Lion, Tiger, Bear 1 After the war in 1946, the USN produced a report by Capt. R.F. Hickey about the possible German Atomic Bomb. After extensive investigation, it was reviewed and signed off by a leading German scientist. It is the only known eyewitness report confirming one of the very few atomic bomb tests the Germans conducted. (See: Zinsser Report). A wild rumor persists of a German atomic device dropped on the Russians in late 1944 near Kurland in the Baltic States, but it has not been confirmed either. And yet I must ask myself: what if its true? Dr. J.P. Farrells book, Hess and the Penguins, was instrumental in my fleshing out Rudolph Hesss personality and ethos. Many thanks to you, Joseph. Huzzah, old chap. As for the history of Antarctica, the German explorations of 1938 and 1939 both sponsored by Hermann Goring and Rudolf Hessare very interesting topics to study, especially since the Germans had been visiting there since 1915. All one has to do is look up just how militarized Antarctica has become over the decades since WW2 to get an idea how utterly fascinating and mysterious the continent has become. My father was involved with Operation Deep Freeze when he was Secretary of the Navy in 1972, and he told me about the secret sub bases and missile silos under the ice when I was just a wee lad. He also said Antarctica was used for space operations. Who knows what else they found? Thats still officially classified, by the by. Admiral Byrd and Admiral Nimitz sure had fun during the 1947 Antarctic expedition with 5000 Marines (Some reports say 10,000) and sailors in Operation HIGHJUMP. I suggest the reader investigate that intriguing bit of U.S. Navy scientific research operation history, especially since they had very little scientific equipment with them. Theres even a U.S. Navy documentary film about it. What kind of scientific expedition needs aircraft carriers, warships, troops, fighter aircraft, and huge amounts of firepower? If Nimitz wanted to test new equipment in the sub-zero deep freeze, why not do it in much-closer-to-home northern Alaska or the Aleutian Islands? Countless important dignitaries, presidents, royals, carefully vetted scientists, and world leaders have visited there, but the continent is extremely difficult and expensive for a civilian to visit, if not almost impossible. Most sensitive areas are sealed off by way of military force and airpower. Satellites have an enforced no-fly zone, and satellite imagery is whited-out extensively. China is now on its fifth military base. After