REVIEW OF HISTORY CHANNEL'S DOCUMENTARY ON JESSE OWENS AND THE BERLIN OLYMPICS

 

REVIEW OF “TRIUMPH” A BIOGRAPHY OF JESSE OWENS

AND THE 1936 OLYMPICS

PRESENTED ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL,

19 JUNE 2024 – JUNETEENTHE DAY

This new documentary of the life of Jesse Owens includes some interesting material from the early days of television, - clips for “This is Your Life,” a program hosted by Ralph Edwards, and introducing the guest to folks from his past, some of whom he had not seen in years. It ran from 1952-1961 on NBC. Like early tv, much of this new documentary is in black and white. The documentary shows the adult Jesse responding on how he acquired his name, which was James Cleveland Owens, but when he arrived from the South into his first integrated public school in Ohio, his teacher asked his name. He replied, “J C”, and she noted it as Jesse.

The young Jesse began to excel in track in high school and college, and with a white coach, won races for his team in the amateur competitions in Ohio. Traveling with the team, he might not be allowed in the front door here or there, but he was good-natured and still won contests. Eventually, he had girl friend, and with her, a child. As he became famous, he even had a well-off black woman seeking his favors. But in the end, he rejects her to return to his steady, Minnie Solomon, and marries her.

In May 1931, the International Olympic Committee, believing that Germany was no longer a rogue nation, awarded the 1936 Olympics to Berlin. The economic depression, that began in 1929 continued, and grew worse. Germany, which had suffered from inflation on a scale seldom seen in 1923, was suddenly enduring another major economic crisis. In America, the unemployment rate was not as high as Germany's, but everyone who lived through that era had heard of Hoovervilles, even if they themselves had not been thrust into one by circumstances. The solid ground of a good job, a decent home, a happy, prosperous family, had become altered by the Dust Bowl, drought, businesses closing, unemployment, hunger. People everywhere sought new help.

On January 30, 1933 German President von Hindenburg appoints Adolf Hitler Kanzler of that nation. On February 15, 1933, a man in Miami shouted “Too many people are starving,” pulled his weapong, shot at president-elect Franklin Roosevelt, wounded 5 and killed the Mayor of Chicago, who was visiting. Roosevelt was unhurt. On February 27, 1933, a communist set fire to the Reichstag building in Berlin, making the parliament building useless. The new Kanzler responded by asking for new legislation, an Empowering Act, giving him emergency powers to cope with the emergency. He pushed the outlawing of the powerful KPD, the Communist Party of Germany. With that, and their expulsion from the parliament, the minority Nazi Party, would then have a majority in the legislative body. March 4, 1933, Franklin Roosevelt is inaugurated as President in Washington, assuring the American people that the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.

Both Hitler and Roosevelt had much to do, trying to cope with a deep depression. Hitler was soon rounding up communists, building Dachau, the first of the Kzs, concentration camps, boycotting Jewish stores, and firing Jews from the civil service. FDR had to close all banks (some would re-open), forbid ownership of gold, and begin to build the federal bureaucracy.

The History Channel documentary gives the illusion that Hitler was quite anxious to get the Olympics in Berlin. Was he? There was opposition to hosting the Olympics, especially be leaders of German traditional sports, the Turners. The Turners had been organized and important around 1800, during the Napoleonic Wars. In one, the French won, and demanded that Prussia reduce the size of its army. Aware that this would make Prussia weaker in case of new wars (which were coming), so Prussian had to agree, but also encouraged growth of the Turner organization, a gymnastic sport group that encouraged physical development, health, strength. Fathern Jahn, leader of the group developed the 4 Fs, frisch, fromm, froehlich, frei – fresh, pious, joyous, free. The Turners helped supply the Prussian army when needed. Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815, and Prussia gained land. In the general rebellions of 1848 in Europe, the Turners split between those who supported the old regimes, and those who supported the left. The radicals lost, snd some like Karl Marx left for Britain; others, like Turners sailed to the US. When the Turners emerged in Milwaukee, they kept only 2 Fs, now it was Frish. Frei, Stark, und Treu – fresh, free, strong, and ture. The religious connotations removed, as the Free Thinker views came to the left. The Turners that remained in Germany tended to be more on the right politically, and they were quite nationalist. Why waste money on international sport like the Olympics, when Germany has its own sport, the Turners argued (today there are Scottish Games for traditional sports of the Scots, and same for the Irish, and probably various nations). Worse, international sport was Jewish sport, said some. Avoid the Olympic Movement, and stick to German sport, pressed the Turners.

While some favored a rejection of the Olympic Committee's offer to stage the 1936 games, others argued Germany should accept, for it would indicate Germany's return to a legitimate status among the other nations. And after the chaos and street battles of the Weimar era, fights between Storm Troopers, Red Front, and various other political party militias, and even with more confusion as leading communists, labor leaders, socialists, and other opponents were rounded up, or intimidated into silence, suddenly Germany was appearing as a law-abiding, peaceful society. By hosting the Olympics, advisors like Dr. Goebbels argued, the Nazis could show-case to the world their success in a new, prosperous, and peaceful society. Hitler decided to host the Olympics. And invest in it and and sports clubs and other things to promote healthy youth and the event.

One of my professors at Tulane U. decades ago, had been a youngster growing up in Hamburg. He noted that there were billboards announcing, unemployment in Germany down so much this month.  Abd each month.  One summer day, off he went to the swimming pool, and as he was about to enter as usual, he read the sign that Jews were undesired there. Soon he had to leave the public school and attend a Jewish one. He and his family were lucky to get out in 1939. But Germany, which suffered a massive inflation in the 1920s, and a deeper depression than in the US, was growing economically under the Nazis. Building up the military, the Autobahn, steel, most items, the economy kept perking upward. Jews, dissidents, and some others suffered, but most could do well if they “got into gear” with the new system. True, a one-party system, but certainly freer than the Soviet's. Even after only one year and a half in power, the German people voted nearly 90% in favor of combining the offices of President and Kanzler, a post Hitler assumed. True, Stalin usually received about 99%, but there was little doubt in Germany that Hitler was popular in Germany.

Franklin Roosevelt began in power a month after Hitler. FDR had to close the banks for a time, as many were already bankrupt. He brought in new advisors, enlarged the federal bureaucracy, experimented. Roosevelt was a Democrat, and continued the segregation policies of Democrat Pres. Wilson even as he expanded government employment. In addition to the Great Depression, FDR had to endure problems of the dust bowl, the land that had dried up, and lack of irrigation. (Enjoy another look at the film, "The Grapes of Wrath” for a taste of the era). His Administration instituted “red lining” to prevent investment in black neighborhoods of cities. But there was economic growth, and in the 1936 election, FDR was re-elected with theh largest majority of over 11 million votes over his Republican opponent, receiving over 60% of the total, and Roosevelt carried all but 2 small states.

By mid-1936 the world was also emerging from the world-wide depression. People could afford to travel, and why not have them come to the Olympics in Berlin? They might also stay and see other parts of the new Germany. To promote the Olympics, some went to Greece to start the still used tradition of lighting a torch from ancient areas, and then have someone carry it – in that case from Greece through the Balkans, en route to Berlin. German radio carried daily reports on the progress of the journey. A new stadium, new housing for the athletes. And most important for the future, Hitler's friend, Leni Riefenstahl was given a huge budget to create a film of the event.

The History Channel is clearly no fan of Riefenstahl, but they allow their hatred of her politics to distort her film project. The History Channel shows some of examples from the film of what the HC call the glorification of the Aryan bodies, as the near naked athletes display their muscles in action. This distorts. The modern athletes were posing like the statue of the discus thrower, like the statues of other ancient athletes from Greece. The film is trying to make a connection between the ancient and modern Olympics. Were the ancient Greeks Aryans?

Whatever Riefenstahl's politics, her film is NOT a racist film. Probably no one got at much air time as the winner of the marathon race. Riefenstahl portrays him running and running and sweating and tiring. He had the strangest running shoes, - each shoe had a material divider between the large and the other toes. I assume this was to make it more like the wooded sandals typical of Asia, with the wooden insert making a similar division, and useful for walking in them (like the modern flip-flops). The winner of the marathon was a Korean athlete representing Japan. Riefenstahl also showed Jesse Owens, a crowd favorite in the Berlin stadium and winner of 4 gold medals. She may not have given him as much screen time, but she include the friendly relation Owens had with German broad jumper and his competitor Lux Long – a spotlighted friendship not something that would thrill Der Fuehrer. I would contend that Riefenstahl's film is not merely the best of the Olympic films, but one of the best films made, pne including so many innovations (see wikipedia) on many aspects of filming, from underwater, to a rail to move along with the runners, and many of these techniques are still used today. We eventually learned to judge the VW beetle as a wonderful cheap auto, despite its political origin. Too bad the HC cannot do the same for Riefenstahl and her film.

To make a good impression on the many foreigners, Propaganda Minister Goebbels took control. All German newspapers would have to carry the official reportage of the events of the Olympics. There was to be no denigrating participants or others because of their race or nationality. Moreover, in Berlin, all the anti-Jewish signs were to be removed, and all patrons of all races were to be welcomed at restaurants, etc. Foreign guests were not to see “Jews and dogs are unwelcome,” signs. The irony – British travelers may have seen the “No Chinese and dogs” signs in Hong Kong, and “No Indians and Dogs Allowed,” in India; while Americans had surely seen “Whites Only” signs. Germany was certainly NOT the only racist nation in the 1930s. But for the Olympics, Berlin now opened its parks, zoo, and public spaces, and eateries, etc. to all. In the 2016 film, “Race,” Jesse Owens and some black American athletes are quite surprised that in Berlin's Olympic village they are to eat in the cafeteria with all the other athletes. No segregation?!

Berlin was going to be a showcase to the world for the short duration of the Olympic Games. One feature I think is ignored because most American historians, academics, are Democrats and accept a narrative of the wonders of the New Deal, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Democrats. There is a reluctance to grant the achievements of the Germans or other rivals. The Berlin Olympics were the first to be televised. In the late 1940s in NYC, because of the high cost of the small screen television pieces of furniture, many watched by going to their local bar. Berlin created viewing rooms, and used 2 types of television to send the pictures of the Games. One system was that developed by American, Philo Farnsworth, who was battling with RCA and NBC's David Sarnoff. The pictures telecast in Berlin were not as sharp as today's, but 150,000 people saw some of the Olympic Games on television in Berlin and Potsdam. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_in_television) During German occupation of Paris in WWII, German television was transmitted from the Eiffel Tower. Yet, most Americans believe television transmission began at the NY World's Fair of 1939 when RCA/NBC demonstrated its system to Pres. Roosevelt and the general public.

The HC documentary does discuss the attempts by the political left and Jewish organizations to boycott the Nazi Olympics. However, a far more nuanced discussion occurs in the 2016 film “Race,” in which NAACP leaders put great pressure on Jesse and the other black athletes. I can only add, if they had followed the advice of that organization, would anyone have heard of Jesse Owens today?

Owens and the other American blacks did make an impression on those in the Olympic Stadium, and with the Olympia film, a lasting impression. I assume most of the on the field banter or rhe athletes was among those of their own teams. A striking exception, one visible because it was exceptional, was the black/white talking, touching each other, placing an arm round the should of the other. One can almost imagine Dr. Goebbels shouting at this outrage, this clear violation of the Aryan ideals. But they did not hear him. Instead, thousands in the Stadium were openly shouting, “Oh-vens, Oh-vens!” in approval. (There is no “w” sound in German.) Broad jumpers Owens (the gold medalist) and German Carl Luz Long who came in 2^nd, openly chatted and appeared to be friends before the huge crowd.  And with the third place Naoto Tajima of Japan, they composed an interesting picture on the winners; platform.

When the Games ended, US Olympic Chief Avery Brundage thought he could make money for the American Committee by having exhibitions of the track stars in Europe. Jesse Owens was tired and wanted to return to the US. In declining Brundage's demands, he won his enmity. Jesse returned to a hero's welcome and a massive ticker-tape parade. But when all returned, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt invited all the Olympic athletes to the White House. Opps! No FDR invited all the white athletes to the White House.  No blacks, despite all the gold medals of Jesses, Metcalf, and others.  Jesse Owens remarked later that Hitler had not snubbed him; but Roosevelt did. Oh, the HC documentary forgot to mention that. Indeed, earlier this year, 2024, a travelling exhibition on immigration restriction, came to the Milwaukee Public Library. By chance, I was there when I saw them assembling the photos, etc. to be shown. One area on the 1936 Olympics displayed a large photo of Owens, and discussion of Hitler's racism. I suggested to the librarians that they include FDR's refusal to invite any of the black Olympians to the White House. They refused to alter the “official” version, the one that also condemned America Firster Charles Lindbergh, but ignores the racism of FDR.  There is now a question about this.  Haley Bracken, writing in Britannica asserts the white athletes were invited to the White House, but not the blacks.  The White House Historical Assn. has an article by Sarah Fling in which she contends, "Archival documents show that Americans urged Roosevelt to welcome the track and field star at the White House, but that the president did not invite any athletes, regardless of race, to celebrate at the Executive Mansion."  I would urge those who can research visitors to the White House, if Brundage had been invited with some athletes to see the President.

The money dried up rather quickly for Jesse. A vindictive Brundage had enormous power in sports, and used it to cripple Jesse Owens financially. Owens raced against a horse, got odd jobs, then a janitor.  As years passed, we entered WWII, and the Allies won. Then a Cold War. Communists declared the only hope for blacks and colonial people would be through Communist revolution. The American State Dept. began to seek out American blacks who would present a different picture to the emerging world; that there were racial problems in the US, but they were being solved and things were getting better, for all Americans. Jesse Owens joined in this effort, along with famous black musicians. Jesse now had a decent income and renewed prestige, invited to be on tv shows, etc. Critics called him an Uncle Tom and worse. I have in print defended another prominent black who got into trouble because he spoke out in the Cold War, but critical of the US and usually supporting the Soviet position. Paul Robeson paid a heavy price for his open defiance of the government's view. He believed it, and I found him courageous in standing up for what he believed. I feel the same way about Owens; if he thought the US foreign policy was the best for all Americans and for blacks too, why not speak up about it? And even get a job doing it?  It does not make him a sell out.  Sometimes doing the popular thing can take courage too. 

The most annoying part of the History Channel documentary, is its distortion and omission to make FDR and the Democrats appear as the anti-racist party of the 1930s.  Dare we be honest, nearly 80 years after the vanquishing of Hitler and his allies, that Hitler did accomplish a great deal in his short time in office. The Berlin Olympics were a success with many visitors, because the Nazis got the economy going. In newsreels, you can see the people cheering him. And from the early days of his regime, one could see government discrimination against Jews; suppression of other political parties, and even murder (of Aryan children born with health problems). But compared to the massive inflation of the 1920s and the severe depression beginning in 1929, who would want to return to that chaos and starvation of the Weimar Republic? It was because the Hitler regime was so successful and so popular, that it was such a threat. Time to recognize its accomplishments and its dangers that grew because of its successes.

We remember Jesse Owens because he defied the boycott or the political left, and showed that blacks were human and could out perform others in sports. You can see him in the great art film by Riefenstahl, which was paid for by the Nazis, but under Ms. Riefenstahl, did not embody Nazi ideals. Berlin 1936 allowed a week of anti-racism to free many spirits for the battles to come.