History of Nazi Olimpiady.Berlin-'36 Bashny.Net

A distinctive feature of many totalitarian regimes is the increased attention to the gloss and ceremonies. Particular importance was attached to ceremonies and holidays in Nazi Germany. Among the festive events of the Nazi is perhaps the most magnificent and spectacular was the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

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Historic Berlin stadium today is seen by many not only as a sports arena battles, but as a monumental reminder of the Nazi era. It was here, on the "Olympiastadion", Hitler held a grand publicity campaign and under the pompous music of Richard Wagner opened the Summer Olympic Games in 1936 in front of a crowd of 100 thousand. It was here, to the chagrin of the Führer, the black American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals, thereby exposing questioned the myth of the superiority of the Aryan race. It was here two years later, the British met with the German national football team, and during the anthem of Germany, they had to submit to political demands and saluted the Fuhrer. But the British revenge for this humiliation, winning with a score of 6: 3.
Sports complex "Olympiapark", which is now the center of the stadium, "Olympiastadion", was built before the First World War, when Germany won the right to host the Summer Olympics in 1916 In 1933, Hitler came to power, taken over areas not used adjacent to the racetrack "Grunwald". Its ambitious plan included the construction of the stadium with 86 000 seats, separate hockey stadium, arena riding, swimming pool and an outdoor arena. Sports complex adjoins Mayfeldu where the Nazis conducted mass rallies.

Photo 1936.

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Stadium today.

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1936 Berlin Olympics - perhaps the most controversial in the history of the Games. After World War I, in 1920 and 1924. Germany was not allowed to participate in the Olympics. However, this regrettable fact is not much worried about Hitler - he was convinced that compete with the "inferior non-Aryans" for German athletes would simply humiliating. Bruno Matlits, the representative of the Nazi Party, confirmed this position in a letter to the members of German sports clubs, defining the Olympics as "inundated the French, Belgians, Poles and Jews Negro».
Despite these beliefs of the Nazis, May 13, 1931 The International Olympic Committee gave Germany the right to host the games in 1936, this step is explained by the fact that at that time Germany is not yet under the rule of Nazism, and the IOC decided to take this step will return to Germany the ranks of civilized countries. Problems arose after 1933, when pronounced nationalistic and anti-Jewish views Hitler became state policy. Goebbels made every effort to persuade the Fuhrer to reconsider its attitude to the Olympic Games. He claimed that the Olympics will show to the world community revived the power of Germany, and will provide a first-class party propaganda material. In addition, the contest will allow undoubtedly strong German team to show other nations the "Aryan" athleticism. Fuhrer persuading. The Fuhrer agreed. At the Games was asignovano 20 million Reichsmarks, ie $ 8 million.
However, in 1934 the world sparked considerable debate about the appropriateness of holding the Games in Berlin. Especially rugged they were in the United States. Jewish, Catholic, religious and secular organizations teamed up in their condemnation of the German Games. As in 1933, the IOC president Avery Brundage:

"The very foundation of the modern revival of the Olympic movement will be undermined by allowing individual countries to limit participation in the Games for reasons of origin, faith or race».

Olympic rule prohibiting any racial or religious discrimination; Many athletes and sporitvnye organization insisted on boycotting the German Games.
Sam Avery Brundage was a categorical opponent of the boycott. He said that the Olympic Games' athletes belong to, not a politician. " In 1935, his motives in the issue of support for the Games began to cause some suspicion, as he suddenly declared that in fact behind the opponents of the Berlin Olympics is a real force - "Jewish-Communist conspiracy." This is bullshit This is certainly not true, as against the boycott were even some Jewish sports organizations. However, to deal with the wave of protests, Brundage and other officials of the IOC in 1934, visited Berlin and assessed the situation of discrimination in Germany. Naturally, as the Nazis should be prepared to meet the guest expensive for this visit. In Berlin, disappeared completely of any signs of anti-Semitism; the committee members were able to meet with athletes Jews who assured them of his full freedom to play sports.
Disputes resolved to boycott the December 8, 1935 when the Amateur Athletic Union voted in favor of participation in the Games. However, many athletes have all decided not to go to Berlin. In July 1936 there was even a scheduled alternative "People's Olympics" in Barcelona, Spain, but its implementation has prevented the outbreak of the civil war there.
Shortly before the Games in Berlin, 6-16 February 1936, Germany hosted in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavarian Alps) and the Winter Olympics. The Olympics gave the leadership of the Reich the opportunity to try out the techniques that followed, during the Berlin Olympics were brought to perfection. For the sake of decency in the face of foreign visitors were stopped every manifestation of anti-Semitism.
Guests who visited Berlin in 1936 is understandable: many of them thought that the German anti-Semitism - a myth. On the streets and stalls temporarily disappeared all anti-Jewish posters, brochures and books. German newspapers for the entire period of the Games were forbidden to publish stories and anti-Semitic articles. Berliners were even ordered from June 30 to September 1, to refrain from negative public statements about Jews. To give the impression of liberalism of the Third Reich, to participate in the Games as part of Team Germany made a half-Jew, even one (very useful "Aryan" appearance) - fencing champion Helene Mayer. At the Winter Olympics team he was also a sportsman and a half Jewish blood - hockey player Rudi points.

The emblem of the Berlin Olympics.

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The management and the people of Berlin have expressed with respect to the athletes and guests arrived generous hospitality. In particular, the consumption of eggs for Berliners was temporarily curtailed, so that guests can eat without restrictions. Temporarily suspended the laws against homosexuals. The whole city was lavishly decorated with swastikas and other Nazi symbols, which gave him a festive and majestic views. Military mobilization was also hidden from prying eyes. Here are the steps the Ministry of Propaganda, which refers to the Olympic Village:

"The northern section of the Olympic Village, originally used by the Wehrmacht, should not be called barracks, now it will be called" the northern section of the Olympic Village "».

The world press was ecstatic. Only two or three of the most astute reporter were able to look behind the beautiful facade - but they did not see the whole story. In the northern suburbs of Berlin already filled with Jews and other undesirables Oranienburgsky concentration camp.

The opening ceremony of the Games is well remembered by all who saw her. Throughout the city were firing guns. Hitler personally issued at the stadium "Shportpalast" 20 thousand pigeons. It circled over the stadium zeppelin "Hindenburg" length of almost 304 meters to the giant Olympic flag in tow. In the middle of all this splendor to the assembled crowds marched athletes from 49 countries.
It is appropriate to quote Joachim Fest:

"August 1 under the solemn ringing of bells, Hitler opened Olympic games surrounded by kings, princes, ministers, and numerous guests of honor. When former Olympic champion marfonets Greece Spyridon Louis handed him an olive branch as a "symbol of love and peace," the choir sang a hymn created by Richard Strauss, and soared into the sky flock of peace doves. In this picture reconciled the world, created Hitler, fits the circumstance that some of the exits to the stadium the teams (including the newly subjected to provocations French!) - Passing the podium, threw up his hands in a Nazi salute, which they later making up Points on the part of the resistance, willing to have stated "Olympic privestvuyu. '"

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Germany fielded the largest single team - 348 athletes. The team of the United States was the second largest - 312 people, including 18 African Americans. He led a delegation of the American Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage. The Soviet Union did not participate in the Berlin Games.

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Overall, the XI Olympiad in Berlin were positive for the Reich. Huge investments in physical training and sport have yielded results: the German team won 33 gold medals, far ahead of all other teams. The Nazis believed that racial "superiority" of the Aryans found further confirmation.
However, although many Nazi prejudices like to reiterate some of them came into conflict with reality. Fencer-poluevreyka Helena Meyer took second place, while Jewish athletes from other countries won gold and silver medals. In such a militarized form of sports as fencing, the primacy of the Jews was quite unpleasant for the Nazi leaders. But Meyer's invaluable contribution to the Nazi propaganda more than compensated for this trouble. Standing on the podium gave the Nazi salute it in due form and at a reception in honor of the winners of the Olympic Games shook hands with Hitler. It is etched in his documentary "Olympia" and Leni Riefenstahl.
In general, awards were distributed as follows. The total number of medals
Number Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
Third Reich 1 33 26 30 89
2 USA 24 December 20 56
3 Hungary 1 October 16 May
Italy 4 September 8 May 22
Finland 5 June 7 June 19
France 7 6 6 19 June
Sweden 7 May 6th September 20
8 Japan June 4 August 18
9 Netherlands June 4 July 17

A much more serious challenge to the Nazi dogma and prejudice was the success of the black athlete Jesse Owens from the US. In general, the US team has proved very worthy and won 56 medals, 14 of them were received by black Americans. Speech Owens made a strong impression on the audience. He not only took part in the relay 4x100 m. And helped the US team to get into this kind of gold, but also won gold in the sprint race at 100 and 200 m., As well as in the long jump.
The striking success of Jesse Owens was a very unpleasant Nazis and put them in an awkward position. Goebbels personally instructed the German press does not poison the black athletes during the Games. Instead achieve Owens pushed aside and suppressed, but Hitler refused to shake hands with Owens or any other black athletes. At the same time, the success of the United States Owens presented as the defeat of Nazi ideology. However, the United States and itself was something to think about in terms of race relations. And they lynch Negroes. During the Olympics, there was a very unpleasant incident: Avery Brundage dismissed Marty Glickman and Stoller Sena participation in the relay in athletics. In track and field team, we were the only Jews and act Brundage was rightly regarded by many as an attempt to grovel to please Hitler. If you do not talk about the success of Meyer and black Americans, the 1936 Olympics in Berlin was undoubtedly a success for the Germans. It produced a very strong impression of Hitler; Fuhrer even Albert Speer said that "in 1940 the Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo. But then they always forever will be held in Germany in this stadium ».

Hitler as a "father of the nation."

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After the end of the Games in 1936 the Nazi regime resumed briefly interrupted by persecution and oppression of Jews. Within two weeks after the closing ceremonies the Jews once again faced violence and discrimination. Helena Mayer in 1940, became citizens of the United States of changed his name to Meyer. Her uncle was sent to a concentration camp, where he met his death. How sad it is to realize the Olympic Games allowed the Third Reich to gain respect in the world. Here is what he wrote on Aug. 16, 1936, William Shearer:

"I'm afraid that the Nazis succeeded in their propaganda. Firstly, they organized games on a large scale and generosity than ever before; estesvenno athletes liked it. Second, they made a very good reception for all other guests, especially big business ».

It was only after the Second World War in 1939 the world finally saw the true face of Nazi Germany.

Olympic awards.

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Draft Olympic venues

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Discussion of the draft.

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Nazi symbols on the stadium.

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It looked like Berlin in the year of the Games.

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View of the stadium the evening aerial view.

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Hitler on the podium with the other guests of honor

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Hitler on his "Mercedes" decorated with swastikas passes through the streets of Berlin. In the photo at the bottom of shooting competition. Note the target.