1936 Olympics Research Paper

In 1931, before the Weimar Republic was seized by National Socialists, Berlin was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be the location of the 11th Olympic Games. Since the Games origins in Athens, the Olympics have evolved to introduce the code of equality of all races and faiths for nations- all of which was controversial during the Third Reich. However, because of the aftermath of World War I, many accounts suggest that the Nazi regime used the 1936 Olympic games as a showcase of the transformation of the country. But due to many restrictions placed around committees, historians can trace that anti-Semitic ideas and beliefs were abundant during the Games. Due to much controversy, some of the restrictions were to be revoked

American citizens pleaded to the International Olympic Committee to take away the 1936 Olympics in Berlin by boycotting. Their prevalence caused panic, as Germany worried that the United States and England would not compete in the 11th Olympic Games. To downplay majority of the Nazi rhetoric’s, the committee responded by instating that all anti-Semitic mediums be temporarily removed in the public spaces near the Olympic village. In accordance with the troubling controversy, the United States too sent its President of the American Olympic Committee, Avery Brundage, overseas to confront the German committee about their racial policies. In 1933, The President of the German Olympic Committee, Dr. Theodor Lewald, pledged that the German Olympics will see that all laws shall be observed. Given this, German Jews shall not be excluded from the German teams at the games. In short, the pledge stated that all qualified athletes would be allowed to compete. Critics cited that in general, the treatment of Jewish athletes had introduced race into the Olympic Games, as well as religion and politics. All of which were to be separate from under governmental

One famous athlete that has been debatably persecuted by Hitler was Jesse Owens, an African American sprinter on the United States Olympic team. After winning three gold medals already, he had been ordered to switch places with two other American Jewish U.S. teammates; a controversial move. Given that the replacement enabled the United States to win another gold, it displayed the country’s fear of discrimination, had the other teammates lost. The reaction to Owen’s victory, however, was not celebrated by everyone. There are many claims that Hitler snubbed Owen’s by not shaking his hand to congratulate him. But there are also proposals that Hitler did not congratulate any of the competitors to remain Olympic neutrality. Given that both affiliates are deceased, the topic as of now remains unknown but often