Forgotten Nazi weather station in Arctic Svalbard

An eerie chapter of World War II history can be found in the frozen landscape of the Arctic. National Geographic recently reported on the discovery of remnants from a secret Nazi weather station, codenamed Nussbaum, on the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

Established by the Germans in 1942, the station was part of a broader effort to collect crucial meteorological data to support military operations, especially for the Luftwaffe’s bombing campaigns. Weather played a key role in wartime planning, and the Arctic—despite its isolation and extreme conditions—offered valuable forecasting data for both Axis and Allied forces.

The ruins of Nussbaum, visited in 2024 as part of The Arctic Circle artist residency, include twisted metal, broken equipment, and ceramic fragments scattered across the tundra. These silent remains reveal the hidden efforts of Nazi Germany to control the skies—stretching even to one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth.

The story sheds light on the lesser-known “weather war” fought in the Arctic, and will be of special interest to readers curious about the darker, forgotten corners of polar history. You can read the remarkable article here