DOCSLIB.ORG

Teaching Munich the Munich Memory Project

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Teaching Munich the Munich Memory Project Teaching Munich The Munich Memory Project Terrorism took the international stage at the Munich Olympics of 1972 when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian Arabs. Too often, these events in history go unlearned because approaching them is too difficult or overly politicized. This activity is designed to encourage critical thinking about the event and its impact on the world, as well as on its relevance today. Objectives • For participants to know what the Munich Massacre was, and about the events that took place on September 5th-6th 1972 • For participants to learn who Jim McKay was and why he “matters” as a figure in the story • For participants to know the importance of the broadcast, the atmosphere surrounding the news as it was happening, and the significance of the phrase ‘they’re all gone’. • For participants to learn something about at least one of the 11 Israeli victims • For participants to learn how Israel and the Jewish world reacted to the incident • For participants to be able to articulate and be aware of the role of antisemitism as it played out in the sports world and the lasting repercussions of the Munich events • For participants to learn the skills to eloquently express themselves and to articulately communicate their views Supplies needed • Jim McKay interview and broadcast videos • Whiteboard and markers • Computer and screen • Teaching Munich slideshow 1 © Israel Forever Foundation israelforever.org Activity or Booklet Title Getting Started/Introduction Educator should explain that the purpose of this lesson is to learn about the 1972 Olympics massacre and the Munich 11. This lesson will look at important events leading up to the Munich massacre, the timeline of the tragedy itself, and the attitude of the IOC (International Olympic commitee). Begin discussion with the following questions (specific answers/responses for educator are in parenthesis): • What do you know about the Munich 1972 Olympics massacre? (This is what we will be looking at today.) • Who knows where the Olympics were held in 1936? (In Berlin.) • Has anyone heard of any famous athletes who competed in the 1936 games? (Jesse Owens, the famous African-American track-and-field star.) • But he wasn't supposed to compete. Does anyone know how he came to compete? (There is a story behind this, that we will hear soon.) At this time (and perhaps still now? A discussion for another time.) the Olympic spirit and institution was unfortunately antisemitic in various ways and Jewish athletes struggled for Jewish rights and equality, in both the sporting and Olympic world. Educator to read aloud: In 1936 the Olympics were held in Nazi Germany in Berlin under the supervision of Adolf Hitler. Two American track and field stars who were set to compete for Team USA in the 4x100 meter relay event were Jews. American sprinters Sam Stoller and Marty Glickman, the only two Jews on the US Olympic team, were pulled from the 4×100 relay team on the day of the competition, leading to speculation that US Olympic committee leader Avery Brundage did not want to add to Hitler's embarrassment by having two Jews win gold medals. As a result Jesse Owens was named as one of the replacements, and he ended up winning that race and several other gold medals. Glickman and Stoller were the only two members of the US Olympic team who did not compete after arriving in Berlin. In the entire history of US participation in the Olympic Games, it is extremely rare that uninjured team members don't compete in any event at all, and indeed after practice trials Glickman and Stoller had been assured that they would be running in the relay event. • Does anyone have any thoughts about this situation? • What connection might there be between the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and the 1972 Olympics in Munich? 2 © Israel Forever Foundation israelforever.org Activity or Booklet Title Now we are going to learn more about the Munich 1972 Olympics. Educator to show the Munich timeline slideshow. While progressing through each slide, read the corresponding texts. Slide 2 4:30 am - Members of the Black September terrorist group snuck into the Olympic Village. Slide 3 Yossef Gutfreund heard a noise, went to investigate, and shouted a warning to the other occupants of his room. This gave one Israeli a chance to break a window and escape to get help. Slide 4 Moshe Weinberg, the Israeli wrestling coach, then tried to fight one of the gunmen, got shot, and was forced to lead the terrorists to find more hostages. Slide 5 Weinberg attacked another gunman, allowing another wrestler a chance to escape. Weinberg was then shot again and killed. Slide 6 Yossef Romano then attacked another terrorist, and was also shot and killed. Slide 7 At this point, we have 9 more Israelis who are still alive but are now hostages: Yossef Gutfreund, Kehat Shorr, Andre Spitzer, Amitzur Shapira, David Berger, Ze’ev Friedman, Mark Slavin, Eliezer Halfin, and Ya’akov Springer. Educator to ask participants: • How long do you think they postponed the Olympic Games following the massacre? (Not even a full day.) Slide 8 The Olympics continued to go on as scheduled, and 12 hours after the initial attack, German police entered the Olympic Village and demanded to see the hostages. The plan was to kill the terrorists by sneaking around the back of the Village, but that failed. Then the terrorists demanded transportation to Cairo, Egypt. Slide 9 While these events are taking place, ABC Sports’ Jim McKay is broadcasting from the ABC Olympic studio in Munich, allowing people in the US to know what is going on. 10:30 pm - The helicopters brought for the terrorists are vacated by the pilots. Chaos ensued, and 2 kidnappers were killed. 12:04 am September 6th - The kidnappers turned on the hostages. That battle would go on until 1:30am. Slide 10 3:24 am - Jim McKay gave his final update. 3 © Israel Forever Foundation israelforever.org Activity or Booklet Title TEACHING MUNICH ACTIVITY Instructions (Note: For your convenience, this information is also included at the end of the Teaching Munich slideshow.) Names will be shown/written on the board or the slideshow, or distributed on index cards. Everyone will be given the name of an Israeli athlete. You have five minutes to research the person. Then we will come back together as a group, and share our findings. Here are some questions to help facilitate your research: • Where were they born? • Did they serve in the Israeli army? • Why were they at the Olympics? (sport, job, background) • What other compelling information did you learn about them? Now choose a partner and present your research to them. Teach each other about your athlete. Make sure your partner has a different athlete from you. Once completed, everyone should come back together for a group discussion. (If desired/time allows, present to the group on your partner's athlete.) Discussion Questions • Can you explain the basic events that took place on September 5th-6th 1972? • Why does the location matter? • Do you remember at least 1 name from one of the 11 Israelis killed in the attack? • What was the most interesting thing you learned about this tragedy? • Why would you share the story about the Munich massacre with someone else? • Why is this a historical event worth remembering? With so many terror attacks happening every year around the world, why does this even matter? • Does anyone know who Jim McKay was? (Show video of an interview with Jim McKay if time allows. (Interview is 14 minutes long.) If you have less time, you can show a compilation of his reporting from the event.) • How did Jim McKay become an advocate for the victims? • The 1972 Olympic games continued even while the terror attack was taking place and no reference was made to the other athletes. Do you think this was an appropriate response? 4 © Israel Forever Foundation israelforever.org Activity or Booklet Title • IOC President Avery Brundage made little reference to the murdered athletes during a speech praising the strength of the Olympic movement later on the 6th. Was this “enough?” What more do you think could have been done by the IOC or anyone at the time of the attack? • Who are the advocates of remembering Munich? How have they made an impact on the world? What Did You Learn? • Say two things you learned about the Munich massacre. • What if anything could have been done to avoid this tragedy? • Why is remembering this event important, in your opinion? • Why would you become an advocate for Munich memory? How will you keep their memories alive? Concluding Thoughts Too often, these events in history go unlearned because approaching them is too difficult or overly politicized. Our goal today has been to learn about the tragedy in a way that personalizes the victims AND those who went on to become advocates for the continued memory of the terrorism that took over the international sports arena - a space that is supposed to be free of politics and allow for unity among the athletes. We learn from Munich that even the worst imaginable things are possible when driven by hate, and we carry on the memory of the Munich athletes as a part of our effort to ensure they did not die in vain. Next Steps Come meet the Leaders of Munich Advocacy and learn more about The Munich Memory Project. ABOUT THE ISRAEL FOREVER FOUNDATION - YOUR HOME FOR ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT The Israel Forever Foundation develops and promotes experiential learning resources that celebrate and strengthen the personal connection to Israel as an integral part of Jewish life and identity.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Munich Olympics Gene Eisen Terrorists Strike the 1972 Summer Olympics Held in Munich, West Germany, Were Breezing Along Successfully for the First Ten Days
    Remembering the Munich Olympics Gene Eisen Terrorists Strike The 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, West Germany, were breezing along successfully for the first ten days. Then, tragedy struck in the early morning hours of September 5. The Palestinian Black September terrorists attacked eleven Israeli team members in their dormitory. After a struggle, the terrorist killed two Israelis, and nine Israelis were taken hostage. West Germany issued a postal souvenir sheet, Scott B489a-d, on August 18, 1972. The sheet pictures the 1972 Olympic Games Village (Figure 1 red arrow). Shown are the men’s buildings in the section above the 40+20pf stamp. The third-row building at the extreme left end of the village housed the Israeli team. The group of buildings is shown directly north of the twin poles holding up the Figure 1 1972 Olympic Games Village Sports Hall roof. It was these buildings where the terrorists broke in. used in the operation had not received proper training as sharpshooters. Add to that, they were improperly located, Negotiations too few, and lacked radios to communicate with each other and with the command post. The snipers were armed with The Black September terrorists demanded the release of over assault rifles rather than sniper rifles, and their weapons 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and two left-wing lacked long-range scopes and night-vision capabilities. extremists in German prisons. German negotiators were Second, the officers on the plane who were supposed to willing to accept their demands, but Israel rejected them. subdue the terrorists unanimously chose to abandon their Israel’s Prime Minister Golda Meir stated, “If we give in post.
    [Show full text]
  • Herzl Herald September 2018
    Dr Herzl Newsletter Yom Kippur 10th Tishrei 5779 19th September 2018 We wish all our brethren and their families Well Over The Fast Table Lodge Screening of FIRES of KUWAIT Herzl Herald September 2018 58 Oaklands Rd, Orchards, Johannesburg 2192 011 6403017 [email protected] OPEN LODGE - Monday 17 September, 7.30pm Agenda In this issue.. Page Mission Statement 3 Opening ceremony Reading of previous minutes From the President’s pen 4 Errors and omissions Grand President Report 5 Adoption of the minutes 6 Candle lighting - Bro Mark Goldberg Domestic Notices Domestic matters Notice Board 7 President’s Report From the desk of the Scribe 8 Treasurer’s Report Management Committee Report The Chaplain’s corner 9 Chaplain’s Corner News from Israel 10 General Comedy Corner 11 Closing Ceremony Table Lodge - Movie: Fires of Kuwait Amazing facts 12 Dr Herzl Lodge Officers and Committee members 2018 President Bro Jeff Sulski 011 4400169 076 6868259 jeffreysulski@gmail Imm Past President Wor Bro Ronnie Penn 011 4852238 073 4426005 [email protected] Vice President Bro Neville Kahn 011 4853109 082 8897097 [email protected] Secretary Wor Bro Robin Sarembock 011 8023128 072 4747946 [email protected] Treasurer Bro Jonathan Shapiro 011 4852010 082 3983744 [email protected] MC Wor Bro Ian Ralph 011 6402202 083 4140418 hiralph@icon. co.za Preceptor Wor Bro Avron Krasner 011 8829780 082 5576268 [email protected] Scribe Bro David Mendelson 011 7861583 083 4574776 [email protected] Inner Guard Bro Roy Lotkin 073 8388384 [email protected] Registrar Bro Doron Epstein 082 7754241 [email protected] Chaplain Bro Martin Greenberg 011 4850063 072 7798612 [email protected] Committee Wor Bro Ronnie Penn 011 4852238 073 4426005 [email protected] Committee Wor Bro Joe Yudelowitz 011 4850230 082 8184333 Committee Wor Bro Avron Krasner 011 8829780 082 5576268 [email protected] Committee Wor Bro Ian Ralph 011 6402202 083 4140418 hiralph@icon.
    [Show full text]
  • Remembering the Fallen
    Remembering the fallen As the world celebrates the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London, I wonder how many will remember that it is also the 40th anniversary of the Munich Massacre. If this was before your time, at the Munich Games in 1972, Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 members of the Israeli Olympic Team. On September 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village. They immediately killed two and nine were taken hostage. Efforts to rescue the hostages failed and they were eventually killed. The Olympic Games are a great time to remember that countries can usually put aside their differences and come together for a few weeks on the world’s grandest stage. And while we all have our favorite athletes and sports, I would like to believe most of us enjoy seeing the world come together, sending its best athletes to compete. But as we talk about the history of the Olympics, most don’t talk about the tragedy of the Munich Games. I know what you’re thinking, “Why should we remember something so sad?” It’s simple. We remember because that’s how we heal. Each time there is a tragedy of large proportions, such as the recent shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, etc., we take a moment to remember those who were lost and those still affected by such tragedies. Remembering the fallen of the Munich Games is no different. With that, I would like to thank Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder (on Twitter as @RabbiRuth http://twitter.com/RabbiRuth) for bringing this to my attention and calling for a two-minute moment of silence (turn off your TV if you like) during the Opening Ceremonies.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel's Use of Sports for Nation Branding and Public Diplomacy
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 5-2018 ISRAEL'S USE OF SPORTS FOR NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Yoav Dubinsky University of Tennessee, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Recommended Citation Dubinsky, Yoav, "ISRAEL'S USE OF SPORTS FOR NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2018. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/4868 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Yoav Dubinsky entitled "ISRAEL'S USE OF SPORTS FOR NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Kinesiology and Sport Studies. Lars Dzikus, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Robin L. Hardin, Sylvia A. Trendafilova, Candace L. White Accepted for the Council: Dixie L. Thompson Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) ISRAEL’S USE OF SPORTS FOR NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Yoav Dubinsky May 2018 Copyright © 2018 by Yoav Dubinsky All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Disasters Podcast Is Written, Researched and Produced by Kari Fay
    The Munich Olympics Massacre It was meant to be a coming together of nations, in peace, to celebrate sporting excellence. For the athletes attending, it was the pinnacle of their achievements, a moment to be proud of. For some, it held even more meaning. It was the first OIympic Games to be held in Germany since 1936, when it had been under the auspices of the Nazi regime. Now, stepping into the arena, an Israeli team held their flag high. Eleven of them would not return alive. I’m Kari Fay, and this is Great Disasters. The theme of the 1972 Summer Olympics was an optimistic one; the official motto was “Glückliche Spiele” or The Happy Games, and the logo was a bright blue sun. The West German government was keen to present their new democratic Germany well, and the Olympics seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. In contrast to the militaristic 1936 Games, which were festooned with swastikas and presided over by Hitler himself, these would be bright, open and carefree. Their security personnel would be discreet, and they would subtly deal with drunkenness or ticket fraud, without disrupting the joyous atmosphere. When they were dispatched to deal with a congregation of Maoist supporters in the Olympic Park, they dispersed the crowd by giving them candy. They allowed people to come and go somewhat freely; athletes later reported that it was easy for anybody to walk into the Olympic Village, so long as they were dressed like athletes. The athletes themselves took liberties with security arrangements, often scaling the fences around the village rather than walk the long way around to the gates.
    [Show full text]
  • A Day of Terror in America in This Week’S Scroll
    Remembering 9/11; A day of Terror in America In this week’s Scroll September 13, 2019 Elul 13, 5779 Volume 1 Number 28 Remembering 9/11; A day of Terror in America In this week’s Scroll In T e Remembering 9/11; A day of Terror in America Victims of the Munich Massacre remembered The passing of Herman Friedman Simon Says Mazel Tov, Bruce Zweben The Kosher Kitchen Jews concerned with Netanyahu’s annexation vows The Book Shelf Shabbat Services, Kiddush,& CAS News On the morning of September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists tie to al-Qaeda high-jacked four passenger airliners and used them to attack one struck the Pentagon, and the last, initially in route to America. Two airliners struck the North and South Washington D.C. crashed in a field in Pennsylvania when Towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) complex, cleanup.) So, it’s difficult to establish an accurate num- ber of casualties from that day; because, 18 years later, people are still dying. The Ahavas Sholom choir is hard at work getting ready for the high holy days… more on that next week. The pentagon also suffered severe damage in the attack. passengers intervened. Both WTC towers collapsed within two hours, killing many of those remaining or trapped inside along with rescue workers who had arrived on the scene. The collapse also destroyed or severely damaged many of the surrounding build- ings. The pentagon building also suffered severe damage with a partial collapse to its left side. This week we commemorate the terror attacks of September 11 and pay tribute to the 2,996 people who perished on that terrible day.
    [Show full text]
  • OUR COMMUNITY NEWS Jewish Federation of St
    OUR COMMUNITY NEWS Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, Inc. 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN 46615 Volume 6, Number 12 August 2012– Av/Elul 5772 Welcome to Lea Lehavi Campaign 2013 to celebrate Kurt & Tessye Simon our new Israeli Emissary Community Building’s Bar Mitzvah year Lea Lehavi is . Sandy and Doug Barton to lead the newly ap- Annual Campaign effort pointed Jewish Agency Shlicha “Together we do extraordinary (emissary) to things” is the theme of the 2013 An- South Bend. nual Federation Campaign, and it is Lea was born certainly fitting for our new campaign and raised in Herzilya. She did her co-chairs, Doug and Sandy Barton. military service in the IDF’s elite K-9 Sandy and Doug are excited about (dog) unit. She also worked for the the 2013 Campaign because it is ush- IDF General Staff and Israel’s General ering in the Bar Mitzvah year of the Security Service in V.I.P. protection. Douglas Barton Sandy Barton Lea is very active in volunteer Kurt and Tessye Simon Community was dedicated in September, 2000. work for informal education and has Building. “And we have been doing extraordi- been recognized by both the city of “It’s hard to believe that our ‘new’ nary things since we moved in.” Herzilya and Israel’s Ministry of community building is nearly 13 years Education for her efforts. In 2008 she old,” said Doug Barton, who was Fed- “Maintaining a strong annual was awarded the regional Out- eration president when the building Please turn to Page 9 standing Volunteer for the Youth and Society Organization (given by the Campaign Kickoff to honor Kurt Simon Ministry of Education) for the Tel Aviv region as well as Volunteer of The entire community is invited to tivities will begin at 6:30 PM with Distinction in the informal education honor Kurt Simon at the 2013 Jewish light hors d’oeuvres and sweets fol- category by the Herzliya Council.
    [Show full text]
  • Never Ending Story by Zeev Avrahami
    Never ending story by Zeev Avrahami "Are you a football player?" The story has all the ingredients: Germany, Israel, Jews, Nazis, anti-Semitism, terrorists, academic, history, science, German humor, sports, Olympic games, one Jewish professor who walked away from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, walked away from the terrorists and never stopped walk- ing since, one German professor, a centimeter before his retirement, who all his life stood and wrote against Nazism, finding his mailbox filled with e-mails calling him a Nazi or from Nazi lovers who call him a hero. We have here security, and this horrible feeling that everything you took for granted and thought would be there for you, is not there all of a sudden. But it is a simpler story. About misunderstandings, fear, lies, the attempt to crave the warm atten- tion of the spotlight before retirement. It is a story about human beings because we cant prove all the other things in this story, and it would be better if we don't even try: it is a story that buried deep in the archive and the deaths' memory, a story that is been surrounded by circle upon circles of landmines. "Are you a football player?" The case From the conference room on the fifth floor of the Sport institution at Goettingen University there's a wonderful scene, a view that some investors would pay dozens of million for it if some European artist would put it on canvas. A view that comes packaged with the pastoral silent of this university town. But on June 20th someone sprayed the picture, played screeching loud music to disturb the se- renity.
    [Show full text]
  • Parashat-Dvarim-July
    Friday July 27 Candle lighting: 7:53 pm Shabbat Service Times Friday Night – Kabbalat Shabbat 6:30 pm Old Whaler’s / Union Street Shabbat Dinner is sponsored by Elaine Rosen and Jed Supnick in memory of Usha Avraham Rosen, by Marilyn Mishaan in memory of her parents Margie and Frank Haddad by Sheila Pack in memory of her parents Bertha and Abe Kawer Shabbat Morning 9:30 am Shabbat Hazon Old Whaler’s / Union Street Kiddush is sponsored by Kim and Arthur Birnbaum SAVE THE DATES Shabbat Nachamu, August 3 & 4 Rabbi Ed Feld and poet/playwright Merle Feld will be our guests for services and Shabbat dinner. RSVP for Shabbat Dinner by Tuesday, July 31th. Plan on joining us for Havdallah (Saturday evening August 4th), when we’ll have a chance to discuss prayer with Rabbi Feld. At the rabbi’s home 7:15 pm RSVP for Discussion & Havdallah by Tuesday, July 31th. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday August 12 10:00am – 12:30pm at the home of Marcy and Emil Braun, Scuttle Hole Rd. COOKS, BAKERS, EATERS WANTED Join us as we officially launch our CSH cookbook, Ekhol B’Simcha, with a buffet “tasting” of recipes and challah baking. Special guest Cantor Marcos Askenazi, who will be with us for the High Holy Days, will join Rabbi Uhrbach in teaching some holiday melodies and will lead us in a sing-along! If you are willing to “showcase” any of your recipes from the CSH cookbook for this event please let us know. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday August 19 Rosh Hodesh Elul morning minyan (with the blowing of the shofar) followed by our annual membership meeting.
    [Show full text]
  • A Christian Zionist Perspective on The
    ISRAFAX_296.qxp 2018-08-29 12:28 PM Page 1 CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH L’I NSTITUT CANADIEN DE RECHERCHES SUR LE JUDAÏSME .. ISeptembSRAFAXer 10, 2018 1 Tishrei 5779 Volume XXVII, Number 295 P.O. Box 175, Station H, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2K7 Tel: (514) 486-5544 Fax: (514) 486-8284 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.isranet.org ISRAFAX_296.qxp 2018-08-29 12:28 PM Page 2 2 – September 10, 2018 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_296.qxp 2018-08-29 12:28 PM Page 3 Editorial Rosh Hashanah 5779 – 2018: Celebrating Israel’s 70 th (And CIJR ’s 30 th ): Sounding The Shofar “Good Arms“ [ IDF ] and “Good Laws” From the Pen of Baruch Cohen [Diplomacy] Ensure Survival, and Flourishing, In loving memory of Malka z”l of Jewish State The shofar blast, ushering in the New Year, is a symbol of peace, renewal, and of unending hope for Frederick Krantz a better world for all. It calls to mind our proud Israel Defensive Forces, th CIJR’s two Galas, celebrating its 30 and Israel’s 70th, anniversaries, span mod - guarantor of Israel’s security through their many acts th ern Israel’s development. One, in Montreal on October 14 , celebrates the role of of heroism in Israel’s wars. It also reminds us of the the Israel Defense Forces in ensuring the survival and security of the new Jewish just values of Israel’s mighty and proud people: their st state. The other, in Toronto on October 21 , underlines the increasing diplomatic heroism is matched by their desire for peace and hope recognition of democratic Israel, and of Jerusalem, within the world community.
    [Show full text]
  • Eye for an Eye: Israel's Swift and Devastating Response to the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games Two Books: Striking Back Vs
    148 Mapes Eye for an Eye: Israel's Swift and Devastating Response to the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games Two Books: Striking Back vs. Vengeance This paper owes a great deal to the work of two scholars of Israel’s Benjamin Mapes response to Munich: Aaron J. Klein’s Striking Back: the True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team and George Jonas’s Vengeance: the 1972 Ben Mapes, an undergraduate History major, wrote this paper for Dr. Roger Munich Olympic Massacre and Israel’s Deadly Response. Due to Israeli policy Beck’s HIS 2500 course, Historical Research and Writing, in spring 2009. toward the release of government documents, especially those dealing with _____________________________________________________________ covert operations, these two books, based off interviews with Mossad agents, officers, and operatives, present the most detailed and reliable evidence and facts regarding Operation: Wrath of God. Neither book has been “From the blood-drenched history of the Jewish nation, we recognized by the Israeli government as an accurate account, but, at the learn that violence which begins with the murder of Jews same time, neither has been discredited by Israel or academia. A majority of ends with the spread of violence and danger to all people, in both accounts coincide with each other, giving both accounts amazing all nations. We have no choice but to strike at terrorist credibility. There are, however, some variances between the two accounts. organizations wherever we can reach them. That is our For instance, Vengeance is based almost solely on the account of Alias: obligation to ourselves and to peace.” Avner, a man claiming to be a Mossad operative in charge of one of the 1 -Golda Meir, 1972 assassination teams, and he is personally responsible for many of the killings; in Striking Back, however, Klein’s main operative is a man named Israeli participation in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Michael Harari who organized a number of teams which killed the Germany was a global statement of momentous proportions.
    [Show full text]
  • Munich Film Review
    The Story Behind The Story: The Real Events In Munich: (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) One of the so-called Black September kidnappers on the balcony of the Israeli team quarters at the Olympic village The Munich massacre occurred at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September, assumed to be an operational cover for Yasser Arafat's Fatah group. The attack led to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and one German police officer. Five of the eight kidnappers were killed by the police during rescue attempts. Later, a series of Israeli revenge assassinations caused the deaths of two of three kidnappers (hostage-taker Jamal Al-Gashey is still at large) as well as the principal planners. Author Simon Reeve writes that the Munich massacre was one of the most significant terror attacks of recent times, one that "thrust the Palestinian cause into the world spotlight, set the tone for decades of conflict in the Middle East, and launched a new era of international terrorism" (Reeve 2001). The Hostage-Taking: Picture of German police atop the Israeli quarters awaiting orders to raid the compound. The raid was later aborted because the terrorists saw the officers on the roof via news television. www.Hiphopbattle.com • P.O. Box 6313 • Lancaster, CA 93539-6313 • [email protected] • host&hiphopbattle.com According to news sources, the Israeli athletes had enjoyed a night out on September 4, 1972, watching a performance of Fiddler on the Roof before returning to the Olympic Village.
    [Show full text]