The reluctant hosts: Soviet Antarctic expedition ships visit Australia and New Zealand in 1956

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Gan, I
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Univ Press 2009
• Subjects: History and Archaeology; Historical Studies; Australian History (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History); Antarctic; New Zealand; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://journals.cambridge.org; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247408007675; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/54209

Russian and Australian primary sources were examined in an attempt to reconstruct the voyage of thefirst composite Soviet Antarctic expedition to Antarctica and from thence to Leningrad [St Petersburg]. This expeditionhad the aim of constructing a base for the Soviet International Geophysical Year (IGY) commitment. In a time ofcold war tension and unresolved Antarctic claims, the Australian and New Zealand governments were wary of Sovietintentions and barely tolerated visits by Soviet expeditions. However, in their interactions with Australians and NewZealanders, the Soviets were careful to underline the friendly nature of their visits and avoided any sensitive politicalquestions. The two governments apparent lack of enthusiasm for Ob and Lena entering their ports after fulfillingtheir task in Antarctica is contrasted with the generally more enthusiastic attitude of the Australian and New Zealandscientists and expedition members, with whom the Soviet personnel came into contact, some of whom developedlasting scientific relationships with the visitors.