INTRODUCTION
Two weeks in August 1936, Adolf Hitler's Nazi dictatorship camouflaged its racist, militaristic character while hosting the Summer Olympics. Soft-pedaling its anti-Semitic agenda and plans for territorial expansion, the regime exploited the Games to bedazzle many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany. Having rejected a proposed boycott of the 1936 Olympics, the United States and other western democracies missed the opportunity to take a stand that--some observers at the time claimed--might have given Hitler pause and bolstered international resistance to Nazi tyranny. With the conclusion of the Games, Germany's expansionist policies and the persecution of Jews and other "enemies of the state" accelerated, resulting in both World War II and the Holocaust.
Two weeks in August 1936, Adolf Hitler's Nazi dictatorship camouflaged its racist, militaristic character while hosting the Summer Olympics. Soft-pedaling its anti-Semitic agenda and plans for territorial expansion, the regime exploited the Games to bedazzle many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany. Having rejected a proposed boycott of the 1936 Olympics, the United States and other western democracies missed the opportunity to take a stand that--some observers at the time claimed--might have given Hitler pause and bolstered international resistance to Nazi tyranny. With the conclusion of the Games, Germany's expansionist policies and the persecution of Jews and other "enemies of the state" accelerated, resulting in both World War II and the Holocaust.
Why Were the 1936 Olympics Held in Berlin?
In 1931, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics to Berlin. The choice signaled Germany's return to the world community after its isolation in the defeat and aftermath of World War I.
Two years later, Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and quickly turned the nation's fragile democracy into a one-party dictatorship that persecuted Jews, Roma (Gypsies), all political opponents, and others.
The German Nazi party refused to allow any Jewish or part-Jewish athlete to participate in the Olympic Games and in fact dismissed several German citizens of Jewish ancestry from the German Olympic team even though these atheletes were guaranteed to win medals because of their ability in a specific event. This policy was in contrast to the image that Hitler’s Nazi Germany was trying to portray at these games. In order to prove to the world that Germany was not anti-Semitic and as a token gesture to placate international opinion, German authorities allowed the part-Jewish fencer Helene Mayer to represent Germany at the Olympic Games in Berlin. She won a silver medal in women's individual fencing and, like all other medalists for Germany, gave the Nazi salute on the podium. After the Olympics, Mayer returned to the United States. No other Jewish athlete competed for Germany. Still, nine Jewish and 14 African American athletes won medals in the Nazi Olympics including Jesse Owens who won four gold medals and broke several records proving to Adolph Hitler and the world that Aryan superiority was just a myth.
Adolph Hitler in his speeches to the German people repeated the claim that the German people (Aryan) were superior to other races, especially Jews and Blacks. While it is true that Germany won the most medals during the Berlin games they were not unbeatable as both the Jewish and people of color would beat Germans not in a single event but in 21 separate events, 7 events by athletes of Jewish descent and 14 events by Black athletes.
In 1931, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics to Berlin. The choice signaled Germany's return to the world community after its isolation in the defeat and aftermath of World War I.
Two years later, Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and quickly turned the nation's fragile democracy into a one-party dictatorship that persecuted Jews, Roma (Gypsies), all political opponents, and others.
The German Nazi party refused to allow any Jewish or part-Jewish athlete to participate in the Olympic Games and in fact dismissed several German citizens of Jewish ancestry from the German Olympic team even though these atheletes were guaranteed to win medals because of their ability in a specific event. This policy was in contrast to the image that Hitler’s Nazi Germany was trying to portray at these games. In order to prove to the world that Germany was not anti-Semitic and as a token gesture to placate international opinion, German authorities allowed the part-Jewish fencer Helene Mayer to represent Germany at the Olympic Games in Berlin. She won a silver medal in women's individual fencing and, like all other medalists for Germany, gave the Nazi salute on the podium. After the Olympics, Mayer returned to the United States. No other Jewish athlete competed for Germany. Still, nine Jewish and 14 African American athletes won medals in the Nazi Olympics including Jesse Owens who won four gold medals and broke several records proving to Adolph Hitler and the world that Aryan superiority was just a myth.
Adolph Hitler in his speeches to the German people repeated the claim that the German people (Aryan) were superior to other races, especially Jews and Blacks. While it is true that Germany won the most medals during the Berlin games they were not unbeatable as both the Jewish and people of color would beat Germans not in a single event but in 21 separate events, 7 events by athletes of Jewish descent and 14 events by Black athletes.
Propaganda Cover-up
In August 1936, the Nazi regime tried to camouflage its violent racist policies while it hosted the Summer Olympics. Most anti-Jewish signs were temporarily removed and newspapers toned down their harsh rhetoric. Thus, the regime exploited the Olympic Games to present foreign spectators and journalists with a false image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany.
Movements to boycott the 1936 Berlin Olympics surfaced in the United States, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands. Debate over participation in the 1936 Olympics was most intense in the United States, which traditionally sent one of the largest teams to the Games.
The Nazis made elaborate preparations for the August 1-16 Summer Games. A huge sports complex was constructed and Olympic flags and swastikas bedecked the monuments and houses of a festive, crowded Berlin.
In August 1936, the Nazi regime tried to camouflage its violent racist policies while it hosted the Summer Olympics. Most anti-Jewish signs were temporarily removed and newspapers toned down their harsh rhetoric. Thus, the regime exploited the Olympic Games to present foreign spectators and journalists with a false image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany.
Movements to boycott the 1936 Berlin Olympics surfaced in the United States, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands. Debate over participation in the 1936 Olympics was most intense in the United States, which traditionally sent one of the largest teams to the Games.
The Nazis made elaborate preparations for the August 1-16 Summer Games. A huge sports complex was constructed and Olympic flags and swastikas bedecked the monuments and houses of a festive, crowded Berlin.
Olympic Spirit Conquers Racism
Truth told not all Germans held the same racists views of their leaders and this is true of Germany’s athletes as well. One of the most memorable moments of the 1936 Olympics came when Jesse Owens was competing in the long jump. He had fouled on his first two attempts and had only one more attempt at success or he would be disqualified. The top German long jumper Luz Long suggested that Owens play it safe and jump a few inches before the usual take-off spot to avoid a third fault. Jesse Owens took his advice and qualified for the finals where he won the gold with a record leap of 26 feet 5 ½ inches. The gesture of international good will between Luz Long and Jessie Owens is still one of the most memorable Olympic memories to date. Jessie Owens and Luz Long became and remained close friends until Luz Long died in World War II.
Truth told not all Germans held the same racists views of their leaders and this is true of Germany’s athletes as well. One of the most memorable moments of the 1936 Olympics came when Jesse Owens was competing in the long jump. He had fouled on his first two attempts and had only one more attempt at success or he would be disqualified. The top German long jumper Luz Long suggested that Owens play it safe and jump a few inches before the usual take-off spot to avoid a third fault. Jesse Owens took his advice and qualified for the finals where he won the gold with a record leap of 26 feet 5 ½ inches. The gesture of international good will between Luz Long and Jessie Owens is still one of the most memorable Olympic memories to date. Jessie Owens and Luz Long became and remained close friends until Luz Long died in World War II.
The Tradition of the Torch
On August 1, 1936, Hitler opened the XIth Olympiad. Inaugurating a new Olympic ritual, a lone runner arrived bearing a torch carried by relay from the site of the ancient Games in Olympia, Greece.
This was not Adolph Hitler's idea but that of the Olympic Games planning committee and specifically Carl Diem who devised and implemented the ceremony which consisted of a twelve day eleven night relay run from the Olympic Flame lit by a concave mirror in Olympia, Greece and transported by 3,331 seperate runners traveling through Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and finally Berlin, Germany where the Olympic cauldron was lit by the gold medal winner figure skater Karl Schaefer. The symbology of this ceremony is that the Olympic spirit never dies but is a flame eternal.
This tradition is still practiced in modern day Olympic Games.
On August 1, 1936, Hitler opened the XIth Olympiad. Inaugurating a new Olympic ritual, a lone runner arrived bearing a torch carried by relay from the site of the ancient Games in Olympia, Greece.
This was not Adolph Hitler's idea but that of the Olympic Games planning committee and specifically Carl Diem who devised and implemented the ceremony which consisted of a twelve day eleven night relay run from the Olympic Flame lit by a concave mirror in Olympia, Greece and transported by 3,331 seperate runners traveling through Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and finally Berlin, Germany where the Olympic cauldron was lit by the gold medal winner figure skater Karl Schaefer. The symbology of this ceremony is that the Olympic spirit never dies but is a flame eternal.
This tradition is still practiced in modern day Olympic Games.
Karl Schaefer (German) lighting the Olympic cauldron
Short film discussing that 1936 Olympic Torch Ceremony
Countries that Participated in the 1936 Berlin Game
Afghanistan Egypt Mexico
Argentina Estonia Monaco
Australia Finland Netherlands
Austria France New Zeland
Belgium Germany Norway
Bermuda Great Britain Peru
Bolivia Greece Philippines
Brazil Hungary Poland
Bulgaria Iceland Portugal
Canada India Romania
Chile Italy South Africa
China Japan Sweden
Colombia Latvia Switzerland
Costa Rica Liechtenstein Turkey
Czechoslovakia Luxembourg United States
Denmark Malta Uruguay
Yugoslavia
Argentina Estonia Monaco
Australia Finland Netherlands
Austria France New Zeland
Belgium Germany Norway
Bermuda Great Britain Peru
Bolivia Greece Philippines
Brazil Hungary Poland
Bulgaria Iceland Portugal
Canada India Romania
Chile Italy South Africa
China Japan Sweden
Colombia Latvia Switzerland
Costa Rica Liechtenstein Turkey
Czechoslovakia Luxembourg United States
Denmark Malta Uruguay
Yugoslavia