Created by William Huang, Tristen Moran, James Beebee & Zach Nelson
Introduction
Over this past month, we have been researching, working, and revising to show the impact of the 1936 Nazi Olympics on the Holocaust.
Propoganda & the Holocaust
The 1936 Nazi Olympics started on August 1st and ended on the 15th. They were held in Berlin Germany. The committee for the Olympics had selected Berlin for the Olympics before the Nazis had been in power, but due to events, the Nazis hosted the Olympics. The people of Germany liked the idea of the Olympics being held in Germany. It would be an opportunity to show how great Germany was. The Nazis were ecstatic at the chance to host the Olympic games because it allowed them to “blind” other countries and demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan race.
For this Olympics, there were many rules for who could compete. To be able to compete for Germany in the Olympics, you had to be Aryan (The nazi Ideal: blue eyes, blond hair, tall). Many people who ended up participating in the Olympics in Germany, would not have been allowed to compete for Germany. For example, Jesse Owens, a United States Olympic runner, ended up winning an event right in front of Hitler, proving that you didn’t have to be Aryan to win. After the Olympics were over Jesse Owens stated to a reporter, “I had four gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals” was not treated like a barrier-breaking Olympian, he was treated badly and worked many low-end jobs to support himself. Even though the crowd of the Olympics was mostly Germans, Foreigners were still able to come to the games and cheer on their country. This Olympics was like no other, the Nazis reshaped the way the Olympics would work and be played for years to come.
Before the Olympics had begun, there was a boycott going on in Eastern Europe, with the Soviet Union and America leading the effort. However, this Boycott ended up not working and The United States ended up going. The Soviet Union did not back down from the boycott and did not participate in the Olympics. The boycott was about going to the Olympics and Competing in the Olympics. Most countries in the world did not want to support anything that had to do with the Nazis. Leading up to the start of the Olympics the Nazis had taken down all propaganda towards the Jewish race to project an image of a well-run country with equality for all citizens. However, while they took down propaganda posters slandering the Jewish people’s reputation the anti-Semitic laws they had enacted were still in effect.
During the Olympics, the Jewish population was treated better than they normally would have been without the eyes of the world on them. However in private and away from the attention of the media the Jews were treated just as badly as before. The Nazis had someone in charge of all of the propaganda named Joseph Bachrach. In a 1933 interview, three years before the Olympics were going to take place, Bachrach says, “And even though it was a dictatorship, it was very important to build popular support, especially among young people who had been so important to the growth of the Nazi movement. Of course, sports and the Olympics were good ways to do that.”
Leading up to the Olympics the Nazi party was taking down any antisemitic propaganda. The Nazis had done this so they could charm the people and tourists visiting for the upcoming Olympics. The Nazis wanted to make themselves look better to the foreigners so they thought that they were not as Evil as they were. Most tourists were unaware that the Nazi regime had temporarily removed anti-Jewish signs. Even though they took down the signs of propaganda, they were still not allowing the Jewish people to attend the Olympics.
The Nazis wanted to use the Olympics as an opportunity to show the world that Germany was a reformed nation. Life as a German Jew had greatly increased since the start of the Olympics. A Holocaust survivor named Johanna Gelles was a German Jew living In Germany who eventually fled to North America to seek refuge. Johanna was living in Germany when the 1936 Olympics were taking place.
Before the Olympics were about to start, Johanna saw a lot of anti-Semitism propaganda in her local town. When the Olympics were about to start the Nazis had taken down all of their Anti Semitism propaganda so they could look better towards the foreigners. (Johanna Gelles’ clip plays at 14:32 and lasts about 30 seconds). Even though the Anti-Semitic acts were still going on at the time, they were not as harsh as before. Johanna had felt a sense of security for the first time since the start of the rising Nazi Regime and Hitler’s terrible acts of racism towards the Jewish population. This little sense of security would not last long for when the Olympics would end, the sense of security would be gone.
When the Olympics were in full effect, life for Jews in Germany had greatly increased. The Jewish people felt safe, secure, and respected in Germany at the time. The Olympics had provided a safe time in Germany for the Jewish population. When the Olympics were happening, many Olympians from other countries were breaking boundaries right in front of Hitler. Jesse Owens comes to many people’s minds as an example of this, but there was also an example of a Jew representing Germany in the Olympics, Helene Mayer.
To settle international worries the Nazis had allowed Mayer to participate in the games. Helene Mayer was a world-class fencer who was considered “non-Aryan” because her father was Jewish. Helene Mayer ended up winning silver in the women’s individual fencing category. When Mayer was standing on the podium, she gave the Nazi salute in front of Hitler. Even though she was Jewish, she wanted to be safe by obeying the Nazis. If she didn’t obey the Nazis then she could have been tortured, hurt, or even killed just because of her religion. The Nazis used Helene Mayor as a human piece of propaganda to try and make the world respect them. In an interview later in her life she had told a reporter, “I shall always treasure the red-handed bouquet for the Olympic winner which Adolf Hitler gave me.”
Hitler and the Nazi party’s clever use of the Olympics as a platform for propaganda purposes showed the world the image of Germany that they were trying to project. It showed Germany as a reformed nation that had greatly improved its quality of life since the Great War. It also removed the monarch system and replaced it with elections held for the presidency and seats in the Reichstag. However, the image the Nazis projected at the Olympics was a fake snapshot of Germany. The real Germany was a dictatorship with Hitler front and center. Hitler’s antisemitic acts were a regular occurrence in Germany as his ideas got more and more drastic as each day ticked by.
When the Olympics were coming to an end the foreigners had been charmed by Hitler’s charisma, thinking he was better than he was. This ignorance of Hitler set the stage for Hitler’s plan for genocide to be wildly successful and the world to be hesitant when they invaded their neighbors. In a newspaper article created by the United States in 1936 called The American Illustrated News, the headline states “The Dawn of Peace among the nations” The people of the United States believed in the charisma of Hitler and believed that the world might be heading in the right direction.
When the Olympics were over, the horrible treatment of Jews continued. The Nazis had put back up all of the old propaganda that they had taken down at the start of the Olympics. The propaganda the Nazis used would change how propaganda was looked at for years to come. We must show how the importance of the Olympics affected the Holocaust. The Nazis had used the Olympics as a weapon; they wanted to make themselves look better to travelers.
It is important that we memorialize the Olympics and how they used propaganda to their advantage. Before watching this quick overview of how the Olympics affected the Holocaust, you might have wondered why the Olympics were so important.
After watching this video you might have wondered, what would have happened if the boycott had been more successful. What if Helene Mayer didn’t do the Nazi salute? What if the Olympics had not taken place in Germany, how different would the world be today?
Bibliography & Resources
- “Irish Times.” https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/the-tale-of-helene-mayer-nazi-germany-s-jewish-olympic-champion-1.2737551%20%0A.
- The Nazi Olympics -1936 Berlin Olympic Games. encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-olympics-berlin-1936.
- ArchiveAuthor. “Report Helene Mayer, Feted by Reich City, Praised Hitler.” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 31 Aug. 1936, www.jta.org/archive/report-helene-mayer-feted-by-reich-city-praised-hitler.
- Berkes, Howard. “Nazi Olympics Tangled Politics and Sport.” NPR, 7 June 2008, www.npr.org/2008/06/07/91246674/nazi-olympics-tangled-politics-and-sport%20.
- The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 | Exclusion of Jews. www.ushmm.org/exhibition/olympics/?content=exclusion_jews&lang=en
- The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 | Jewish Athletes — Olympic Medalists. www.ushmm.org/exhibition/olympics/?content=jewish_athletes_medals&lang=en.
- “1936 Berlin Olympics.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, learninglab.si.edu/collections/1936-berlin-olympics/dioT24dYuhAiRp5h#r/124760.
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2Ffrom-the-archive-blog%2F2021%2Fjul%2F28%2Fberlin-olympics-1936-advertisement-for-nazi-political-party&psig=AOvVaw2XU_uaRM-mHpUzviSK51Jj&ust=1709832354109000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CAUQjB1qFwoTCOinwoWU4IQDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nazi-built-venue-1936-berlin-olympics-host-all-jewish-games-n397036
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.publishersweekly.com%2F9780316070867&psig=AOvVaw1CT2cBCKW_Lo2SekRk_4ba&ust=1709832634471000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=2ahUKEwjX5NiHleCEAxWTFWIAHb6kBRsQjB16BAgAEAk
- https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/boys36-openingceremony/
Artifact Statement
The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, were marked by the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime and the exploitation of the Olympic ideals for propaganda purposes. Immediately, we dived into the symbolism, usage of propaganda, and stories. We reimagined the 1936 Olympic medals, coating them with symbolism that represents the untold stories and tragic events. At first, we thought we would make an Olympic racetrack with a podium showcasing Jesse Owens in first place. However, we realized we needed more symbolism and tangibility, so we decided to design, 3D print, spray paint, and repaint symbolic medals.
The key concept behind our custom Olympic medals is to serve as a visual commentary on the experiences and struggles of individuals who were affected by Nazi discrimination and oppression. One medal has the Star of David on it, representing the situation faced by Helene Mayer, a German Jewish athlete who participated in the 1936 Games. Fearful for her family and her own life, Helene did the Nazi salute when she got onto the podium, leading to some Jews considering her a traitor.
Also, we have incorporated quotes on the medals that provoke contemplation if not explained in greater depth. We included a medal with a quote from Greta Bergmann, a German Jewish athlete. The medal shows how if she won in the Olympics, her life would be in grave danger from the Nazi’s for disproving “Aryan Supremacy” ideas. If she lost in the Olympics, Jew’s and Nazi’s would shame her. She had no choice but to drop out of the Olympics.
Additionally, we have included a broken medal logo, symbolizing how Hitler and his regime broke the spirit and integrity of the Olympic Games. The Nazis manipulated the Olympics to promote their propaganda and further their political agenda, tarnishing sportsmanship and unity. This broken medal is a powerful visual representation of the damage inflicted upon the Olympic ideals and the lasting impact on the world of sports.
Finally, we made a medal displaying four medals numbered from one through four. These numbers represent Jesse Owens’ four gold medals. Since Jesse Owens was black, he disproved Hitler’s racist beliefs, giving hope to some Jews that they will overcome the Nazi’s.
In creating these custom logos, we intended to spark dialogue and reflection about the dark chapters of history that unfolded during the 1936 Olympic Games. By reimagining the medals, we aim to challenge the dominant narratives and shed light on the untold stories of resistance, resilience, and defiance against oppressive regimes. By challenging the dominant narratives and incorporating symbols that signify the struggles and broken spirit of that time, we aim to provoke contemplation and dialogue.
In conclusion, our goal is to help others remember, grasp, and ask questions about the 1936 Nazi Olympics. Now that you have read this statement, think about these three questions. How did Hitler use the Olympics to his advantage? Why should we remember this Olympics? Why should we remember the Holocaust?
Explore our Gallery of Images
Personal Reflections
Final Thoughts…
Name James Beebee, Class of 2025
The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, were marked by the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime and the exploitation of the Olympic ideals for propaganda purposes. Immediately, we dived into the symbolism, usage of propaganda, and stories. We reimagined the 1936 Olympic medals, coating them with symbolism that represents the untold stories and tragic events. At first, we thought we would make an Olympic racetrack with a podium showcasing Jesse Owens in first place. However, we realized we needed more symbolism and tangibility, so we decided to design, 3D print, spray paint, and repaint symbolic medals.
Throughout my engagement and collaboration on this project, I found the experience to be both rewarding, inspiring, and challenging. As I worked on the Nazi Olympics Artifact with William, I learned better teamwork and craftsmanship skills. I had the opportunity to work closely with a team of smart, helpful students.
Even though I did a good amount of the work in the group, I feel like my group collaborated, allowing for rich and enchanting perspectives on our Artifact. In terms of effectiveness, I believe we were able to execute an inspiring project.
In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project. I felt effective as a worker and planner, and I am glad I had William to help paint, perfect, and craft our Artifact.
Time Management
~Tristen Moran, Class of 2025
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time”
– Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Hello, my name is Tristen Moran, my major role in the 1936 Olympics was producing a documentary. When making the documentary my partner and I, who was also working on the documentary, had many actions to do in a very short time. We had spent more time than we wanted on the planning of the documentary than putting together the documentary. This eventually led to having to do lots of the actual making right before the deadline.
With a day or two remaining before the start of the presentation, I was to edit and add pictures to the documentation. We were not able to share an IMovie and I wanted to finish the documentary as fast as possible. So I did most of the editing, while my group gave me pictures and editing tips. The overall theme of our group was very positive from start to finish. In the end, it ended up working and I am ok with how the final product of the documentary turned out.
Throughout the making of the documentary, we captured pictures of us designing, researching, and physically creating the documentary and making the artifact. While making the documentary I enjoyed the process of collaborating with my partner as we made the documentary. The Images that we took while making it helped show an idea of what the environment was like for each side of the project.
This project was the most significant project I have ever done and will most likely end up doing in my life. Overall Myself and my group learned many life skills while making the documentary. For example, in time management, we had to use our time wisely because time is limited and we had to use every second that we were given. One other life skill we also learned was, cooperation, we both had to integrate our ideas to make the documentary come together.
I remember on the first day the teacher was talking about the project, they said how it was not about the grade you get but how to show people the importance of the Holocaust and its major ideas.
Leave a Reply