The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931. Nazi Germany saw this as an opportunity to show a positive image of the third Reich to the rest of the world. The Olympics were a perfect arena for the Nazi propaganda machine, which was unsurpassed at staging elaborate public spectacles and rallies. Choreographed pageantry, record-breaking athletic feats, and warm German hospitality made the 1936 Olympic Games memorable for athletes and spectators.
By allowing only members of the Aryan race to compete for Germany, Hitler further promoted his ideological belief of racial supremacy. At the same time, the party removed signs stating “Jews not wanted” and similar slogans from the city’s main tourist attractions. In an attempt to “clean up” Berlin, the German Ministry of the Interior authorized the chief of police to arrest all Romani (Gypsies) and keep them in a special camp. The games were the first to have live television coverage.
The German Post Office, using equipment from Telefunken, broadcast over seventy hours of coverage to special viewing rooms throughout Berlin and Potsdam and a few private TV sets. Posters were also displayed throughout the country depicting strong Aryans in the midst of a game. Two weeks before the Olympics began, German officials informed Gretel Bergmann, a Jewish athlete who had equalled the German women’s record in the high jump, that she was denied a place on the team. As the winning jump at the Olympics had been attained by Bergmann earlier, the Germans sacrificed a chance for a gold medal with this action.
The ‘workshy’ of the country were also rounded up and held in detention. Along with well know criminals until after the games were over. Schools also devoted a large amount of time to sport and athletics. This all enforced the idea that the Aryan race were bound to win due to their superiority to other races. This was then further empathised by Germany gaining 89 medals. However the real winner was Jesse Owens a black American who won four gold medals. This then meant that Hitler’s ideology was been challenged.
