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The Berlin GamesSport, Art or Propaganda
Berlin was selected to become host venue of the 16 games of the Eleventh Olympiad on May 1th 11 (Guttman, 18). In its time the Berlin games were labeled the greatest Olympics the world had ever seen, with little money spared in the construction of incredible stadiums and sporting arenas. But many people saw there were hidden agendas behind the efforts the Germans went to in hosting the games. Many labeled the games "The Nazi Games" (Ross, 1) some even argued that for the first time in history politics and perverted philosophy had hijacked the world's greatest sporting event (Blundell, Mackay, 1). The intent of this essay is to research the 16 games and provide answer to some crucial questions that arose from Berlin hosting the 16 Olympics. The Nazi regime in power at the time was never seen to be enthusiastic about sport, so why did their leader Hitler want to host the games and what were his hidden agendas? The second part of this essay will look at the arguments for and against a boycott of the 16 Olympics.
May 1th 11 the 16 Olympics were awarded to Berlin, at the time Heinrich Bruning was Chancellor of a coalition rule, but in 1 the National Socialist took power with Adolf Hitler becoming Chancellor (Guttman, 18). This came as a shock to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the Nazi held minimal relations to sport. Nazi's although were seen to be involved in gymnastics were dismissive and even alien to modern sports, with only the exception to boxing, said to be a display of physical courage (Guttman, 18). So when the Nazi party came to power people began to question the appropriateness of Berlin to play host to the games, due to political issues and racism that had been witnessed within the party.
16 was set to be a revolutionary Olympics, as it was the first time television would broadcast the games, adding a new dynamic to the games with massive media exposure which was set to attract world wide attention (May, 14). When looking back today at all the attention this would bring it was probably inevitable that politics would make a forced entry into the sporting arena.
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Hitler not being a sporting enthusiast initially didn't care too much about the success of the games that was until Joseph Goebbels Hitler's Minister of Propaganda convinced him of the propaganda value the games could have (Memorial museum Washington, 16). Hitler with the understanding that Germany had been awarded the games by the IOC to show it had regained its status among European Countries following its defeat in World War I, responded to Goebbels saying
"Germany is in a very bad and difficult situation internationally, it should therefore try to impress world public opinion by cultural means. In this context it is fortunate that the Olympic games will be held in Germany in 16, at which all countries of the world take part. If one invites the world to such a festival one has to show to the world what the new Germany can do culturally." (Memorial museum Washington 16.)
Hitler was a somewhat intelligent leader and began to build his own agenda for the games. After this recognition, when opposition began to form against the Olympics, Hitler didn't back out of the decision of playing host to the Berlin games, which surprised many.He began to grasp the political gain that could be made by hosting the Olympics and launched a propaganda exercise in an attempt to prove his supposed superiority of the Aryan race and the greatness of Germany as a country (May, 14). On October 5th 1 Hitler toured the progress in construction at the Olympic site. He promised the full financial backing of his regime with an enormous budget later set at 0 million Reichsmarks to the organizing committee to fund the games. Organisers couldn't believe their ears, little did they know the objective Hitler had to impress the world in the hope of gaining favor (Guttman, 18).
Hitler wanted to use the games to display to the world Aryan superiority, he did not want to have non-Aryans compete at his Olympic games. Although there were many talented non-Aryan athletes in Germany, Hitler exercised his power and devised a strategy to keep them out of the Olympic games. He made rule stating that any athletes that were not members of a recognized sporting associations or clubs could not compete for their country at the Games, then complimented this rule by excluding all Jewish, part Jewish and Gypsy athletes from joining these clubs and associations, indirectly disabling them from competing at the Games.
Overseas, while plans were going ahead, serious worries were being expressed about the suitability of Germany to host the games. Word was leaking out about Hitler's ideals of a 'Master Aryan Race', particularly in the United States with Jewish groups calling for a boycott (Blundell, Mackay, 1). After seeing how the German's hosted the previous Winter Olympics, US National Olympic committee chairman Avery Brundage argued that the Germans had proved themselves fit to host the games and finally the US Olympic committee voted 5856 to send their athletes. Their decision was backed up by a letter from German Olympic official Lewald that stated
"There will not be the slightest discrimination made in the Berlin games because of religion or race and furthermore… every participant has the fullest assurance of a kind, hearty and courteous reception" (ppGuttman, 18).
So in August of 16 the games commenced, seeing 4,066 athletes from 4 countries participate (Ross et al, 18). With the exception of Ireland, who boycotted the games due to religious reasons, all other Nations able to participate attended (Blundell, Mackay, 1). The main stadium capable of holding 100,000 people and 150 other new buildings were completed on time. Anti-Semitic posters and signs saying, "Jews not welcome here" that were previously scattered throughout Germany before the games had disappeared, and less controversial Nazi flags flooded the streets (Killanin and Rodda, 17). The games dubbed the best ever of their time, andout of 100 people who went to Germany that summer came away thinking the host nation had done a magnificent job (Hart-Davis, 186).
Hitler had succeeded on many levels, the games were considered a German sporting success, despite making it clear that their spectacular and highly efficient organization had the sole aim of glorifying the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. Although the home team was the winner of the games withgold medals, ahead of Americas 4 it was as well that the US came to Berlin, as it allowed one mans achievements to make a mockery of the Nazi creed of Aryan superiority (Blundell, Mackay, 1). This non-Aryan man being Jesse Owens frustrated Hitler's vision of displaying the supremacy of the German 'Master Race'. Jesse became the hero of the games, taking out the most esteemed event being the 100m and also gained anothergold medals in track and field events, winning a total of four gold medals (May, 14).
Most people subsequently saw the games as a success, but many competitors were nearly denied the honor of representing their country when speculation arose on whether to boycott the games or not. The following section aims to outline reasons for the boycott of the games.
The games were officially awarded to Berlin in 11, without knowledge that in 1 the National Socialist would commence power with Adolf Hitler becoming Chancellor (Guttman, 18). Hitler and the Nazi regime were seen to have little interest in modern sports. Here it has become apparent that Hitler, a man with little interest in modern sport is attempting to use the games for his own agenda and his political gain. Sport and politics shouldn't mix. Athletes should not stand for this attempt to mix sport and politics and should boycott the Olympics in demonstration of their disapproval.
Pledges by the Germans that racism wouldn't be apart of their games were seen as hollow and not backed up with action (Guttman, 18). It was seen later the efforts that Hitler went to in the attempt to assure most Jewish athletes would be exempt from qualifying, by placing restrictions on their ability to gain membership in a sporting club which became a prerequisite to the qualifying stage. Anti Jewish and anti-Semitic posters and signs were scattered through the country, it was clear the racism that was present in Germany (Killanin and Rodda, 17), this should have not been tolerated and lead to a boycott.
Looking back now upon Hitler and his leadership and the worldwide turmoil they caused, to boycott the Olympics may of demonstrated the world's disapproval of what the regime stood for and hence stopped the holocaust and World War .
Factors against a boycott include Though Germany may appear to display some racism, even in the US in the 10's there were signs saying color free area. Many restaurants, buses, universities and public toilets didn't allow African American or Jewish people within their co-fineries. Why should racist remarks and poor treatment of Jews in Germany effect a countries decision to send its elite athletes to an Olympic games that athletes have probably dreamed of competing in and trained hard for many years to be at optimum fitness for. Sport and politics shouldn't mix, athletes should not be punished for decisions political leaders make.
In 14 Avery Brundage, President of the American Olympic committee visited the Olympic site and stated that the Jewish athletes had been fairly treated and the games should go on as planned. Therefore if the racism that had been rumored was seen as non-existent during Brundages visit of Germany there was no need for concern to boycott. In 1 Brundage expresses his opinions on the boycott stating
"The very foundation of the modern Olympic revival will be undermined if individual countries are allowed to restrict participation by reason of class, creed or race." (Memorial museum Washington 16.)
If this Olympics was boycotted this could of infuriated Hitler and accelerated his political lead to world wide assault in the efforts of an Aryan Master Race. This was a road that he was inevitably going to take and he already had a massive army force to attempt this.
So it can be seen that Hitler's enthusiasm and appreciation for modern sports were not the factors that convinced him to spend vast amounts of time and money in preparing and hosting the 16 Berlin Olympics. Hitler had an alternative agenda to see the games serve the interests and necessities of his Nazi party for its political gain, rather than the Olympic ideals. There were many grounds discussed that could of justified a boycott of the 16 games, but the consequences for this possible action can only be speculated.
Bibliography
Blundell, N., and Mackay, D. (1). The history of the Olympics. London PRC Publishing.
Guttman, A. (18). The games must go on Avery Brundage and the Olympic movement. Columbia University press.
May, N. (184). Gold gold gold. Maryborough, Vic The Dominion Press.
Hart-Davis, D. (186). Hitler's Games. The 16 Olympics, Century. Pp. 8-45.
Killanin, L., and Rodda, J. (17). The Olympic games. London Macdonald and Janes Limited.
Murray, B. (1) 'Berlin in 16 Old and new works on the Nazi Olympics' in, The international Journal of the History of Sport, Vol.no. 1, pp50-67.
Ross, J., Hutchinson, G., and Geddes, M. (18). Australias Olympic century. Sydney Pan Macmillan.
The Nazi Olympics Berlin 16. An online exhibition prepared by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (16). Accessed 1/04/00.
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