Schröer trained in marine research. He took Bjørn Helland-Hansen’s oceanography course in Bergen in 1907 and a year later met Roald Amundsen on the same mission. Amundsen had come to prepare himself for the oceanographical work on the planned drift across the Arctic Ocean with Fram. The two stayed in touch and Schröer sent Amundsen several photographs from their time in Bergen.
Pictures from the stay in Bergen in 1908. Amundsen (left) sits with Helland-Hansen. The photographs were discovered in an outbuilding at Roald Amundsen’s home in 2015. Photo: Follo museum, MiA.
Amundsen at work. Could these be some of the photos that Schröer sent to Amundsen after they met in Bergen in 1908? Photo: Follo museum, MiA.
Schröer was involved in acquiring scientific equipment from Germany for Amundsen’s expedition, and was incorporated quite early into the planning of its first cruise in the North Atlantic. In February 1910, the Norwegian newspapers could announce that Schröer would take part in this initial phase of the expedition 📜.
Schröer’s diary for May 1910 records several visits to Roald Amundsen’s home in Svartskog, including trips into the forest, a May 17 celebration with children’s trains passing by, and preparations for the coming expedition 📜.
On the steps outside Amundsen’s home at Pentecost/Whitsun 1910. Schröer sits top left next to Malfred Amundsen. Roald Amundsen sits bottom right in the white suit and hat. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse / National Library of Norway.
Schröer was on board Fram from when it left Amundsen’s home in Bunnefjord on June 7, 1910, to its arrival in Bergen on July 10. He carried out a number of oceanographical measurements on the trip and assisted later with their analysis. He was disappointed, however, with Amundsen’s attitude to the oceanographic work and believed that his own efforts deserved more recognition than they received.
Group photo on board Fram in summer 1910. Schröer is at the very back with glasses and hat. Those with him include Bjørn Helland-Hansen (left), Hjalmar Johansen (back right), Roald Amundsen (front right) and Thorvald Nilsen. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse / National Library of Norway.
Map of the cruise in the North Atlantic. The solid line shows Fram’s route, the dotted line shows the route of the ship Frithjof and the broken line connects some of the observations made on board the ship Michael Sars. Illustration taken from Amundsen’s book about the Fram expedition: The South Pole: the Norwegian South Pole expedition with Fram 1910-1912, vol. 2 (p.372).
Schröer continued his scientific career and stayed in contact with the academic community in Norway.
He died at the age of sixty in 1932.
Schröer’s diary from Fram in summer 1910 is available online at the National Library of Norway 📜.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage, 1903-06. A tinted photograph of him hangs in Amundsen’s home.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog together with Amundsen in 1922 where they lived until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Betty was one of the key women in Amundsen’s life. She was the nanny when he grew up, and when Amundsen moved to Svartskog, she joined him and moved into the gatehouse, which became “Betty’s house”.
Eivind Astrup became one of the world’s most experienced polar explorers of his time and a great role model for Roald Amundsen. He chose to end his life when only 24 years old.
Roald Amundsen had strong feelings for Kristine Elisabeth “Kiss” Bennett. She visited Uranienborg several times, but even though Amundsen transferred ownership of it to her, she never moved in.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog with Amundsen in 1922 and lived there until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Sigrid Flood Castberg, often called “Sigg”, was one of the women Amundsen had a relationship with. But when Amundsen proposed, she was already married and wanted to wait, and when she was ready he wanted…
Håkon Hammer met Roald Amundsen in Seattle in 1921. He quickly became a collaborator and supporter, but was later named by Amundsen as one of the reasons for his personal bankruptcy.
Participated in the Maud expedition, but left the expedition in 1919, together with Peter Tessem. Both perished. What really happened to them is still unknown.
The Alaska Inupiaq called Elizabeth Magids “Queen of the Arctic”, Amundsen’s crew referred to her as “the mysterious lady”. Amundsen called her “Bess”. She went to live with Amundsen in Norway in 1928….
Participated as a research assistant on the Maud expedition, and as a meteorologist on the Norge expedition. Died on Umberto Nobile’s airship expedition in 1928.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a window in Amundsen’s home.
Nobile was the airship engineer whom Amundsen criticized after the expedition in 1926. During the search for his wrecked expedition in 1928, Roald Amundsen disappeared.
Joined the Maud expedition after visiting the ship in Khabarovsk. Also participated in the Norge expedition, but was left out from the actual voyage across the Arctic Ocean.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of her hangs in Amundsen’s home.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a door in Amundsen’s home.