What was the 1936 Olympic Games controversy?

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Adolf Hitler, practiced Nazi revolution throughout his regime. When the International Olympic Committee decided that Germany will play host to the 1936 Olympic Games, they had not anticipated the strong influence of the Nazi Regime. This was the second time Germany was chosen to play host as the first Olympic Games (1916) got canceled due to World War I. Germany flagged its militaristic and racist characteristic for two weeks in August when they hosted Olympics. Olympics were viewed as an opportunity that can be used by Nazi’s both inside and outside Germany. It took a great amount of convincing by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to host 1936 Olympic Games. There was a two fold objective for hosting the Olympics: Great deal of inflow through Foreign Currency and Sense of respectability for Nazi’s. The controversies were actually foreseen by a few observers, but were give no ear. After the defeat in World War I, the Olympics was seen as a comeback for Germany.

What are the controversies in 1936 Olympics?

• The first controversy in 1936 Olympics: In 1933, Adolf Hitler become the chancellor of Germany and immediately bought the whole country under dictatorship. He also began a campaign to ‘purify’ Germany. He believed that the Germanic Aryans were the true Germans and hence the Jews had to be driven out of Germany.
• The second controversy in 1936 Olympics: In 1934-35, the President of Germany’s Olympic Committee, Dr. Theodor Lewald was evicted from Germany for being a Jew. He was then replaced by a close friend of Hitler Hans von Tschammer und Osten. Osten immediately conferred to the policy of only ‘German Aryans’ in Olympics.
• The third controversy of 1936 Olympics : The Olympic Games was established on the grounds of fair treatment and equality with respect to race, caste, color, sex etc. The very fact that Jews were banished from Olympics was a condemning factor. More than half a million were being eliminated from Germany. Even sports stars like Daniel Prenn and Erich Seelig moved from Germany to other countries where their race was not an issue. Further, the Nazi’s also banished gypsies form participating in Olympics

What were the consequences of 1936 Olympics Controversial?

The controversies revolving around Olympics began to take a serious turn when International Community decided to boycott. The boycott became severe when US joined the boycott as it sent a lot of athletes to the olympics.  It also demanded for the event to be moved elsewhere. The Germans knew that the controversy had to be resolved, hence they invited Avery Brundage who headed the American Olympic Committee. Brundage being an athlete himself supported the boycott, however upon visiting Germany, he was given an extra VIP treatment by Nazis. As a result, on September 26, 1934, the American Olympic Committee accepted to participate in Berlin Olympic Games. At the same time, a rival of Brundage, Jeremaiah Mahoney opposed Brundage’s support mentioning that Germany had broken down the Olympic by discriminating against race and religion, the very foundation of Olympic Games were violated. He also mentioned that participating in Berlin Olympics means ratifying Adolf Hilter’s Nazi regime.The controversy did not end here, it gained International support and recognition when many America Jewish and Christian leaders, New York Governor Al Smith, 41 college presidents and American trade Unions not only supported but asked for a complete economic boycott of the Nazi regime.

How many countries participated in the Olympic boycott?

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s had to respond to the controversies. Hence, the Nazi’s allowed a part Jew participation in the Olympics. The beginning of this was to let part Jewish athlete Helen Mayer back on the team. Meantime, Avery Brundage started to claim that Olympics were for ‘Athletes and not Politicians’. He also convinced various countries and athletes to participate in the Olympic. But there were numerous athletes who just sat out and watched the Olympics as a way of supporting the boycott. All in all, 51 countries with 348 competitors participated.  There were traditional Olympic flags along with the ‘Swastika’ Nazi flag.

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