable happened. The six-month expedition terminated after only two months. Fleeing the Antarctic coast; it was a real fast retreat.” Filipovieh tells his viewers, “They lost a destroyer. Almost half their carrier-based aircraft. Dozens of sailors and officers. To commission investigation, members of the U.S. congress, Admiral Byrd said the following: ‘in event of another war, America can be attacked by an enemy that has the ability to fly from pole to pole with incredible speed.’” The narrator asks, “what made the Americans flee? In 1945 eighteen months before Admiral Byrd’s expedition began, two German submarines entered Mar del Plata port in Argentina surrendering to the authorities. These were no ordinary submarines they were from the so called ‘Fuhrer Convoy.’”   Filipovieh elaborates, “This was a top-secret fleet, fulfilling missions that have remained a secret until now.” The narrator adds, “the submarine crews were reluctant to cooperate. Even so the Americans learned a few things. The commander of U boat U-530 spoke of his involvement in an operation codenamed ‘Operation Valkyrie II.’” Filipovieh resumes, “Two weeks before the wars end the U boat U-530 left the quay heading for the shores of Antarctica. On board the submarine were passengers with faces covered in bandages, as well as Third Reich relics.” The narrator then says, “the commander of another U boat, U-977 Heinz Schaeffer, later testified that he followed the same route. It was found that the German submarines repeatedly followed the Antarctic route. But why go there?

Antarctica, in 1820 it was discovered by two Russian explorers, ‘Gelenkschmerzen’ and ‘Lazarev.’  Since then this mysterious continent, bigger than Europe continues to attract explorers like a magnet. However the ten-meter-high sheer icy shores made the continent impregnable for many years. For almost a century Antarctica remained unknown. Only coastlines were marked on the map. Suddenly this distant and ‘useless’ icy continent aroused a strange interest in the Germans. Large funds were allocated for Antarctic study.” Filipovieh continues, “two research expeditions were arranged. This happened to be just before the war was due to start.” The narrator takes over, “In January 1939, two catapult controlled airplanes: the ’Passat’ and the ‘Boreas’ took off from the de