1936 Summer Olympics
In 1933, a fascist party came to power in Germany. This fascist, Nazi, party was headed by Adolf Hitler. Shortly after the Hitler executed his plan to restore Germany to its former glory. As tensions began to rise the steaks for the 1936 Olympics did too. The 1936 Summer Olympics is one of the most historic Olympics due to the rise of Hitler, the threat to boycott, and one of the most courageous American hero competed. Hitler came to power in 1933 and he vowed to restore pride in the German people. After WW1 Germany took sole blame for the cause of the Great War; consequently, the German population entered a depression that completely destroyed the people’s pride. Hitler saw that the upcoming Olympics was a great opportunity to increase the country's morale by having a great showing in the summer games. In the 1936 games Germany had one of the best performances ever at any Olympics. Germany swept
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cycling and gymnastic events taking home all gold. The final medal count was Germany with 89 total medals, followed by the United States with 56. As Hitler began to gain power, countries began to fear the upcoming Olympics. Germany won the Olympic bid in 1931, two years before Hitler and the Nazi party gained power in Germany. Soon after they took power, many countries discussed boycotting the games. Rallies rose up in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and even the United States. Spain entirely withdrew from the games and hosted their own international games. Spain organized the People’s Olympiad and invited many nations including the U.S. But, the US Olympic Committee voted for the U.S. compete in the games. As a result, many other major countries participated in the games. The 1936 actually turned out to be the biggest Olympics to that point. In the 1936 Summer Olympics, one of the most praised American heros ran in the 1500 and 5000 meter run.
Louis Zamperini grew up a poor Italian-American in New York but became a national hero after the Olympics. Zamperini set an Olympic record for the fastest final lap on the 5000 meter run. In fact his last lap was so impressive Hitler even personally complimented him on his performance. Zamperini enlisted in the army in 1941 and was captured by the Japanese in 1943. He was captured after being set adrift after he was shot down 47 days earlier. Louis Zamperini remained a prisoner of war until the end of the war; when he returned home he was giving a welcome home parade. Sadly, to due the physical trauma he sustained while in Japan he never competed in another Olympics. In the 1936 Summer Olympics the world saw many events that would forever change history. These Olympics were remembered because it allowed Hitler to restore pride in the German people, the fact that countries boycotted the games, and an American hero was showcased in the summer of
1936.
cycling and gymnastic events taking home all gold. The final medal count was Germany with 89 total medals, followed by the United States with 56. As Hitler began to gain power, countries began to fear the upcoming Olympics. Germany won the Olympic bid in 1931, two years before Hitler and the Nazi party gained power in Germany. Soon after they took power, many countries discussed boycotting the games. Rallies rose up in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and even the United States. Spain entirely withdrew from the games and hosted their own international games. Spain organized the People’s Olympiad and invited many nations including the U.S. But, the US Olympic Committee voted for the U.S. compete in the games. As a result, many other major countries participated in the games. The 1936 actually turned out to be the biggest Olympics to that point. In the 1936 Summer Olympics, one of the most praised American heros ran in the 1500 and 5000 meter run.
Louis Zamperini grew up a poor Italian-American in New York but became a national hero after the Olympics. Zamperini set an Olympic record for the fastest final lap on the 5000 meter run. In fact his last lap was so impressive Hitler even personally complimented him on his performance. Zamperini enlisted in the army in 1941 and was captured by the Japanese in 1943. He was captured after being set adrift after he was shot down 47 days earlier. Louis Zamperini remained a prisoner of war until the end of the war; when he returned home he was giving a welcome home parade. Sadly, to due the physical trauma he sustained while in Japan he never competed in another Olympics. In the 1936 Summer Olympics the world saw many events that would forever change history. These Olympics were remembered because it allowed Hitler to restore pride in the German people, the fact that countries boycotted the games, and an American hero was showcased in the summer of
1936.