1936 Olympics
I found the IOC's mammoth (and lavish) official report - big (75Mb or something) pdf
here and part II
here - into the 1936 Berlin Olympics fascinating - a very detailed guide into the whole logistics or organising such an event, and with 1930s technology. Some nice early pictures of Hitler and Dr Goebbels interspersed with wishy-washy Olymplic Boy Scout stuff, the aside that the committee, with their new gold chains, began proceedings by deciding Tokyo should the 1940 Olympics destination, and an interesting guide to how the Olympic Village operated, including different nation's culinary requests (the loyal Australians wanted 'English cusine' whilst the French and Italians wanted wine (although the latter heavily watered it down),and the problems of dealing with highly strung female athletes.
All the rest are
here if you're interested.
Labels: Nazis, Olympics
How the Guardian welcomed Hitler
or underestimated him, at least. Ian Kershaw
looks through the archives.
Labels: Nazis
Himmler's sexist attitudes
I'll edit it if I have the time (it'll take some doing) but this is just to note that at present the Wikipedia entry for
Heinrich Himmler lists under the sub-heading
Controversial Speeches, just:
In 1939, Himmler spoke of how it would be useful if every man (even if he was married) had a mistress. He said this because he believed that the nation would need more people as many men would be killed in War.
Well yes, that was the most infamous one.
Labels: Nazis
World War II in colour
I've seen the TV progammres, but I wasn't aware of this
excellent website, with
hundreds of colour photographs of German, British, American, Soviet and Japanese forces in action (and some domestic ones too).
This of
Himmler and Heydrich in SS black is pretty sinister, as, I thought, just this one of
Himmler. I've always wondered - was that silly haircut common at that time, or was it just him?
Goering looks as ridiculous as usual, while Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's oddjob man (jobs like taking on most the Italian army singlehandedly, that sort of thing), just looks
hard (though apparently that scar is from
fencing). Oh, and the world's first
jet bomber.
Labels: Nazis, War
He-Man and She-Man
I've been reading Anne de Courcy's Diana Mosley
biography, which has been interesting. One of her friends was (and then wasn't) Evelyn Waugh, and I was unaware (but
Wikipedia notes it) that he married a women called Evelyn, and they were known as He-Evelyn and She-Evely.
Labels: Books, Nazis
