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Willy Merkl

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Willy Merkl

Born October 6, 1900 · Kaltennordheim, Germany

Died July 16, 1934 · aged 33

Willy Merkl (6 October 1900 – 15/17 July 1934) was a German mountain climber who is most notable for his attempt to lead a German-American team up Nanga Parbat (the Naked Mountain) in the Himalayas in 1932. His team were known to be very experienced in Alpine and European mountain expeditions. Merkl and Fritz Bechtold had also climbed in the Caucasus in 1929. However, they were unprepared for th…

Known For

Nanga ParbatNanga Parbat · 1936
Nanga Parbat
1936
MovieDocumentary
Record of the 1934 German expedition to Nanga Parbat, led by Willy Merkl and with the full backing of the new Nazi government. Peter Aschenbrenner and Erwin Schneider reached an estimated height of 7,895m on July 6, but were forced to return because of worsening weather. On July 7 they and 14 others were trapped by a ferocious storm at 7,480m. During the desperate retreat that followed, three famous German mountaineers, Uli Wieland, Willo Welzenbach and Merkl himself, and six Sherpas died of exhaustion, exposure and altitude sickness, and several more suffered severe frostbite.
Deutsche Eisenbahner im Kampf um den Nanga ParbatDeutsche Eisenbahner im Kampf um den Nanga Parbat · 1935
Deutsche Eisenbahner im Kampf um den Nanga Parbat
1935
MovieDocumentary
Short version of 'Nanga Parbat' (1936), the record of the 1934 German expedition to Nanga Parbat, led by Willy Merkl and with the full backing of the new Nazi government. Peter Aschenbrenner and Erwin Schneider reached an estimated height of 7,895m on July 6, but were forced to return because of worsening weather. On July 7 they and 14 others were trapped by a ferocious storm at 7,480m. During the desperate retreat that followed, three famous German mountaineers, Uli Wieland, Willo Welzenbach and Merkl himself, and six Sherpas died of exhaustion, exposure and altitude sickness, and several more suffered severe frostbite.
Deutscher Eisenbahner auf dem HimalajaDeutscher Eisenbahner auf dem Himalaja · 1934
Deutscher Eisenbahner auf dem Himalaja
1934
MovieDocumentary
Willy Merkl uses photos to recount his experiences as leader of the 1932 German Himalayan Expedition, which was made possible by the German railway sports clubs, and reports on the plans for the new expedition in 1934.

Filmography

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