Norwegian support to the airship Italia polar expedition

Pier Paolo Alfei

doi:10.33265/polar.v44.12224

Pier Paolo Alfei Macerata, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v44.12224

Keywords: Arctic exploration, Svalbard, Umberto Nobile, Adolf Hoel, Roald Amundsen, airship Norge

Abstract

Despite the bitter dispute that arose between Italy and Norway after the Amundsen–Ellsworth–Nobile transpolar flight of 1926, the Nordic country assisted with various organizational aspects of the airship Italia polar expedition of 1928. In particular, Adolf Hoel’s contributions to the preparations for the Italian polar mission were extensive and varied. The eminent Norwegian scientist made available to the Italians unpublished cartographic material, books, information on the Svalbard archipelago and polar equipment. The maps that Hoel gave to Gianni Albertini aided Italian rescue efforts after the crash of the Italia. Using Italian and Norwegian archives, this paper examines a little-known page of Italian–Norwegian scientific cooperation in Arctic exploration during the interwar period.

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