Change of Perspective in German Hospitality: 1936 Berlin Olympics and 2006 FIFA Cup - Report Example

Change of perspective in German Hospitality: 1936 Berlin Olympics and 2006 FIFA cup ---- Prajakta Kanegaonkar Research Question: How Germany’s Hospitality changed during Olympic game sin 1936 compared to Football world cup in 2006. It is unimaginable to think of today’s Europe without the presence of a strong Germany. However Germany has always been viewed cautiously and it is not without reason. In the world history, Germany has always been seen as a war-monger country. In such situation hosting of immensely popular games such as Olympics or Football world cup would always be looked at as an opportunity to establish a friendly face to the world. We are going to have a look at this particular aspect and how successful was this attempt by Germany. In the process we will also be considering the factors that controlled the decisions behind organizing these ever popular events. World War 2 is considered to be a black mark in the history of the mankind. This was the war which changed the geo-political scenario of the world. Even today in some or the other form we still face the repercussions of this war. Germany bid for the 1936 XI Olympics in 1931, year in which Hitler had not surfaced so strongly. There were only two countries which bid for the hosting of the Olympic Games, Spain and Germany, out of which Germany won the bid with good voting margin. It is interesting to note that there were only two countries who bid for the games. Let us look at these events in detail. The year 1931 was extremely depressing for the world. The crash of 1929 affected almost all the countries in a real adverse way. Germany was no different. Economic crisis is a phenomenon in which the society crumbles faster and deteriorates more than any other calamity. We have to understand this background to understand the extreme nationalism that rose to the surface. Adolf Hitler came to power 2 years prior to the Olympic Games in Germany. The racial and anti-Semitic policies adopted by him were becoming well known. Due to treaty of Versailles the size of the German military was restricted. The pretext of athletic training was used for military training. All these areas were banned for the Jews to participate in. It was not difficult for any political party for that matter to ignite the already inflammable conditions. In the third edition of his textbook (with E. Baur and E. Fischer), professor Fritz Lenz writes: "We must of course deplore the one-sided anti-Semitism of National Socialism. Unfortunately, it seems that the masses need such anti feelings... we cannot doubt that National Socialism is honestly striving for a healthier race. The question of the quality of our hereditary endowment is a hundred times more important than the dispute over capitalism or socialism, and a thousand times more important than that over the black-white-red or black-red-gold banners." (http://www.humanitas-international.org/holocaust/1931tbse.htm) The participation in Olympics came with a lot of hue and cry as there was a lot of debate regarding it. Participation in the games would have seemed like acknowledging the racist policies the Nazi government had adopted. In the games German military and government tried to portray a very clean image in front of the world. No Nazi propaganda against Jews was to be seen. Huge amounts of money were spent to extend the hospitality to the incoming players and visitors. The German government went out of the way to create a harmonious picture. With the removal of a few Jew players from the team US stated that they did not want to antagonize their hosts. With Germans leading the games with maximum number of gold medals, Hitler’s theory of “Superior Aryan race” proved beyond the point. The games were no longer games, but were used as a platform to prove that Germans had become a powerful nation under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, but it should also be noted that a world gathering like this happened in a country that wanted to wipe an entire race. What better an opportunity than to invite every nation to world games and exhibit an exactly opposite attitude of tolerance? The 2006 FIFA world cup presented another opportunity to Germany to prove them again. However this time it was the other way round for Germany. This event was in fact dubbed as “Time to make friends” by German authorities. Federal Foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the tournament a project against racism and discrimination. The motto of street football club was, ‘Football for peace and international understanding’. It aimed at bringing the nations together to base lives on peace and tolerance. Now let us understand that this time why Germany would want to make a friendly overture to the nations all over the world. For decades together Germany was viewed as a war-monger and destructive nation. The history can be traced way back to industrial revolution which started in England. The rapid development that took place in the continent forced nations like England, France, Spain and Portugal to look for markets outside the continent. Germany entered this colonial and armament race much later. Even though equipped with the latest and most advanced technologies and products, Germany did not get much of a place in the colonial map of the world. It triggered the nationalist sentiment in the country, which was further fuelled by the circumstances around. Although all the nations were constantly on the brink of the war on several occasions it is said that the First World War was an inevitable incident but it fuelled and was certainly the cause for another war and that too in a very short span. Within couple of years post the treaty of Versailles Germany rose from ashes and with strong nationalism burning in its heart and took the world by storm again. The war was also more known for the genocide that took place. Over a period of time it became very essential for Germany to establish herself as a friendly nation. Since its unification Germany has played a very active role in Europe. There is a drastic change in the foreign policy of Germany. Today 10,000 German soldiers are deployed on foreign shores for peacekeeping and international missions. Post the 09/11 attacks German Chancellor Shroder went ahead to issue a prompt statement to promise an unconditional solidarity and support to America. Since January 2002, German Armed Forces have made a strong contribution to International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan. Germany has also been an active member in helping to overcome natural disasters, asserting human and democratic rights and war on terror. If we take a look at these policies, we can understand the link and the chain of efforts. These are cultivated efforts to build an image of a nation which is friendly and peace loving. The desire that success of Germany should be measured with the parameter of integration and development rather than the Third Reich is seen. No opportunity is let gone to establish that the foreign policy is based on the logic to maintain peace and safety in the world. (http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/foreign-policy/main-content-05/foreign-policy-in-the-age-of-globalization.html) We also need to take into account the geographical location of the country. Located in the central Europe, it also has long established and fruitful relations with the east European countries. Being centrally located most transportation of Europe runs through the country. German industry although faces a tough competition from its EU partners leads as a strategic partner in the bordering countries. If we look at all these factors together Germany would not let go of chance to prove herself as a peace loving and capable member of the European Union. Organizing FIFA World cup 2006 presented in itself as an excellent opportunity. It was a perfect occasion to display the development and the progress of the nation so far. 12 cities chosen as venues for the matches to be played were put up excellently in facilities and tourist attractions. Every opportune moment was cashed to let know people about new Germany, new peace loving and welcoming friendly Germany. It was manifested that Germany is a land of ideas and culture. The transport facilities and security were up to date. The federal government of Germany would not have achieved this without the support of industry from various sectors in the country. As chancellor Angela Merkel commented, “The spark of anticipation and understanding among nations at the FIFA World Cup will spring from Germany to the entire world. I am looking forward to seeing an abundance of goals in many enthralling and fair football matches. As Germans, we will naturally cheer on our team but at the same time, we want to be a great host and offer friendship to all the other teams and their fans. Passionate about football and open to the world – Germany is eagerly looking forward to welcoming its guests to the FIFA World Cup 2006!” It is very clear that the two events although greatest of the sports events were being utilized with two radically different perspectives by the governments of the times. An opportunity like 1936 Olympic Games was utilized to pull the wool over the eyes of the world to portray the peace and anti war policies of Germany when in reality the truth was diametrically opposite. In fact the games were utilized as a Nazi propaganda. The organization of the games was done with ulterior motive of showing the height of development the country had achieved within a few years of humiliating treaty that was imposed on her. The war loving tendencies of the country were seen very clearly by the world. Irrespective of it the world preferred to participate in the games as somewhere culture and sports were regarded separately from international politics. However in the turn of events the true motives and hidden perspectives came to surface leading the world into the most cynical and deadliest of the wars that changed the course of the history. However Germany realized that she has to change with the changing times. With her active participation in the European activities, she rightly picked the opportunity of FIFA 2006 world cup to strengthen the ties and relations that are based on peace and harmony. Extension of hospitality in both these events also changed from times. Although the laws were relaxed in Germany during 1936 Olympics, the relaxation was based on prejudices and racism. In 2006 however the changes were made to the apparent accommodation of the people. To put it in the words of Munich Arena Federal President Horst Köhler "We look forward to seeing exciting games, a lot of goals and fair play. May football bring nations closer together". This perhaps would be one of its kinds of an example in the history of any nation where two separate and grand sports events were conducted with two different objectives and carried successfully. (http://wm2006.deutschland.de/EN/Content/WorldCupNews/NewsItems/2006/eroeffnungsfeier-09-06-2006__en.html http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005680 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1936_berlin_olympics.htm) Read More