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THE 1936 OLYMPIC GAMES
The first two Olympics I attended in 1936 in Germany, at age ten were:
The IVth Winter Games of Garmisch - Partenkirchen, February 6 to 16, 1936
and the XIth Summer Olympics of Berlin, August 1st to 16, 1936
I can hardly describe the emotion I felt, when I first entered the stadium for the 1936 Winter Games with my uncle, a prominent official of Austrian Sports, a member of the Austrian Olympic Committee and the CIO. The day's program on February 1st started with the Opening Ceremony. And when Reichs Chancellor Adolf Hitler entered the Stadium, the Orchestra played the German National Anthem, "Deutschland ueber alles" and after Hitler and his entourage and officials of the CIO were seated, the teams with athletes entered the stadium led by Greece and after marching past Hitler and the officials, they lined up in front of the Honor Tribune. Next the President of the German Olympic Organizing Committee, Theodor Lewald, welcomed the officials and athletes and then he asked Reichs Chancellor Adolf Hitler to open the winter Olympics, which he did with these words: "Ich verkuende die Spiele von Garmisch - Partenkirchen zur Feier der vierten Olympischen Winter Spiele der neuen Zeitrechnung, als eroeffnet!", ending with a big ovation and release of thousands of pigeons. When the Olympic Flag was being and the Olympic Hymn performed by a Chorus and Orchestra and for the first time at the Winter games, the symbolic Olympic Flame was lit, to burn until the end of the Closing Ceremony. The flag-bearers made a semicircle around the podium and Olympic Skier Willy Bogner, holding the Olympic and German Flag with his left hand and raising his right arm, in a Hitler salute, takes the Olympic Oath with the following words: "Wir geben unseren Eid, an diesen Olympischen Winter Spielen, gerechtlich teilzunehmen, mit vollen Respekt zu zeitigen Regeln, und wahrer Hingabe zur Sportlichkeit, als auch zur Ehre unseres Vaterlandes und zum Ruhm des Sportes."
Although Hitler and most of the Officials sat at the honor tribune on the balcony, Hitler and some of his cronies walked freely amongst the spectators, shaking hands with all kids and hardly any visible security. There were no enormous crowds, other than on the last day when many spectators showed up for the final events and the Closing Ceremony. I saw Birger Ruud, from Norway win the Gold Medal in Ski Jumping, as well as many other great Skiers win medals. I watched Downhill races, Slalom for men and women, as well as the Finns performing in Biathlon. Sonja Henie, won her third Gold for Norway and Austrian Karl Schaefer won his second Gold. Both gave wonderful performances. Triple Gold Medal winner Ivar Ballangrud, from Norway was outstanding in Speed Skating. The Austrian Ski Team had a big problem, as their best skiers were not allowed to compete by orders of the CIO and the Austrian Alpine Ski Team decided to go home. The Closing Ceremonies were also quite beautiful, ending with a speech by Count Henry de Baillet Latour and thanking the Judges, Officials and Athletes for participating and wishing to see them again in1940, and with this, the Closing Ceremony came to an end with a wonderful exhibition of great fireworks. A wonderful experience indeed. I have been back to beautiful Garmisch-Partenkirchen several times by myself as well as with my wife and never fail to visit the Ski Stadium complex, where I watched such great events in skiing and ski jumping, then the Ice Arena, where I watched Sonja Henie and Karl Schaefer and the last Hockey game between Great Britain and Canada, with Great Britain winning the Gold with a team that consisted mainly of Canadian players. I visited Avery Brundage the former long time IOC President, who after his wife death. got married to a German Princess of the House of Hohenstollen, and lived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with her until the end of his life. I visited him there and as always, enjoyed his high intelligence and dedication to the Olympics the way Coubertin had them in mind to be. He was very frustrated when after he and Lord Killanin retired the Olympics were converted into a commercial enterprise and was turned into a money making kind of enterprise and let professional basketball players and other athletes, be driven by President Samaranch to make more millions than they already did, and win most of the medals, as has happened since the 1980's
Berlin, August 1 to 16 1936, my second Olympics
I still remember the impressive Opening Ceremony of the Berlin Olympics, as if they happened yesterday, although over 75 years have gone by. At about four o'clock in the afternoon, while the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of very famous German composer Richard Strauss, were performing music by Richard Wagner, when two trumpeters at the Marathon Gate towers were playing the new Olympic Fanfare, announcing the entrance of German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, while he entered the Olympic Stadium, at the Marathon gate, accompanied by IOC President Count Henry Baillet Latour, Organizing Committee President Theodor Lewald, Torch Relay Director Dr Karl Diem and an entourage of IOC Officials and other Dignitaries, and many high SS Officers led by Heinrich Himmler and other high rank German Officers and Generals, coming down the stadium steps with a loud, unending ovation of Heil Hitler and Nazi salutes from spectators and another Trompeter's Fanfare filled the Air while the entourage was being led to their seats at the Honor Tribune when the Symphony Orchestra played the "Marsch der Treue", ( March of Allegiance ) by Richard Wagner. When everybody was seated, the Berlin Philharmonic played the old German National Anthem "Deutschland ueber alles" and afterwards a German Military Honor Band played the "Horst Wessel Hymn". While the large Olympic Bell, the symbol of the Berlin Olympics with the inscription " Ich rufe die Jugend der Welt " was tolling and announcing the opening of the games and the flags of all the nations were being hoisted by the German Naval Corps , as the Olympic teams and athletes started to enter the Stadium and while marching past Hitler, were dipping their country flags, but except the American Team that has never dipped their flag for anyone. Giving the IOC or Nazi salute, which is actually the same, the teams marched around the Stadium, lining up in front of the Honor Tribune full Invitees.
Baron Pierre de Coubertain's famous words are transmitted over loud speakers in French and German: "L'IMPORTANT AUX JEUX OLYMPIQUES N'EST PAS D'Y GAGNER, MAIS DE D'Y PRENDRE PART, CAR L'ESSENTIEL DANS LA VIE N'EST PAS TANT DE CONQUERIR, QUE DE BIEN LUTTER".
"DAS WICHTIGE BEI DEN OLYMPISCHEN SPIELEN IST NICHT ZU WINNEN, SONDERN TEILZUNEHMEN IM LEBEN IST ES NICHT NOETIG BESSER ALS DER NAECHSTE ZU SEIN, SONDERN NUR SO GUT WIE MOEGLICH ZU KAEMPFEN UND IN JEDEM RESPECT DAS BESTE WELCHES MAN KANN, ZU MACHEN."
"THE IMPORTANT THING IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS NOT TO WIN BUT TO TAKE PART; THE MOST ESSENTIAL THING OF THE OLYMPICS IS NOT TO TRIUMPH, BUT TO STRUGGLE WELL. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO CONQUER, IT IS TO HAVE DONE ONE'S BEST AND HAVE FOUGHT WELL".
Next, ALL CIO and NOC Officials made a half circle in front of the speaker's stand on the front of the Honor Tribune and Organizing Committee President Dr Theodor Lewald mounted the speaker's stand to deliver the welcome address and after a roaring applause and invited Reichs Kanzler Adolf Hitler to open the games, who opened them with the following words: "Ich verkuende hiermit die Spiele von Berlin, zur Feier der elften Olympiade neuer Zeitrechnung, als eroeffnet!" After that the gigantic Olympic Flag is being brought by eight German Athletes, and is followed by cannon salutes fired by German Artillery and Fanfares fill the air again. 30,000 Pigeons are released and the German Olympic Hymn, composed by Richard Strauss is performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Berlin Opera Chorus, under the direction of the composer. Then the last Torchbearer, 1936 Olympian Fritz Schilgen entered at the East side of the Stadium and standing a minute with his right arm raised and holding the Flame up high and looking at the completely filled stadium with the crowd exploding into a loud ovation he comes down the steps and passes the honor tribune, where Hitler gives him the Nazi salute, while he runs to the West Gate and up the steps to the Olympic Cauldron, holding the Olympic Flame high up, goes to the Olympic Cauldron, which bursts into a big flame, among a roaring ovation from the spectators. Then Greek National Hero, Spiridon Louis, the first Olympic Marathon Winner of the 1896 Athens games, approaches the honor tribune in order to hand Chancellor Adolf Hitler an Olive Branch, the symbol and trophy of the Ancient Olympics, 2700 years ago. With the flag-bearers of all the nations assembled around the speaker's platform when after dipping their flags, Rudolf Ismayr, the 1936 Olympian, takes the Olympic Oath with about the same words as it was done for the Winter Olympics. The Orchestra under the direction of Richard Strauss is performin Haendel's Hallelujah Chorus and after that, the teams leave the Stadium in a very orderly fashion by way of the Marathon Gate and when the athletes are leaving the stadium, so does Hitler and all the other officials, whereby the Opening Ceremony and the first day of the1936 Berlin the eleventh Olympic Games, of the modern era have thus come to an end.
Competitions started early the next day at the Stadium and so did the football eliminations. I enjoyed all the Track and Field events, Sprints and long distance races, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Yachting, Rowing, the Marathon, but specially the Football games and Sprints. To watch Jesse Owens run, jump and win four Gold Medals in world record times, was a special treat, as they were sports I have competed for in school. By living in the Olympic Village, I met and shook hands with Jesse Owens, John Woodruff, Archie Williams, Ralph Metcalfe, and Frank Wykoff, who with Foy Draper and Jesse Owens won the 4x100 m Relay in world record time, and become Gold Medal winners. Very nice people and the world's best sprinters and the best advertising for the USA. I noticed Jesse Owens and Luz Long several times together on the field and have a good time together and I am sure so must have many of the Nazis. Luz Long won Silver in the Long Jump, Jesse Owens, Gold medal. Hitler did not like that Owens won four Gold medals against his "Superior Race" Germans and did not forget that friendly behavior between the two, an insult against Germany and himself. Luz Long, befriending a black American, may have been sent to the front lines on purpose during the war, where he got killed. I also never could understand that Jesse Owens, who was not wealthy and of course did not get paid to compete in the Olympics and did participate as much as he could in several European countries in the Post-Olympics without pay, until he had to go home to his family and make a living, which caused him to be expelled from the AAU by orders of Avery Brundage, for not going to Sweden, a decision that hurt him the rest of his life. Winning his unprecedented four Gold Medals for the United States, was not enough for Avery Brundage, although Jesse Owens was one of the greatest sports heroes this country has ever had and best diplomat this country has ever had besides being the fastest runner of the Berlin Games. and one of the greatest athletes and heroes the USA ever had. When he entered the field the entire stadium exploded in applause and roared for him, not just the Americans but most Germans as well, whether Hitler liked it or not. He went back to Berlin after the war in the 1950's and 1960's and during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, and everybody that saw him cheered him on and called his name. He was worshiped as a hero in Germany, in Europe and all over the world. Only in the United States, the country of his birth, to which he gave so much honor, and went to war for, he was not treated the way he deserved and on top, thrown out of the AAU. I am glad that I met and spoke with him several times. He was always very polite and friendly, and extremely kind and down to earth and that is how I will always remember him. I liked the American sprinters, which were very nice and very popular in Berlin and I visited them several times and met Helen Stephens on one occasion who won Gold in the 100 m sprints and was the anchor for the 4x100 relay. She was for many years the fastest women in the world. I also found out about the controversy of two Jewish athletes, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, that were to run the men's 4x100 meter relay with Foy Draper and Frank Wykoff, but just minutes before the race, were told by the two coaches that they are being replaced by Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe. They gave them a stupid excuse, but the truth is that they were the only Jews on the team, which was a good enough reason at that time to be excluded, since Avery Brundage knew Hitler well. Both were excellent athletes, that won many events until 1939, when they were good enough to serve in the Army in World War II for this country. But things like that happen, as I myself found out twelve years later in Argentina, although for another reason, since I played in a professional football club, but strictly as amateur. They, as well as myself, were considered Olympians and received participation medals, even without having the thrill of winning. I could not have compared my time to sprinters of the USA, as they were much better.
Austria did not do well, although other small countries did. Hungary won Gold in Water Polo. Olivier Halassy won his third Gold medal in three Olympics with only one leg. A streetcar ran over the other. (Paralympics did not exist in 1936) Julio Gaudini, Italy Fencing, won 3 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze in three Olympics. Jack Beresford, G.B. 5 medals in 5 Olympics,13 year old Marjorie Gestring, USA Diving, Gold and the youngest ever, to win Gold. Helen Stephens, USA won Gold in the 100 meter dash and again as anchor for the 4x100 against eliminated Germany. Harold Whitlock, G.B. Gold in 50 km Walk, Kitei Son, Japan, won Gold in the Marathon, John Morris, USA, Gold in Decathlon, Cornelius Johnson USA Gold in High Jump, Ken Carpenter USA, Gold for Discus, Gisela Mauermeyer GER, Gold in Discus, Archie Williams USA,Gold in 400 m, John Woodruff USA Gold in 800 m, Jack Lovelock N.Z. Gold in 1500 m, Gunner Hockert, FIN Gold in the 5000 m, Ilmari Salminen, FIN Gold in 10000 m, Volmai Iso Hollo, FIN Gold in 3,000 m Steeplechase, Gerhard Stock GER, Gold, Javelin, G. B. Gold for 4x400 Relay. The best Gold Medal performances given in Berlin, all with records, were India in Hockey, Argentina in Polo, USA in Basketball, Swimming & Diving, GER in Handball, FRA, Biking 5 Gold, with Charpentier and Lapebie. But Germany won the Olympics and most Gold Medals.
I met Mack Robinson, a Silver medal winner, in Berlin and I met him again during the '84 Olympic Gold Book Ceremony. He was not a Gold but Silver Medal Winner, we were honored by his presence and appreciated his signature "Mack Robinson. Berlin 1936". If you are interested, a few of these numbered all leather books with his and about thirty other Gold Medal winner's signatures of the 1984 Olympics are still available with the very rare Program, which was only sent to about eighty special guests like President Reagan and Vice President Bush. Only a few of these rare books with programs are left from a total edition of 500 individually signed and numbered books. The Books are with the official program, a list of the gold medalists in each of the individually numbered books with Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Paul Ziffren and Harry L. Usher.
The final Football game between Austria and Italy ended 2 -1 in favor of Italy. It was an exciting game, but I was sorry that Austria lost and hoarse from screaming. The Closing Ceremony was also very nice, with great fireworks, just like the winter Olympics. I felt sad when the last flicker of the Olympic Flame went out. It was a sudden letdown and felt as I left something in that Stadium that would never be the same again, which it actually did not until 12 years later with a terrible war going on in between. I was not able to be as close to the Athletes on the field and Olympic Village again until 12 years later in London. And by then, there were many changes in my life, from my native Vienna to 3,400 foot high La Paz, Bolivia and then six years later to Buenos Aires, Argentina, contracted to play football and go to school and college. I had three great weeks in Berlin, collected pins, badges, medals and even an Olympic Torch with Diploma which I lost at one point in my life in Buenos Aires, but was able to replace later at an Auction in Germany, but that is another story.
I am glad, not to have missed the Berlin Olympics, which as far as I am concerned, were the best organized and most imposing Olympics I have ever seen. Was that because of my young age of being 10, and overly impressed by those Olympics? The German people's idolatry towards Adolf Hitler, who mass hypnotized the German people by his commanding appearance and harsh speeches? Perhaps I was overly impressed and excited, being the first time at Olympics. But as I found out later from Avery Brundage himself, he was just as overwhelmed as I was. It is unbelievable how Hitler could fool the German people first and take country after country without any opposition, until it was almost too late. and many people innocently killed because of insane murderers. Even when I got to Bolivia and Argentina, some people idolized Hitler and so they also did in the USA and still do, as they also do in Germany and Austria. During the 1936 Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen he was standing next to me among other kids my age and greeted us all and put his arms on our shoulders and shook hands. How incredible are the terrible things he was capable of . He was very nice and did not look nor behave like an evil man when he was up close. I saw other leaders, up close that had the same attitude without being evil. And I met several leaders personally; Two in Austria, several in Bolivia, one of them living in the same house my parents were living while planning to overthrow their government. In Argentina it was Juan D. Peron and his wife Evita who once gave our team a luncheon and offered all of us membership in their party. And on the second day I arrived in the United States and was walking on Post Street in San Francisco across from the back entrance of the St. Francis Hotel on Union Square, President Dwight David Eisenhower came out and walked across the street which was closed off to traffic and gave me one of the warmest and most sincerest handshakes I have ever received from any personality. He took the time to speak to each of us standing there across the hotel. I do not even recall if there were security guarding him, something, that surely would not be possible today. The only other was Bobby Kennedy, in front of the Press Club on Post Street across from the Olympic Club shaking hands with me and the other people that were there while he was campaigning, only two days before he was murdered in Los Angeles.
Most of the people in Berlin were very polite, intelligent and straight forward and I had a great time with a lot of people and athletes during the 1936 Olympics, first at the Winter Games, then at the Torch Ceremonies, which were unforgettable and a few days later at the Berlin Olympics which I remember with the greatest delight, still now at age 85 and will never forget. I have been back to Berlin several times, alone and with my wife and always visit the Stadium and all the other places, where I was able to re-live the wonderful days of the 1936 Olympics again. The time before last it was being restored and it is very beautiful now again. I have been to many Olympics since then. Understandably the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics are very special for me, by being a participant, in those cities and even so I did not win, I had a great time and was happy to get participation medals and having had a most memorable time there. In the USA I enjoyed the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics near San Francisco, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the1996 Atlanta Games and the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, not only because of being a Torchbearer, but also because I had a good time there with my wife for four weeks. But of course all Olympics I went to were great, specially so, when I realize that from now on to go to Olympics will get much harder for us and we will watch them on live TV; In any case, thy are by far not as nice as before, when they were strict and not yet commercial for money only.
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