History Rage
The Olympic Illusion: How Jesse Owens Didn't Spoil Hitler's Party with Guy Walters
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Episode notes
In this fiery episode of History Rage, prepare to have your perceptions of the 1936 Berlin Olympics incinerated as returning provocateur Guy Walters ignites a historical inferno. Delving deep into the spectacle that was both a sporting and Nazi extravaganza, Guy dismantles the myth of Jesse Owens' victories as a blow to Hitler's Germany. He exposes the harsh reality of American attitudes towards Owens upon his return, the political machinations behind the scenes, and how the games were a resounding propaganda success for the Third Reich. Get ready to confront uncomfortable truths about the intersection of sports, politics, and racism, and how the Berlin Games set the precedent for the modern Olympics as a global stage for national showcase and diplomatic manoeuvring. This episode is a marathon of revelations, sprinting past simplistic narratives to reveal the complex legacy of the 1936 Olympics and the dangerous illusion of sport being above politics.
Episode Highlights:
- Guy Walters' Return: Guy brings his expertise back to History Rage with a focus on interwar Germany and the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
- The Myth of Jesse Owens: Guy debunks the popular belief that Jesse Owens' triumphs humiliated Nazi Germany and Hitler.
- Political and Propaganda Triumph: An exploration of how the Olympics served as a successful political and propaganda tool for the Nazis.
- America's Reaction: A look at the contrasting treatment of Jesse Owens versus white athletes in America post-Olympics.
- The First Modern Olympics: Guy explains why the Berlin Games were the first to truly harness the Olympics as a global event and a showcase for the host nation.
- The Olympic Pause: Insights into how Nazi Germany sanitized its image during the games to hide signs of anti-Semitism and other discriminatory practices.
- The Impact of Non-Boycott: The implications of the world's participation in the Berlin Games and what a potential boycott might have meant for Hitler's regime.
Join us as we race through a track of historical distortions and cross the finish line with a clearer understanding of one of the most controversial Olympic Games in history.
Links:
- Guy Walters' Book "Berlin Games" available in The History Rage Bookshop
- Follow Guy on Twitter @guywalters
- Join our 'Angry Mob' on Patreon at patreon.com/historyrage for exclusive content and the coveted History Rage mug.
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