Sport and Nazi foreign policy

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Olympic Games 1936, Olympiastadion Berlin

The connection between sport and Nazi foreign policy was shaped and influenced by power and domination politics during the Third Reich . State subsidies rose and foreign policy changed international sports relations. The basic idea of ​​sport took on a different meaning: both competition and success became more and more decisive for German politics .

Comparison of the international sports relationship

After the end of the First World War , there was an upward development in sport as early as 1919, especially in internationally oriented workers' sport. The 1st German Workers' Gymnastics and Sports Festival was celebrated in Leipzig in 1922 with 15,000 foreign guests . Among them also guests from France , Belgium and the USA . The German Gymnastics Association (DT) and the German Rowing Association (DRV) each only joined the international sports federations in 1934 , which led to accusations of national dishonor. In contrast, there were international competitions in civil sport at club level in 1920. In contrast to the first post-war period, it was not until the mid-1950s that German athletes were considered equal partners in an international comparison. The development of sport after 1945, however, also includes reintegration into international sports associations and the resumption of international sports.

Stress from personal continuity

Countries like Denmark , Norway , the Netherlands and Belgium found it difficult to differentiate between Germany and German sport after 1945. The reason for this was the nomination of IOC member and acting Reich Sports Leader Karl Ritter von Halt to lead the German NOK delegation. Ten years earlier he was SA- Oberführer and a follower of the Reich Sports Leader Hans von Tschammer und Osten . Even Carl Diem , Director of "International Olympic Institute", was familiar with the Olympic movement, and in 1948 the IOC -Vizepräsidenten Sigfrid Edström invited to the London games. Both Diem and von Halt presented themselves publicly as apolitical statesmen. Guido von Mengden , despite his previous position as NSRL chief of staff, now worked as general secretary of the German Sports Confederation (1954–1963). The National Socialist past of the NSRL functionaries remained partially unpunished. Reasons for this could be the motivating identity of interests or personal relationships.

The role of sport in the Nazi dictatorship

Several factors are responsible for the international ban on German sport. On the one hand there is the cruelty of the Nazi regime and the general international appearance of German sport from 1933 to 1945. However, the internal entanglement with the political system must also be considered in this regard. These include the exclusion of Jews and Marxists from the German gymnastics club and many sports clubs and associations, the dissolution of the Jewish sports associations Makkabi and Schild in 1938, the smashing of workers' sports organizations, the introduction of the " Aryan paragraph " and the commitment to military sports . Furthermore, the DFB , the DT or the DRV contributed to the propaganda of the National Socialist worldview. In addition, these domestic changes do not affect the IOC, since it believes that the sport was "normal".

Sports funding

The quality of sports policy was initially represented by the media and the appearance of Tschammer and Osten at almost all international sporting events. State money flowed partly into further education and central courses, but above all the money was used for propaganda campaigns and symbolic purposes (financing of the Olympic films, purchase of the statue of the ancient discus thrower by Myron, etc.). Larger Reich grants were issued for major events, such as the “First German Gymnastics and Sports Festival” in Breslau in 1938 or the “Student World Games” in Vienna in 1939. Even with the prevailing currency shortage, for example, high travel costs were incurred for 1,200 foreign skiers who failed Olympic Winter Games taken over. Nevertheless, after the 1936 Olympic Games, the “German model” of promoting sports was positively received internationally. The sporting successes were considered a yardstick for performance .

Development of international sports relations

Germany had isolated itself in terms of foreign policy due to the politically motivated boycott of Jewish shops on April 1, 1933 and its exit from the League of Nations on October 19, 1933 and was thus in a critical position in the areas of culture and economy . International sporting relationships and major events such as the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin were intended to suggest a love of peace and international understanding. The controversy, however, was the pretense of the peace games while preparing for war. Hitler's world domination policy with the conquest of living space in the east brought with it some drastic measures which, through the “steeling of the people's body” and the development from a national community to a military community, gave sport a high priority. Nevertheless, the normality of the sport should be carried outwards, which could be demonstrated at football or international hockey matches in 1933. An “education to fight” had to take place in an internationally isolated manner, as was the case in the Reich Board of Trustees for Youth Enhancement , since otherwise the evasion of the Versailles ban on military service would have been suspected.

The interstate sports relations are a decisive indicator for the international integration of sport. The following table shows extracts from the international sports traffic in the German Reich from 1920–1943. The following sports were taken into account: boxing , ice hockey , soccer , handball , hockey , athletics , cycling , wrestling , swimming , gymnastics , water polo .

year Allied states of the Third Reich:

Ung, Ital, Jap, Slow, Kroa

Western democratic states:

Fr, Benelux, Eng, Ir, USA, Can

Scandinavia or Sweden:

Dä, Nor, Fin, Is

Neutral:

Schwed, Switzerland

Eastern neighbors:

Po, CSR, Est, Lett

Southeast Europe. States:

Rum, Bul, Yugosla

Austria Span, port and others
1920-1930 25th 63 26th 49 7th 1 18th 3
1932 2 8th 4th 5 3 - 2 3
1933 6th 11 2 3 1 - 1 -
1935 9 26th 10 16 12 3 1 1
1938 14th 35 8th 13 11 2 - 3
1940 33 1 10 Dä, Fi 1 2 3 - -

The table shows that the number of international fights has increased continuously over the years. However, these numbers are not due to better communication or the expansion of sports organization, but rather to the new position of sport in foreign policy. The Nazi state, under the leadership of J. Goebbels , has assigned a special role to sport. Sport should serve as an instrument for self-expression and present the performance with superiority of the Aryan race. The Reichssportführer even described "his" Turner in 1939 as an "all-purpose foreign policy weapon".

It can also be seen that from 1920 to 1930 the western neighbors (Benelux countries, France), the neutrals ( Switzerland , Sweden ) and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland ) accounted for 60% of international encounters. The main part of these international relations even increased by 72% (1935) and in 1938 by 80%. Sports traffic intensified especially with the traditional partners from the Weimar period.

Nonetheless, Germany remains a sought-after player in international sport and in international matches. Contrary to national violence and state terror, there was no reason to stop international sports traffic. The apolitical position of sport was still believed in good faith. However, the representation of the German sports associations in international comparison was not sufficient, so that one has always tried to increase the position and number of the associations. Since no improvement could be seen even through the generous distribution of medals and generous service to foreign sports officials, the associated opportunities for influence did not materialize.

German and international sport in World War II

Shortly before the start of the Second World War , there was a split attitude towards German sports traffic. On the one hand, the foreign policy was intended to provoke expansion and aggression; on the other hand, the Reich Sports Leader von Tschammer und Osten promised lasting peace and friendship. As soon as the war began, sport lost its prominent position. Nevertheless, the Reich Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop attached great importance to international sports traffic and the continuation of competitions. The connection between soldierhood ( war ) and athleticism (sport) was also inevitable for the management of the NSRL . Reichssportführer von Tschammer und Osten explains sport "... as an indispensable factor in maintaining the physical, mental and emotional health of the people during the war, ... an indispensable prerequisite for educating young people in military strength and willingness to fight" ( Nazi sport. 17 September 1939 ).

There were 48 international encounters in the first 83 days after the start of the war. In the period from September 1, 1939 to December 31, 1942, there were a total of 247 official country battles. On the part of German sport, strength and vitality were represented in the first three years of the war. Apart from the international ban from July to September 1941, sports operations almost reached the pre-war level (1941: 66 international fights). In addition, in 1941 Diem advocated a “stadium of two hundred thousand”, since “Berlin will become the center of Europe, the meeting place for sport in the world”.

literature

  • Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. (= Scientific publication series of the German Sports Association. 23.) Hofmann, Schorndorf 1991, ISBN 3-778-07691-4 .
  • Wolfgang Buss : The Development of Sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, ISBN 3-923-45302-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Arnd Krüger & James Riordan : The story of worker sport. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., 1996, ISBN 0-87322-874-X .
  2. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 227-228.
  3. ↑ Guido von Mengden: Dealing with history and with people. A contribution to the history of the takeover of power in German sport by the NSDAP . Bartels & Wernitz publishing house, Berlin / Munich / Frankfurt am Main 1980, ISBN 3-87039-013-1 .
  4. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 228-229.
  5. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 229-231.
  6. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, pp. 368-369.
  7. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, p. 98.
  8. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, p. 231.
  9. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, pp. 56-57.
  10. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, p. 233.
  11. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 234-235.
  12. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, p. 117.
  13. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 237–241.
  14. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, p. 241.
  15. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, p. 269.
  16. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: Sport and Nazi foreign policy. in: Wolfgang Buss (ed.): The development of sport in Northwest Germany 1945-1949. Mecke Druck und Verlag, Duderstadt 1984, pp. 243–245.
  17. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, p. 326.
  18. ^ Hans Joachim Teichler: International sports policy in the Third Reich. Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf 1991, p. 290.