The Olympiastadion in Berlin, a majestic venue set to host the European Championship final between Spain and England, carries a complex history. Built for the 1936 Olympic Games, the stadium was a product of the Nazi regime’s ambitions and propaganda. Adolf Hitler, initially hesitant, embraced the Games as a platform to project an image of strength and unity to the world.
The construction of the stadium was a monumental undertaking, with up to 2,600 workers laboring to complete the Reich Sports Field complex in time for the Games. The Nazis’ racial ideology permeated the project, with only “complying, non-union workers of German citizenship and Aryan race” being hired. The Olympic Games, however, proved a mixed bag for Hitler. While the Nazi regime secured a propaganda victory, the performance of Jesse Owens, a Black American athlete who won four gold medals, dealt a blow to Hitler’s notions of racial superiority.
The stadium served as a backdrop for various Nazi events, including a visit from Benito Mussolini in 1937, where he was greeted by thousands of torch-carrying Nazis. While the stadium escaped the worst of the war’s destruction, its Nazi iconography was removed, and it was reopened in 1946 by the British, who maintained their military headquarters there until 1994.
Today, Olympiastadion stands as a symbol of Germany’s post-war rehabilitation and the country’s commitment to acknowledging its past. Information signs around the stadium inform visitors about its history, and some Nazi relics remain, serving as a constant reminder of the dark era. While the stadium has been modernized and hosts sporting events, some, like Holocaust survivor Marian Wajselfisz, believe more needs to be done to educate visitors about the Nazi atrocities.
The Olympiastadion serves as a complex reminder of Germany’s past. It is a testament to the Nazi regime’s ambitions, the resilience of the city, and the ongoing efforts to confront and learn from its past. As the European Championship final takes place within its walls, the stadium will undoubtedly be filled with passionate fans, but it will also serve as a reminder of the dark history that shaped its existence.
