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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS i

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INTRODUCTION 1

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HISTORY AND MAJOR EVENTS 5 1. History 5 2. Major Events 11 3. Participants and Medals 11 4. Turkey in 1936 Games 15

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CONLUCSION 16

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APPENDICES 17 1. References 17

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INTRODUCTION

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 games

are important in history in that, it was a great opportunity for Nazis to show the world the

superiority and physical power of the Aryan race.

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, transmitting from

the Paul Nipkow TV Station.

The games are also important because The Olympic Flame was used for the second

time at these games, but this marked the first time it was brought to the Olympic Village by a

torch relay, with the starting point in Olympia, Greece.

Figure 1 Olympic Fire

A total of 49 nations attended the Berlin Olympics. The number was 37 in the previous

games held in Los Angeles, in 1932. Six nations made their first official apperances in the

olympic games. Namely, Afghanistan, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, and Peru.

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HISTORY AND MAJOR EVENTS

1 History

Two cities bid to host the olympic games of 1936, Barcelona and Berlin. Berlin won

the bid againts Barcelona in 1931 at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona during the Weimar

Republic era. (two years before the Nazis came to power.) The choice signaled Germany's

return to the world community after defeat in World War I.

Figure 2 1936 Summer Olympics Bidding Result

The bidding for these Olympic Games was the first to be contested by IOC members

casting their votes for their favorite host city. Many commentators have noted the IOC's

fascist leanings.

Two years later, Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and

quickly turned the nation's fragile democracy into a one-party dictatorship. The Nazification

of all aspects of German life extended even to sport. A staunch Nazi close to Hitler, Hans von

Tschammer und Osten, headed the Reich Sports Office, which oversaw all sports bodies and

clubs, including the German Olympic Committee planning the 1936 Games. According to

Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, April 23, 1933, “German sport has only one task:

to strengthen the character of the German people, imbuing it with the fighting spirit and

steadfast camaraderie necessary in the struggle for its existence.” The government harnessed

sport as part of its drive to strengthen the “Aryan race,” to exercise political control over its

citizens, and to prepare German youth for war. “Non-Aryans” — Jewish or part-Jewish and

Gypsy athletes — were systematically excluded from German sports facilities and

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associations. They were allowed marginal training facilities, and their opportunities to

compete were limited.

Hitler initially held the Olympics in low regard because of their internationalism, but

he became an avid supporter after Joseph Goebbels, his Minister of Propaganda, convinced

him of their propaganda value. The regime provided full financial support for the event,

20,000,000 Reichsmarks ($8,000,000).

The United States considered boycotting the Games, as to participate in the festivity

might be considered a sign of support for the Nazi regime and its anti-Semitic policies.

However, others argued that the Olympic Games should not reflect political views, but rather

be strictly a contest of the greatest athletes. Avery Brundage, then of the United States

Olympic Committee, opposed the boycott, stating that Jewish athletes were being treated

fairly and that the Games should continue. Brundage asserted that politics played no role in

sports, and that they should never be entwined. He stated, “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.” Brundage also believed that there was a

“Jewish-Communist conspiracy” that existed to keep the United States out of competing in

the Olympic Games. Most African-American newspapers supported participation in the

Olympics whereas, Jeremiah Mahoney, the president of the Amateur Athletic Union,

supported a boycott of the games. Eventually, President Roosevelt demanded the participation

of U.S.A. in the Olympics, intending to keep the tradition of America being void of outside

influence intact. The 1936 Summer Olympics ultimately boasted the largest number of

participating nations of any Olympics to that point. However, some individual athletes,

including Jewish Americans Milton Green and Norman Cahners, chose to boycott the Games.

The Spanish government led by the newly elected left-wing Popular Front boycotted

the Games and organized the People's Olympiad as a parallel event in Barcelona. 6,000

athletes from 22 countries registered for the games. However, the People's Olympiad was

aborted because of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War just one day before the event was

due to start.

There were also short-lived boycott efforts surfaced in Great Britain, France, Sweden,

Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands. German Socialists and Communists in exile voiced

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their opposition to the games through publications such as Arbeiter Illustrierte Zeitung (The

Worker Illustrated Newspaper).

The Olympics were a perfect arena for the Nazi propaganda machine, which was

unsurpassed at staging elaborate public spectacles and rallies. Germany skillfully promoted

the Olympics with colorful posters and magazine spreads. Athletic imagery drew a link

between Nazi Germany and ancient Greece. These portrayals symbolized the Nazi racial myth

that superior German civilization was the rightful heir of an “Aryan” culture of classical

antiquity. The Nazis reduced their vision of classical antiquity to ideal “Aryan” racial types:

heroic, blue-eyed blonds with finely-chiseled features.

From February 6 to February 16, 1936, Germany hosted the Winter Olympics at

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps. Yielding to international Olympic leaders'

insistence on “fair play,” German officials allowed Rudi Ball, who was half-Jewish, to

compete on the nation's ice hockey team. Hitler also ordered anti-Jewish signs temporarily

removed from public view. Still, Nazi deceptions for propaganda purposes were not wholly

successful. Western journalists observed and reported troop maneuvers at Garmisch. As a

result, the Nazi regime would minimize the military's presence at the Summer Olympics.

In August 1936 Olympic flags and swastikas bedecked the monuments and houses of a

festive, crowded Berlin. Most tourists were unaware that the Nazi regime had temporarily

removed anti-Jewish signs. Neither would tourists have known of the “clean up” ordered by

the German Ministry of Interior in which the Berlin Police arrested all Gypsies prior to the

Games. On July 16, 1936, 800 Gypsies were arrested and interned under police guard in a

special Gypsy camp in the Berlin suburb of Marzahn. Also in preparation for the arrival of

Olympic spectators, Nazi officials ordered that foreign visitors should not be subjected to the

criminal strictures of the Nazi anti-homosexual laws.

On August 1, 1936, Hitler opened the XIth Olympiad. Musical fanfares directed by the

famous composer Richard Strauss announced the dictator's arrival to the largely German

crowd. Hundreds of athletes in opening day regalia marched into the stadium, team by team in

alphabetical order. Inaugurating a new Olympic ritual, a lone runner arrived bearing a torch

carried by relay from the site of the ancient Games in Olympia, Greece.

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In 1934, the IOC ratifies a flame relay from Olympia, Greece, site of the ancient

Games, to the site of the fost city. This would represent the continuity of the olympic games.

Figure 3 Olympic Torch Holder

Through the organization of the Olympic Torch Relay Run the Eleventh Olympic

Games were introduced in a manner which in its impressiveness and significance could

scarcely have been surpassed. For the first time in the history of the modern games the

Olympic Fire was ignited with a flame borne directly from the sanctuary of the ancient

Festival.

Figure 4 The Sun of Greece Igniting the Olympic Torch

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Figure 5 First Runner Ignites the Torch

At its meeting in May, 1934 in Athens, the International Olympic Committee

approved the proposal of the Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee to have this

flame carried by relay runners from Olympia to Berlin. The National Olympic Committee of

Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany - the seven

countries through which the flame would be carried - were in complete favour of this projekt

and gladly cooperated in preparing for it.

The entire course was divided into stretches of 1,000 metres, and each of these was

covered by a runner, who then passed the Olympic Fire to his successor. The Organizing

Committee estimated that an average time of 5 minutes would be required for each 1,000

metres, and the National Olympic Commttees of the different countries were authorized to

make special provisions such as increasing the stretches in thinly populated sections or

allowing more times for traversing difficult districts.

None of the torches on the market at that time answered the requirements. Although a

new torch would be ignited by each runner, the fact had to be taken into consideration that in

case of an emergency a runner might be required to carry the same torch over a double

stretch. It was therefore necessary to divise torches which would burn 10 minutes and which

would not be affected by heat, rain, storms or falls. A magnesium torch was created which

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contained two fuses so that even should the burning part fall from the torch, the fuses would

continue to glow and re-ignite it. The torches were encased in a reinforced covering.

Figure 6 Torch Relay Run

In order to give them the required durability. The length of the torch including a cone-

formed grip was 27.7 inches, its diameter 1.15 inches and its weight 1.5 pounds. The top of

the torch consisted of a special inflammable substance so that it could be rapidly ignited when

the flame was transferred from runner to runner.

The Organizing Committee presented a specially designed holder to each participant

as a souvenir of the Torch Relay Run, this being designed by the sculptor who created the

Olympic Bell, Herr Lemcke. The route over whic the Olympic Fire was carried from Olympia

to Berlin was engraved on the grip of the holder, and the Krupp Firm in Essen generously

contributed a sufficient number of these in polished, stainless steel. The words, "In gratitude

to the bearer," were also engraved on the holder.

On June 30, 1936, Siegfried Eifrig carries the Olympic torch to light a ceremonial altar

in the center of Berlin, before the flame is carried into the Olympic stadium.

Since then, an Olympic torch relay, where the Olympic flame is carried in specially

designed torches unique to each edition of the Olympic Games, has become an instantly

recognisable and powerful symbol of the Olympic Games.

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Figure 7 1st Olympic Torch Relay

The relay run covered the following general route:

Greece (Olympia–Athens–Saloniki) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,108 km

Bulgaria (Sofia–Zaribrod) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 km

Yugoslavia (Nis–Belgrade–Novisad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575 km

Hungary (Szeged–Budapest–Oroszavar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386 km

Austria (Karlburg–Vienna–Waidhofen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 km

Czechoslovakia (Tabor–Prague–Teplice) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 km

Germany (Dresden–Liebenwerda–Berlin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 km

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Figure 8 Despatching List

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Figure 9 The Route of the Torch Relay Run

Its entire length was 10.4 inches and its weight 1 pound. The torches, which contained

a wooden grip at the lower end, could be fitted firmly into these holders. The plate at the tip of

the holder protected the runner from flames which might be whipped by the wind. Holders

and a special certificate for each runner and organizing manager were despatched to the

National Olympic Committee in March, 1936.

A special commemoration diploma was designed for the participants in the Olympic

torch relay run from Olympia to Berlin, this being created by the Berlin painter and graphic

artist, Hönig. His design revealed the fire altar and Olympic rings in yellow-brown tones with

the eagle as a background and the Olympic Bell in colourless embossing. Each certificate

contained the facsimile signature of the President of the Organizing Committee and was

inscribed with the name of the participant. The relationship between this torch relay run of the

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modern Olympic Games and the ancient festival was expressed in the brochures published in

connection with this event, these being designed in an especially artistic manner. The

reproduction of a Hellenic relief from the Palazzo Colonna in Rome was utilized for the

cover, this having been generously permitted by the Prince of Colonna. The relief, which

depicts two Erotes as torch bearers, was used by the creator of the Olympic Bell, Walter E.

Lemcke, as the basis of his design.

Fritz Schilgen who was a German track and field athlete lit the olympic flame. He was

not actually a competitor at the Olympics, but was chosen for his particularly graceful-looking

running style.

2 Major Events

The major events in 1936 games were athletics, basketball, boxing, banoeing, cycling,

eiving, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, modern pentathlon, polo,

rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling. Basketball and

handball made their debut at the olympics, both as outdoor sports. However, handball would

not appear again on the program until 1972.

Baseball and gliding were the demonstration sports of 1936 games.

3 Participants and Medals

The Eleventh Summer Games were held at the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium) in

Berlin, Germany . Olympiastadion is a sports stadium with two stadiums on the site: the

present one and the one built for the cancelled 1916 Summer Olympics. Olympiastadion

surrounded by the olympischer Platz was designed by Werner March. This stadium was built

for 1936 Olympiad.

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Figure 10 Olympiastadion

3963 competitors from 49 countries (331 women, 3,632 men) took part in 129 events

in the eleventh Olympiad in Berlin. The participating Countries were Argentina, Australia,

Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan,

Latvia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa,

Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay and Yugoslavia.

Figure 11 Participating Nations

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Germany emerged victorious from the XIth Olympiad. Its athletes captured the most

medals overall, and German hospitality and organization won the praises of visitors. United

States won 56 medals in total with 24 gold medals. Germany became the winner of the

Eleventh Olympiad with 33 gold, 26 silver and 30 bronze medals.

Figure 12 1936 Summer Olympics Full Medal Table

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Jesse Owens (American athlete) became a sporting legend for his achievements at the

1936 Berlin Games. He won 4 gold medals, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the long

jump. He managed to break or equal nine Olympic records and also set three world records.

One of those world records was in the 4x100m relay. The quartet set a time that wouldn’t be

bettered for 20 years. His participation was controversial because of his race, at a time when

segregation and discrimination against blacks were the norm in much of the United States.

Once in Berlin, Owens was able to freely use public transportation and enter bars and other

public facilities without the difficulty he would face as a black man in the United States.

After the Olympics ended, Owens was invited to come to Sweden but he declined the

offer and instead decided to return to U.S to take up some commercial offers that he had been

receiving. This made the American athletic officials very angry and they immediately took off

the amateur status from Owens, which ended his career immediately.

Germany had a prosperous year in the equestrian events (dressage, eventing, and show

jumping), winning individual and team gold in all three disciplines, as well as individual

silver in dressage. In the cycling match sprint finals, the German Toni Merkens fouled Arie

van Vliet of the Netherlands. Instead of being disqualified, he was fined 100 marks and kept

his gold. German gymnasts Konrad Frey and Alfred Schwarzmann both won three gold

medals.

In the marathon two Korean athletes won medals Sohn Kee-chung (gold) and Nam

Sung-yong (bronze) running for Japan and under Japanese names; Japan had annexed Korea

in 1910. British India won the gold medal in the field hockey event once again (they won the

gold in all Olympics from 1928 to 1956), defeating Germany 8-1 in the final. However,

Indians were considered Indo-Aryans by the Germans and there was no controversy regarding

their victory. Rie Mastenbroek of the Netherlands won three gold medals and a silver in

swimming. Estonia's Kristjan Palusalu won two gold medals in Men's Wrestling, marking the

last time Estonia competed as an independent nation in the Olympics until 1992.

After winning the middleweight class, the Egyptian weightlifter Khadr El Touni

continued to compete for another 45 minutes, finally exceeding the total of the German silver

medalist by 35 kg. The 20-year-old El Touni lifted a total of 387.5 kg crushing two German

world champions, El Touni broke the then Olympic and world records, while the German

lifted 352.5 kg. Furthermore, El Touni had lifted 15 kg more than the heavyweight gold

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medalist, a feat only El Touni has accomplished. El Touni's new world records stood for

thirteen years. Fascinated by El Touni's performance, Adolf Hitler rushed down to greet this

human miracle. Prior to the competition, Hitler was said to have been sure that Rudolf Ismayr

and Adolf Wagner would embarrass all other opponents. Hitler was so impressed by El

Touni's domination in the middleweight class that he ordered a street named after him in

Berlin olympic village. The Egyptian held the #1 position on the IWF list of history's 50

greatest weightlifters for 60 years, until the 1996 Games in Atlanta where Turkey's Naim

Süleymanoğlu surpassed him to top the list.

4 Turkey in 1936 Games

1936 Berlin Olympics is very important in Turkish olympics history. These games are

also important in that for the first time, Turkish women athletes performed in olympics

games. The first Turkish women olympic athletes were Halet Çambel and Suat Fetgeri Aşeni.

Both competed in women’s foil event in fencing.

Turkey attended the games with 2 women and 59 men athletes. They took part in 26

events in 7 sports which are basketball, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, sailing,

wrestling.

Yaşar Erkan won the first gold medal of Turkey in Turkish olympic history in men's

greco-roman featherweight and Mersinli Ahmet Kireççi won the first bronze medal of Turkey

in Turkish olympic history in men’s freestyle middleweight

Figure 13 Yaşar Erkan (Left) and Mersinli Ahmet Kireççi (Right)

the First Turkish Olympic Medal Winners

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CONCLUSION

1936 Berlin Games has great importance in both world olympics history and Turkish

olympic history. The olympic torch relay run was introduced to olympic culture. New sports

which are quite populer nowadays such as basketball and handball were added to olympics in

1936. 1936 Berlin games were also important because they were held during Nazi

dictatorship. It was an opprtunity for Hitler to show the superiority of the Aryan race.

However athletes like Jesse Owens disproved Hitler’s claim to people.

Turkey won two medals in these games, both in wrestling. One gold medal by Yaşar

Erkan and one bronze medal by Mersinli Ahmet Kireççi. Those medals were the first medals

won by Turkey in an olympic event.

1936 games were the first olympic games in which Turkish women athletes competed.

Halet Çambel and Suat Fetgeri Aşeni became the first women olympic athletes of Turkey.

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APPENDICES

1 References

1. URL: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Summer_Olympics/

2. URL: http://www.aldaver.com/

3. URL: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1936_berlin_olympics.htm/

4. URL: http://www.olimpiyat.tv/

5. URL: http://hnn.us/articles/571.html/

6. URL: http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/1936_Summer_Olympics/

7. URL: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/olympics.html/

8. URL: http://www.olympic.org/

9. URL: http://www.olimpiyatkomitesi.org.tr/

10. URL: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/tr/article.php?ModuleId=10005680/

11. URL: http://www.atletik.org/kitap-olimpiyadlar/1936-0.htm

12. URL: http://www.feldgrau.com/1936olymp.html