Case Study: The 1936 Olympics Flashcards
Who convinced Hitler to bid for the 1936 Olympics?
Goebbels
Why did Goebbels want the Nazis to stage the Olympics?
He thought it was a great propaganda opportunity - both in Germany and internationally. There would be media from 49 countries present.
What did some countries threaten to do?
Boycott the Olympics over the Nazis anti-Semitism
What did the Nazis do to prove they weren’t anti-Semitic?
They included a token Jew in their team
What did Hitler and Goebbels want to show the world?
- That Germany was modern, well organised and civilised - That the Aryan race was superior
What was the capacity of the brand new Olympic stadium?
100,000
What was used for the first time at the Olympics?
Television cameras
What else was built to impress people?
The largest stop clock ever
What impressed foreign visitors to the Berlin Olympics?
The wonderful facilities and the efficient organisation
What appalled some foreign visitors to the Olympics?
The fanatic devotion to Hitler and the constant presence of the SS
Who won the most medals?
Germany
Which black athlete became the star of the Games?
Jesse Owens
How many gold medals did Jesse Owens win?
4 gold medals
How many world records did Jesse Owens break?
11 gold medals
Was the Olympics a success?
To an extent: Yes, for most Germans: it embodied the efficiency and organisation they had come to expect from the Nazis However, foreign visitors were dismayed at the blatant propaganda
What did William Dodd, the US Ambassador to Germany, say about the Olympics?
“I have never seen such an elaborate show”
How did Godfrey Brown, a British athlete at the Games, describe the Berlin Olympics?
We thought “we were going to take part in a sports meeting. Instead, we were treated to a piece of political propaganda”.
