The German Arctic Expedition of 1869 - 1870 was a milestone in Arctic research. Lead by Captain Karl Koldewey, the group experienced great danger and the loss of the "Hansa" in the ice during their finally successful way into the central regions of the Arctic. The expedition was also a competition between two different generations of ships, the sailing vessel "Hansa", which did not make her way back, and the steam-powered "Germania".

A detailed account of the voyage of the German Ships Germania and Hansa, the wreck of the Hansa in the ice, sled journeys and observations of natural phenomena in Greenland.

On the 24th of October, 1868, a number of gentlemen were assembled at Bremen, to celebrate the happy return of the members of the First German Arctic Expedition, including their commander Captain Carl Koldewey, and its scientific originator, Dr. A. Petermann. The rough sketch of a plan for the German Arctic Expedition of 1869,” with maps, from Dr. Petermann, was not long wanting. According to his suggestion, the expedition was to consist of two parts, so as to endeavour to solve two problems at the same time. A steamer was to land on East Greenland, and taking it as the basis of the winter operations, should try to penetrate into the heart of the Polar region; a second steamer should, at any point between Greenland and Nova Zembla, strive to reach the highest latitude possible. For the carrying out of this plan two steamers were considered necessary. But the preparations soon reached a critical point....

Reprint of the original, first published in 1874.