Description

1936 Olympic Commemorative Medal with Named Certificate

This 1936 Olympic Commemorative Medal is offered together with its original-style period award certificate named to Ernst Fischer, identified on the document as a student who had contributed to the organisation and work surrounding the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany.

The certificate is dated Berlin, 1 July 1937 and specifically awards Fischer the Deutsche Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille, establishing a direct documentary connection between the recipient and this type of medal.

For collectors, this is substantially more interesting than an anonymous medal alone. The appeal lies in having both the decoration and a period nominative award document showing how and why this type of medal was distributed.

What was the Deutsche Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille?

The Deutsche Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille was instituted on 31 July 1936 for people whose work contributed to the Olympic Games held in Germany that year.

The original decree states that it was created for verdienstvolle Mitarbeit bei den Olympischen Spielen 1936 — meritorious work associated with the 1936 Games. Contemporary publication of the decree describes the medal, its design and its prescribed ribbon.

The medal formed part of a wider system of Olympic decorations. The higher Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen existed in two classes, while the commemorative medal recognised a broader group of organisers and helpers involved with the event.

Approximately 54,915 examples are recorded as having been awarded, making it an established but highly identifiable German Olympic collecting field rather than an obscure unofficial souvenir.

Medal Design

The accompanying medal corresponds to the type named on Fischer’s certificate.

The obverse carries the year 1936, the Olympic rings, an architectural representation connected with the Berlin Olympic complex and the German state emblem of the period.

The reverse reads:

Für verdienstvolle Mitarbeit bei den Olympischen Spielen 1936

meaning:

For meritorious work at the 1936 Olympic Games.

An oak branch appears below the inscription.

The correct ribbon is predominantly red with black edging and five narrow white central stripes. This is the ribbon type visible on the medal offered here.

Ernst Fischer Award Certificate – Berlin, 1 July 1937

The certificate reads in substance that, in recognition of his meritorious work at the 1936 Olympic Games, student Ernst Fischer was awarded the German Olympic Commemorative Medal.

The nominative element is particularly useful from a collecting perspective because it places an actual recipient behind an otherwise anonymous decoration.

It is dated:

Berlin, den 1. Juli 1937

and headed as an award made under the authority of the Führer und Reichskanzler.

Important: Adolf Hitler Signature is a Facsimile

The signature appearing at the bottom of the certificate is a period facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler.

It is not an individually handwritten Hitler autograph and is not offered or valued as one.

This distinction is important. Comparable original Olympic medal certificates are specifically catalogued by established militaria auction houses as carrying a facsimile signature Adolf Hitler.

From a collector’s point of view, that does not detract from the originality of the certificate. Facsimile signatures were part of the normal administrative issuing format for documents produced in substantial numbers.

Is the Medal Correct for the Certificate?

Yes.

The certificate specifically awards Ernst Fischer the Deutsche Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille, and the medal shown is an example of that exact decoration.

The design, inscription and correct red/white/black ribbon all correspond to the official 1936 Olympic Commemorative Medal.

There is nevertheless an important collector distinction: these medals were not individually engraved with the recipient’s name or serial number.

Therefore, the document proves that Ernst Fischer was awarded this type of medal, but without continuous provenance it cannot independently prove that this particular physical medal is the exact example handed to Fischer in 1937.

For that reason I describe the group transparently as a correct medal together with a matching named award certificate, rather than making an unsupported claim of uninterrupted personal provenance.

Historical Context – Berlin 1936

The 1936 Olympic Games were staged against the political background of National Socialist Germany and were extensively used by the German regime for international presentation and propaganda.

At the same time, they remain an important chapter in Olympic and sporting history, including achievements such as Jesse Owens’ four gold medals. The torch relay that subsequently became a familiar Olympic tradition was also introduced for the 1936 Summer Games.

The medal therefore sits at the intersection of several collecting fields: Olympic history, sports memorabilia, German medals, political history and pre-war European documentation.

Collector’s Interest

What makes this set interesting is not simply the political symbolism visible on the medal.

From a collector’s point of view, it offers:

• an original period German Olympic decoration;
• the correct period ribbon;
• an original nominative award certificate;
• a clearly identified recipient, Ernst Fischer;
• a precise award date of 1 July 1937;
• direct association with the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games;
• and the original administrative facsimile signature format used on these certificates.

The document gives context to the medal that a loose example does not have.

For collectors specialising in Berlin 1936 material, Olympic memorabilia, German decorations, award documents or interwar European history, that combination is the principal attraction.

Condition

The medal displays age-related wear and loss of some of its original silvered appearance while retaining clearly visible design detail.

The ribbon shows normal age and handling.

The certificate has natural toning and signs of storage consistent with an object approaching ninety years of age. A dark green textile remnant is attached through the holes on the left side. This should not be confused with the medal’s official ribbon, which is the red, white and black ribbon attached to the medal.

The condition should be assessed carefully from the photographs supplied, which form part of the description.

AUTHENTICITY

Original period medal and original period award certificate. Authenticity guaranteed.

The Hitler signature appearing on the certificate is explicitly described as a period facsimile signature and not a handwritten autograph.

HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY NOTICE

Offered exclusively as an original historical, documentary and collecting object.

Autographs & Militaria has no political or ideological affiliation with the regime, organisations or individuals represented by the material. The item is preserved and offered for historical study and collecting purposes only.

FAQ

Is this an original 1936 Olympic medal?

Yes. It is offered as an original period example of the German Olympic Commemorative Medal established for meritorious work connected with the 1936 Games.

Does the certificate belong to this type of medal?

Yes. The document explicitly states Deutsche Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille, which is the exact type of medal shown with it.

Who was the certificate awarded to?

It was awarded to Ernst Fischer, identified on the document as a student, and dated Berlin, 1 July 1937.

Is the Adolf Hitler signature original?

The certificate itself is original, but the Adolf Hitler signature is facsimile, not handwritten. This was a standard administrative method used on this category of award certificate.

What should collectors look for in a 1936 Olympic medal?

Useful points include the correct obverse and reverse design, period construction, the distinctive red ribbon with black borders and five white stripes, overall ageing and, where available, related period documentation.