![]() |
Helmer Julius HanssenNorwegian polar explorer
Date of Birth: 24.09.1870
Country: ![]() |
Biography of Helmer Julius Hanssen
Helmer Julius Hanssen was a Norwegian polar explorer born in 1870 in the northern part of Norway. Before his acquaintance with the legendary explorer Roald Amundsen, Hanssen worked as a seal hunter in the Spitsbergen area. However, after meeting Amundsen, he joined an expedition preparing to search for the Northwest Passage.
Notably, the beginning of the expedition had a unique twist. One of Amundsen's creditors threatened to impose penalties and arrest his ship, the "Gjøa," so the explorers had to secretly leave the port at night. On June 16, 1903, at midnight, Amundsen, Hanssen, and several other crew members set sail into the Arctic Ocean.
This expedition lasted for two years and ended successfully. It was during this time that Hanssen became acquainted with the lives of the Inuit people and learned to handle sled dogs. In 1909, Hanssen once again joined Amundsen's team for an expedition to the South Pole. This time, he went as an expert in dog handling and was also responsible for the navigation instruments, which he improved for the sleds.
In 1911, a group consisting of Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Oscar Wisting, Sverre Hassel, and Helmer Hanssen embarked on a journey to the South Pole. As planned, Hanssen fulfilled the role of navigator. Amundsen highly praised Hanssen's resilience and courage in his book "The South Pole." He wrote that Hanssen was always ready to risk his life for his comrades and even had contempt for danger. Additionally, his keen eyesight saved the expedition on numerous occasions. For his participation in the expedition, Hanssen was awarded the Medal of the South Pole.
In 1918, Hanssen was part of another expedition, this time to the Northeast Passage, where he served as the captain of the ship "Maud." However, he was unable to complete this journey. In 1936, Hanssen published his autobiography titled "The Voyages of a Modern Viking" in London.
Helmer Julius Hanssen passed away on August 2, 1956, in Tromsø, Norway, at the age of 85.