Konrad von Wangenheim

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Konrad Freiherr von Wangenheim (born August 20, 1909 in Hanover , † February 1953 near Stalingrad ) was a cavalry officer and rider of the German team in eventing at the 1936 Summer Olympics , which won the gold medal.

Life

Wangenheim was the son of the later major Lutz Freiherr von Wangenheim. After attending secondary school, he began an officer career in the 8th Cavalry Regiment . He was one of the best riders in the Reichswehr .

During the cross-country ride at the 1936 Olympic Games, he fell with his horse Kurfürst on the fourth obstacle and broke his left collarbone. Despite the injury, he got back on his horse and finished the ride. Injured, with his arm in the sling, he started jumping the following day, which he was able to finish in time despite another fall of rider and horse, so that he saved the gold medal for the German team.

This incident was in Leni Riefenstahl's film Olympia - Festival of Beauty as a combative role model processed . 2014, the short film Konrad & Elector of Esther Urlus .

In 1944, Lieutenant Colonel von Wangenheim was taken prisoner by the Soviets , where he was found hanged in February 1953. It is unclear whether he was murdered or committed suicide.

He was the father of the German-American fashion photographer Christoph "Chris" von Wangenheim (1942–1981).

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Konrad Freiherr Von Wangenheim: The Arm In The Sling Gold Medalist
personal data
SURNAME Wangenheim, Konrad von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wangenheim, Konrad Freiherr von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German rider
DATE OF BIRTH August 20, 1909
PLACE OF BIRTH Hanover
DATE OF DEATH February 1953
Place of death Stalingrad