The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Civil awards
German Olympic Decoration: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide
| Created | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Awarded to | Organisers, officials, helpers and others who contributed to the 1936 Games |
| Form | Decoration and commemorative medal, with award certificates |
| Context | The 1936 Winter and Summer Games, staged as a propaganda showcase |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
The German Olympic Decoration (Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen) was awarded to those who helped stage the 1936 Olympic Games. It sits where sporting memorabilia and Nazi propaganda meet, and that is how I describe it.
What Was the German Olympic Decoration?
The decoration was created for the 1936 Games, held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in winter and in Berlin in summer. It recognised organisers, officials, volunteers and others whose work made the Games possible. The regime used the Games to present a peaceful image to the world, an image also shaped by Leni Riefenstahl’s film Olympia.
Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?
Award certificates were issued with the decoration and medal. A piece with its certificate naming the recipient is far more informative than the medal alone. See award documents.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Grade must match the certificate.
- Olympic memorabilia is also collected by sports collectors, which raises prices and the incentive to copy.
- Cases may be later additions.
Legal note. In Germany the 1957 Orders and Decorations Act allows Second World War awards to be worn only without National Socialist emblems, which is why “1957 pattern” versions without the swastika exist. The public display of Nazi symbols is restricted in Germany, Austria and several other countries. Owning, buying and selling original decorations as historical objects is treated differently from country to country, so check the law where you live and where you ship.
Collector’s Note
The 1936 Games are a lesson in how sport can serve politics. An Olympic decoration is a small but eloquent witness to that.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who received the German Olympic Decoration?
Those who contributed to the 1936 Olympic Games.
Where were the 1936 Games held?
In Garmisch-Partenkirchen (winter) and Berlin (summer).
Why are the 1936 Games controversial?
The regime used them as a propaganda showcase.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, Deutsches Ehrenabzeichen der Olympischen Spiele 1936, photograph (inv. BA 90/4442).
- Federal Republic of Germany (1957, as amended) Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen (OrdenG), §§ 6 and 15, Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de.