Peter Aufschnaiter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Aufschnaiter
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 2 November 1899 Kitzbühel, Tyrol, Austria-Hungary
|
| Died | 12 October 1973 (aged 73) Innsbruck, Austria
|
| Nationality | Austrian, Nepalese (After 1952) |
| Occupation | Mountaineer, agricultural scientist, geographer, cartographer |
Peter Aufschnaiter (born November 2, 1899 – died October 12, 1973) was an Austrian adventurer. He was a skilled mountaineer, a scientist who studied farming, a geographer (someone who studies the Earth's features), and a cartographer (someone who makes maps). His amazing journey with fellow climber Heinrich Harrer during World War II was shown in the 1997 movie Seven Years in Tibet.
Contents
Peter Aufschnaiter's Early Life
Peter Aufschnaiter was born in Kitzbühel, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. He went to high school in Kufstein. In 1917, while still in school, he joined the military during the First World War.
After finishing his exams in 1919, he moved to Munich, Germany. There, he decided to study agriculture, which is the science of farming.
His Passion for Climbing
From a young age, Peter loved climbing mountains. He started exploring the Kaiser Mountains near his home. Later, in Munich, he met many famous German alpinists, who are expert mountain climbers.
He joined expeditions to Kangchenjunga in Sikkim in 1929 and 1931. On these trips, he climbed to a height of 7,700 meters (about 25,262 feet). During these adventures, he met Tibetans for the first time and began to learn their language.
Involvement with a Political Group
In 1933, Peter Aufschnaiter became involved with a political party that was in power in Germany. From 1936, he worked full-time for the German Himalaya Foundation. This organization was set up to support mountain expeditions.
Capture and Journey to Tibet
Peter Aufschnaiter led a small four-person climbing trip in 1939. This group included Heinrich Harrer. They were trying to find an easier way to climb Nanga Parbat, a very tall mountain.
After their climbing efforts, they were in Karachi (which is now in Pakistan). They were waiting for a ship to take them home. However, World War II began. On September 3, 1939, they were captured by British soldiers. They were sent to a detention camp near Mumbai (Bombay) in India.
Escaping to Tibet
Peter and Heinrich Harrer tried to escape from the camp many times. They were caught and brought back, but they never gave up. On April 29, 1944, they finally succeeded in escaping for good. They were part of a group of seven who walked out of the camp.
Peter, Heinrich, and two others headed towards the border of Tibet. After a tough journey, the other two climbers gave up. Peter and Heinrich continued on their own. Peter's knowledge of the Tibetan language was a great help.
Life in Lhasa
On January 15, 1946, Peter Aufschnaiter and Heinrich Harrer finally reached Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Peter became very important in Tibet. The government hired him to help with many projects.
He helped plan a hydroelectric power plant and a new sewage system for Lhasa. He also started projects to control rivers and plant new trees in the area. Peter even worked on improving the quality of seeds for farming. He and Heinrich Harrer created the first accurate map of Lhasa.
Peter's discoveries of old buildings and artifacts led him to communicate with famous scholars. His work in Tibet is described in Heinrich Harrer's famous book, Seven Years in Tibet. Peter also wrote his own book, Eight Years in Tibet, which includes his photos and drawings.
Leaving Tibet
In October 1950, the Chinese army began to advance towards Lhasa. This forced Peter and Heinrich to leave the city. They joined the caravan of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, as he moved to a safer area.
Heinrich Harrer went on to India, but Peter Aufschnaiter stayed in Tibet for another ten months. He explored more of the country before finally leaving in 1951.
Later Years and Passing
Peter Aufschnaiter arrived in Nepal in 1952. He worked there as a cartographer, making maps. Later, he worked for the Indian Army in New Delhi. In 1955, he climbed Ronti, a 6,063-meter (19,892-foot) mountain in the Himalayas.
He eventually received a Nepalese passport. This allowed him to visit many remote areas in Nepal. He discovered valuable old Buddhist frescos (wall paintings). Peter spent most of his remaining years in Nepal, working as an agricultural engineer. He helped improve farming techniques for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Peter Aufschnaiter returned to Austria much later in his life. He passed away in Innsbruck in 1973 at the age of 73. He is buried in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Peter was a private person and only started writing his memories late in life. His book, Eight Years in Tibet, was published after his death.
In the 1997 movie Seven Years in Tibet, Peter Aufschnaiter was played by actor David Thewlis. In the film, his character falls in love and marries a local tailor.
Filmography
- Seven Years in Tibet
See also
- List of climbers, alpinists and mountaineers
- List of Austrian mountaineers
- List of Austrians
- Heinrich Harrer
- Seven Years in Tibet (book by Heinrich Harrer)
- Lhasa
- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
