“The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn't separate, but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. It also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That's why the Olympic Flame should never die.”
— Adolf Hitler, commenting on the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games
In 1936, Nazi Germany hosted both the summer and the winter Olympic games. The Summer Olympics were held in Berlin and the Winter Olympics were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.
Hitler used the Olympics as the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the prowess of the Third Reich and these Olympics were the first ever to be televised, with radio broadcasts reaching 41 different countries around the world. Hitler's Nazi regime built a brand new, state-of-the-art 100,000-seat track and field stadium, six gymnasiums, and many other smaller arenas.
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