Hitler, Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics

[Tonyny44]

Does anyone know the TRUTH about this business that Hitler refused to shake his hand? I've read some quotes from Owens himself who was supposed to have said that "Hitler treated him better than some in the USA" or words to that effect. Also growing up all I ever heard is how Jesse Owens "disproved" the Nazi "super race" theory because he won A gold medal. Isn't it true that Germany won most of the gold in 1936? Or is this a case of "he who wins the war writes the books"?

[drmessimer]

tonyny44:
Hitler did not congratulate Jesse Owen and did not shake his hand, but the fact that he didn’t was not a deliberate snub. And Hitler did not abruptly leave the stadium after Jesse Owens won a gold medal as is often said. But he did leave the stadium abruptly on the first day of the games, 1 August 1936, moments before Cornelius Johnson and his two American teammates were to be awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals for the high jump. Johnson was black and the other two Americans were white. After the incident, Olympic representatives asked that Hitler either congratulate all winners or none, and Hitler chose the latter. Owens won his gold medals on 3, 4, 5, and 9 August well after Hitler’s much reported abrupt departure, and after the decision not to publicly congratulate any winner. However, Hitler did congratulate selected German winners in private. The only snub that Owens mentioned was that FDR never even sent him a telegram.
If the number of medals won is the criteria for judging which country “won” the Olympics, then Germany was the winner with 89, the USA was second with 56, and Hungary was third with 16. drmessimer

[Tonyny44]

Since posting this I did some research of my own. Here's a quote from Jesse Owen's himself:

On the first day, Hitler shook hands only with the German victors and then left the stadium. Olympic committee officials then insisted Hitler greet each and every medalist or none at all. Hitler opted for the latter and skipped all further medal presentations.[9][10] On reports that Hitler had deliberately avoided acknowledging his victories, and had refused to shake his hand, Owens recounted:[11]

“ When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad taste in criticizing the man of the hour in Germany. ”

He also stated: [12] "Hitler didn't snub me—it was FDR who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram." Jesse Owens was never invited to the White House nor bestowed any honors by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) or Harry S. Truman during their terms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens

and...

The Snub Myth
Hitler did shun a black American athlete at the 1936 Games, but it wasn't Jesse Owens. On the first day of the Olympics, just before Cornelius Johnson, an African American althlete who won the first gold medal for the U.S. that day, was to receive his award, Hitler left the stadium early. (The Nazis later claimed it was a previously scheduled departure.) Prior to his departure, Hitler had received a number of winners, but Olympic officials informed the German leader that in the future he must receive all of the winners or none at all. After the first day, he opted to acknowledge none. Jesse Owens had his victories on the second day, when Hitler was no longer in attendance. Would Hitler have snubbed Owens if he had been in the stadium on day two? Perhaps. But since he wasn't there, he didn't.

Ironically, the real snub of Owens came from his own president. Even after ticker-tape parades for Owens in New York City and Cleveland, President Franklin D. Roosevelt never publicly acknowledged Owens' achievements (gold in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter relay, and long jump). Owens was never invited to the White House and never even received a letter of congratulations from the president. Almost two decades passed before another American president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, honored Owens by naming him “Ambassador of Sports” — in 1955.

[revans618]

Interesting information. Thanks guys.

[pavel michalek]

Who was the German official, who was awarding winners instead of HItler? Was he Hans von Tschammer und Osten?

[drmessimer]

Pavel: I believe it was Hans von Tschammer und Osten who in his capacity as Reichssportleiter stood in for Hitler. Hans von Tschammer und Osten nearly always wore a white suit during sports events and he apears in several Olympic photos on the sports field. He is also prominently seen seated on the end seat in Hitler's special Olympic box. drmessimer

[pavel michalek]

OK, thanks!

[1848]

To add a bit of further detail, I understand that Jesse Owens was able to go into the famous Hotel Adlon (probably the best hotel in Berlin) just as any other guest. But when he got back to America, he could only get to an Olympic reception at the Waldorf Astoria by using the servants' entrance at the back of the hotel and then the service lift.

We all know that the press will manipulate the facts to fit their story, whatever the subject matter, and this is no exception. The idea the Germany actually did exceptionally well relative to population at the 1936 games and that if anything there was less overt anti-black racism in Berlin than in the USA just doesn't fit the myth.

Of course in the grand scheme of things, the racial hatred in the Third Reich later led to unprecedented horrors. But I don't see why there is a need to distort the facts relating to 1936.

[Progmetty]

It's depressing how someone somewhere did the best they could so we can never see the picture in question here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... Owens.html

[murx]

Some stills from Riefenstahl's Olyimpic's footage. Atr least she seemed to be the biggest fan of Owens. Very good movie, very interesting perspectives, underwater pictures in high diving and studies in super slow motion I haven't seen somewhere else

36olnt 1.pdf

(33.9 KiB) Downloaded 104 times

Unbenannt 551.pdf

(33.08 KiB) Downloaded 62 times

Unbenaxxnnt 1.pdf

(29.6 KiB) Downloaded 48 times

[murx]

some more

Unbenmmannt 1.pdf

(38.85 KiB) Downloaded 42 times

[murx]

plus

[murx]

last

[murx]

BTW: Both Riefenstahl Movies (Olympics Berlin 1936 Part I and II, 1 h 30' each) US $ 10.- per item, downloadable at:
http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketel ... heme=guide

[Michael Kenny]

Eric Brown, the famous test pilot, was at the Berlin Olympics and he states he actualy saw Hitler congratulate Owens