The Hollow Earth Escape

    By samhobenji

    The Hollow Earth Escape cover image

    06 Apr, 2024

    a man in a military uniform standing in front of a mountain range and icebergs in the background, precisionism, a matte painting, Eric de Kolb, promotional image

    Operation Highjump was the United States' most ambitious, covert military expedition in the post-war era. With a massive task force and a mission shrouded in secrecy, its aim was to neutralize a final Nazi stronghold hidden deep within the Antarctic.

    three men in uniforms standing in the snow with a jeep in the background and mountains in the background, with a snow covered mountain range in the distance, sots art, a matte painting, Chesley Bonestell, matte painting

    Led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Admiral Ethan Erik Larson, the task force commenced on August 26, 1946. Their adversary was the cunning Nazi officer Heinrich Müller, who commanded the Antarctic fortress.

    a couple of people standing in front of a giant object in a dark room with a light at the end, retrofuturism, an ultrafine detailed painting, Filip Hodas, dystopian art

    Müller's fortress was said to house not only the last remnants of the Nazi regime but also their most advanced and mysterious weapons, including the infamous Die Glocke and Haunebu II.

    a man in uniform standing next to a man in a uniform in a tunnel with papers on the floor, classical realism, a detailed matte painting, Carel Willink, vfx

    Another high-ranking Nazi, Hans Kammler, was believed to be working closely with Müller. He was said to be the mastermind behind the Nazi's advanced technology and the guardian of the portal to Hollow Earth.

    two men in uniforms standing in front of a mountain range with a gun in his hand and a rifle in his other hand, fantastic realism, an ultrafine detailed painting, Carel Willink, matte painting

    The US task force, despite its size and strength, faced numerous challenges. The Antarctic conditions were harsh, and the enemy was well-fortified and prepared.

    a painting of a man in a military uniform with other men in uniform behind him and a plane in the sky, sots art, an ultrafine detailed painting, Carel Willink, detailed portrait

    The battle was fierce, with both sides employing their best strategies and weapons. The US forces fought valiantly, but the Nazi's advanced weaponry proved formidable.

    two men in military uniforms standing in front of a giant building with a giant hole in the background that looks like a giant building, sots art, a detailed matte painting, Carel Willink, dieselpunk

    As the battle raged on, it became clear that Müller and Kammler were not planning to fight to the end. They had a different plan: escape to the Hollow Earth through the mysterious portal.

    two men in uniforms standing in front of a mountain range with a sky background and a mountain range in the background, fantastic realism, a detailed matte painting, Carel Willink, matte drawing

    The US forces tried to stop them, but the Nazi's defenses were too strong. Despite their best efforts, Müller and Kammler managed to retreat into the Hollow Earth, closing the portal behind them.

    two men standing in front of a large structure in the snow with mountains in the background and a star in the sky, retrofuturism, a detailed matte painting, Filip Hodas, dieselpunk

    The US task force was left standing in the empty Antarctic fortress, their mission a failure. They had not managed to capture Müller or Kammler, nor had they been able to secure the advanced Nazi technology.

    a man in a military uniform sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper with a map in the background, american realism, an ultrafine detailed painting, Barron Storey, highly detailed digital painting

    The failure of Operation Highjump was a bitter pill to swallow for the US military. However, they decided to keep the operation a secret, never to be mentioned again.

    two men in uniforms standing in a tunnel with mountains in the background and snow on the ground in the foreground, fantastic realism, an ultrafine detailed painting, Carel Willink, dystopian art

    The mysterious portal to the Hollow Earth remained closed, its secrets untold. The last Nazi fortress in Antarctica was left abandoned, a chilling reminder of a war that had ended, but not entirely.

    two men in uniform standing in the snow near a building and mountains in the background, one of them is looking at the camera, viennese actionism, a matte painting, Christian W. Staudinger, movie still

    The echoes of Operation Highjump still linger in the frosty Antarctic winds. The memory of the battle, the haunting fortress, and the escape to the Hollow Earth remain hidden away, a secret war never told.

    The Hollow Earth Escape

    AI Historical Stories