Gretel: An Olympian’s Dream

German Jewish athlete Gretel Bergmann was poised to win a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. At the qualifying trials held two months earlier, she equalled the German women’s high jump record of 1 meter 60 centimeters. But the Nazis’ control of all aspects of German life also extended to sports. This put Gretel’s opportunity to compete in the Berlin Olympics in jeopardy.

Learn More:

• Video: Oral History Testimony by Gretel Bergmann (aka Margaret Lambert)

• Article: The Nazi Olympics, Berlin 1936

• Article: The Movement to Boycott the Berlin Olympics

• Article: The Nazi Olympics: Inauguration of the Torch Relay

• Film: Historic Film Footage from the Berlin Olympics

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