Pre-WW2 German 1936 Berlin Olympics Silk Banner.
A rare, original 1936 Berlin Olympics commemorative silk banner. Displays the text "XI. OLYMPIADE" at the top and "1936 BERLIN" at the bottom, with a central square containing the five Olympic rings and side panels featuring various national flags including the Nazi flags to the bottom. The South African flag of the time is also present centre right. Suspended from the original wooden dowel and turned red-painted finials. These banners were manufactured as a souvenir or promotional item during the 1936 Summer Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany.
In well-preserved condition for age. No holes or tears.
The 1936 Berlin Olympics served as a powerful Nazi propaganda tool that masked Germany's aggressive military and racial ambitions just three years before the start of World War II. Although Germany won the hosting bid in 1931 before the Nazis took power, Adolf Hitler used the 1936 Games to showcase a strong, peaceful, and prosperous nation to the world. To deceive international visitors, the regime temporarily removed anti-Jewish signs, halted visible street arrests, and projected a false image of tolerance. This peaceful illusion succeeded, as many foreign leaders and Olympic committees left Berlin believing Germany wanted peace, which ultimately weakened early global resistance to Nazi policies.
The illusion dissolved quickly after the closing ceremonies as the Nazi regime immediately accelerated its persecution of Jewish people and minorities. Furthermore, the global prestige and diplomatic breathing room gained from hosting the Olympics gave Germany the confidence and time it needed to rearm its military. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, officially igniting World War II. The subsequent global conflict forced the cancellation of both the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games, and the event did not return until 1948. Tragically, the connection came full circle on the battlefield, where many of the international athletes who had competed against one another in Berlin later fought and died on opposite sides of the war.
Size: 27 x 15.5cm
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