German Climbers Encroach on British Turf

Thursday 22^nd October 1936

Anglo-Germany rivalry had spread to the Himalayas. Not content with battling to establish mountaineering supremacy in its own backyard – notably the Eiger – Germany was taking on Britain in its Imperial turf, subtly rubbing in the embarrassment of suspending serious attempts on new peaks following Mallory and Irvine’s fatal encounter with Everest in 1924.

Led by the Bavarian Doctor Bauer a German team had come within 1,000 meters of the summit of Kanchenjunga in 1929 already, but in 1936 were able to put down a significant marker with the conquest of previously unclimbed Simvu following their success on Siniolchum in September. At a little below 7,000 meters neither peak rank in the world’s top 100 but the encroachment on a British frontier and a British sport was painful.