The DC Traveler

The 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany

by Jon on August 6th, 2008

The site for the 1936 Olympics had been decided before Adolph Hitler took power.  But by the time the games were held, Hitler and his Nazi party were running Germany since 1933 and initially didn’t want the games held in Berlin.

Earlier in the year, Germany also hosted the Winter Games in Bavaria. But after realizing that the Summer Games could be turned into a massive propaganda campaign, Hitler pulled out all the stops and created an image of the new Germany, one of tolerance, peace and international cooperation, but also promoted his ideological belief of Arian racial supremacy.

The Nazis allowed only "Aryans” to compete under the German flag . They also allowed Jews and blacks athletes from other nations to participate freely, without discrimination typical of it’s minority citizens.

Germany won 89 metals out of 388 from 21 sports during the games, the most for any nation.  But America’s Jesse Owens won four gold medals, reportedly infuriating Hitler to a point where he would not even meet and congratulate Owens.  In reality, Hitler was instructed by the Olympic Committee not to congratulate any winner.

Film-maker Leni Riefenstahl, created the film Olympia, from miles of film taken of the many competitions. The film is still a standard for sports filmmakers.

The exhibit at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC features 32 pieces of 1936 Berlin Olympic memorabilia and artifacts in the museum’s exhibition, including an Olympic torch, visitor’s souvenirs, a US track uniform, as well as Olympic medals won by African-American athletes.

The exhibit closes on August 24, 2008, the final day of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Kimmel-Rowan Gallery – lower level
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th Street)
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-488-0400

Dates and Times - Daily - 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.  through August 24, 2008

Tickets - Admission is free, but timed tickets, used to manage crowd flow are required.  You can get tickets at the museum. To avoid a possible wait, especially during the busier spring and summer months, reserve timed tickets are available in advance online, or by phone at 1-800-400–9373. A $1.75 per ticket surcharge applies to advanced reserved tickets.

NOTE: Due to some of the graphic images and the realities of the holocaust, the museum is not recommended for children under the age of 10.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Smithsonian - Orange and Blue lines then a 1-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking - Limited metered street parking is available in the area, or use the paid parking lot at 12th and C Streets, SW (east of the museum). The rate is usually around $4.00 per hour.

Photography - Photography is not allowed in any of the museum’s exhibits.

Images – Museum’s exhibit - Carl Cox for The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Olympic Fire in Berlin, 1936 - Josef Jindřich Šechtl

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POSTED IN: Freebies - Free or No Cost, Museums, Sports & Recreation