Heim, Fritz

Fritz Heim joined the German South Polar Expedition, 1911-1912 (leader Wilhelm Filchner), as geologist. Filchner planned to attempt the first crossing of Antarctica. With a strong scientific team on board, the expedition ship Deutschland left Bremerhaven on 11 May 1911, arriving in South Georgia in October and making a brief visit to the South Sandwich Islands. Heading south towards the Weddell Sea in December, the ship sailed southward off Coats Land and in January 1912, Filchner saw land, which he named Prinzregent Luitpold Land [Luitpold Coast]. Continuing westward, they discovered the Filchner Ice Shelf where an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a station. Deutschland was beset and drifted in pack ice for nine months until freed in November 1912. Returning to South Georgia in December, the expedition headed back to Germany.