The weekly issue "The Illustrated Berlin Newspaper" - Berlin Olympics 1936

The weekly issue "The Illustrated Berlin Newspaper" - Berlin Olympics 1936

Issue of the weekly newspaper "Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung" dedicated entirely to the 1936 Berlin Olympics held in Nazi Germany - "Report on the 16 Olympic Days" - summary of the Olympics in articles and rare photos - veiled and overt Nazi propaganda - complete issue. Editors in chief: Dr. Kurt Zentner and Burghard von Reznicek. Berlin 1936.

A special historical issue summarizing all the events of the most famous Olympics of the 20th century. Alongside numerous photos of participants from the various countries at the Olympics, and of the different sports disciplines, achievements, medal winners and champions in each field, the entire issue is written in the Nazi aura surrounding Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, and emphasizes German superiority wherever possible. On the first page of the issue appears a large photo showing Adolf Hitler and members of the International Olympic Committee

on the steps of the Marathon Gate. On the next page are photos of the packed stadium during the march of representatives of the participating countries, captioned: “52 nations marched on the German ramp before leader and chancellor Adolf Hitler”.

Also appearing are photos of the famous torch relay (the opening scene of director Leni Riefenstahl's famous film “Olympia”), on page 41 appears a large photo of the entrance gates to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin where the Olympic symbol is seen hanging between two tall columns. Also appear some photos of Hitler surrounded by the cheering German crowds with arm raised in the Nazi salute and the caption: “A moment of sublime celebration: amidst the endless sea of raised hands, the Leader and government members salute the victorious fighters and their country’s flag”. On one page a photo of Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels speaks at a festive dinner on the Olympics opening, the issue also shows German athletes with visible swastikas on their clothes. The last two pages contain a full table of all the athletes who won medals by country, and more.

This is the most important issue in the German press regarding the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the illustration on the cover of a woman placing a wreath on an athlete's head has appeared countless times over the years as one of the iconic images representing these Olympics.

The "Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung" was the first German mass market newspaper. It was founded by Otto Eysler, and the first issue came out on January 4, 1892. The newspaper appeared as a weekly every Thursday for 54 consecutive years until the end of World War II. The paper's trademark was the numerous photos that appeared in each issue - sharp black and white photos were an expression of art and progress more than just reporting. The issues covered all aspects of German life: news, articles, information, and entertainment. At the end of the war the Allies ordered the paper to close, since throughout the war years it engaged in propaganda for Nazi Germany.  The last issue appeared on April 29, 1945

The 11th Olympics held in Berlin, capital of Nazi Germany at the height of its dictatorial rule, is one of the most memorable Olympics historically in the 20th century. The Nazi propaganda machine headed by Joseph Goebbels, Germany's Minister of Propaganda, used it to boost German morale. And indeed the Olympics is still considered an example of the success of Nazi propaganda. Goebbels and director Leni Riefenstahl (under cinematographer Hans Ertl) produced the film Olympia in two parts (about two years after Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will was released), depicting the Olympics in the light of Nazi propaganda, using fascist and Nazi aesthetics, and Leni Riefenstahl’s visual Nazi imagery, as well as promoting the values of “race” and “folk”. This was done through various visual motifs aimed at presenting the perfect physiology of the Aryan race through artistic photography of Greek athletes. To present a false image of the regime's outward tolerance, during the Olympics the Nazis refrained from harming members of the “inferior races” (Jews, blacks etc.), and all anti-Jewish signs were removed. But nevertheless, after the Olympics there were complaints that players were discriminated against because of their origin. The Jews, including the Jewish community in Israel, boycotted the Olympics and organized alternative Olympic Games, in which non-Jewish athletes also participated.

96 p. Complete issue. 37 cm. Condition good - very good .