The 1936 Berlin Olympics

In August of 1936, Germany hosted the Summer Olympics(Click here for video footage). They saw it as a chance to create an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany. Hitler ordered anti-Jewish signs temporarily removed.

The United States and other countries rejected a proposal to boycott the games. Jewish athletes had already been excluded from German sports clubs. Many Jewish athletes from other countries, despite qualifying for the games, choose to boycott them.

Black-sponsored newspapers, such as the Chicago Defender, argued that victories by Black athletes would undermine Nazi views of their superiority. Eighteen African Americans, two of them women, went to Berlin. The Baltimore Afro-American and other newspapers spread that Hitler refused to shake Jesse Owens's hand, or congratulate other Black medalists. Owens won four gold medals that year. Hitler actually chose to congratulate any medalists, possibly to avoid having to congratulate them.

“I'm afraid the Nazis have succeeded with their propaganda. First, the Nazis have run the Games on a lavish scale never before experienced, and this has appealed to the athletes. Second, the Nazis have put up a very good front for the general visitors, especially the big businessmen” - William Shirer