GERMANY AND THE 1948 OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON] BY DR. JüRgEN BUSCHMANN AND DR. KARL LENNARTZ REACTIVATION OF THE CONNECTIONS TO THE IOC owards the end of World War II, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) contained two German Tmembers: Karl Ritter von Halt and Duke Adolf Friedrich zu Mecklenburg. A third member, field-marshal Walter von Reichenau, had died in Russia of a stroke (cere- bral apoplexy) on 17th January, 1942. Even after the war zu Mecklenburg and von Halt were regularly to be found in the lists of the IOC. In Edström’s first letter to the IOC-members on 1st June, 1945, Edström voices his concern about the fate of the two Germans, since he had no information of their destinies. After the war von Halt reported to the Russian commander’s office and was arrested, remaining in the internment camp, Buchenwald, until 1950. Grete von Halt, Diem and the Duke of Mecklenburg, wrote many letters to Edström, Brundage and other IOC members, begging for help and support for him. Duke Adolf Friedrich had fled from his estates in Mecklenburg and taken refuge at a castle in Eutin, Schleswig Holstein. The former secretary-general of the Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin and the planned Winter Olympic Games 1940 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Carl Diem, was director of the International Olympic Institute, an organisation which had been founded by the “Deutsches Reich” at Coubertin’s insti- gation. In this function Diem edited the “Olympische Rundschau” (Olympic Review) for the IOC “with official gazettes of the International Olympic Committee”. Further he participated in the 50th anniversary of the IOC in Lausanne in June, 1944. After the end of the war, which he had spent in Berlin, Diem immediately took to lecturing to Page 22 — Journal of Olympic History students and organizing sport on the “Reichssportfeld.” SESSION IN LAUSANNE Even after the German capitulation he still considered him- WITHOUT GERMAN PARTICIPATION self to be the director of the Olympic Institute and editor of t seems that Edström had sent Diem an invitation to the “Olympische Rundschau” (Olympic Review). the 39th IOC meeting in Lausanne.9 At any rate the According to his letter of appointment his term of office was Duke of Mecklenburg made inquiries since he had not 2 I to last until 31st December, 1948. On 21st August, 1945 he received one. If Germany were to be excluded from the wrote to his friend Avery Brundage who was a member of Games in 1948 he, the Duke, would immediately resign the Executive Committee of the IOC. Diem declared his membership of the IOC. He had also informed Edström of willingness to continue the work of the International this intention. As Diem had thought, the question of Olympic Institute and to pass his knowledge and experi- German exclusion had not yet been decided, Mecklenburg ence gained at the 1936 Olympic Games, on to the next host agreed not to send in his letter of resignation. He hoped 3 of the Olympics. that Diem would be nominated as the third German IOC In a letter addressed to the acting IOC president member as successor to von Reichenau. 4 Edström , written on the same day, Diem writes: The former IOC member, Theodor Lewald, expressed “According to radio news, the similar opinions in a comprehensive Olympic Committee is planning to letter to Aberdare. This letter had stage a convention in London in been drafted by Diem. Six months the near future. You can imagine ON 18Th DECEMBER, 1945 later the Duke once more mentioned that my thoughts will be with DiEM WROTE TO the topic of membership to Diem 5 you” Diem was referring to the BRUNDAgE, SUGGESTING and once again asked for a nomina- conference of the Executive tion of a further candidate. Diem Committee in London from 21st - SETTING UP AN OLYMPIC replied by saying that von Halt 24th August, 1945. The participants ACADEMY IN BERLIN. THIS would not be a suitable candidate Edström, Brundage and Lord after his release from Buchenwald. Aberdare particularly discussed ACADEMY WAs TO Diem himself was prepared to act as the topic of host country for the BECOME A CONNECTION a candidate, suggesting Peco 1948 Games. A German participa- BETWEEN THE FORMER Bauwens as the third German repre- tion was not on the agenda of dis- sentative. Mecklenburg agreed and cussion. In Arnd Krüger’s6 opin- “DEUTscHE HOCHscHULE wrote to Edström to this end. ion, the Executive Committee was FüR LEiBEsBUNgEN” AND Bauwens informed Diem who gave of the opinion that Germany THE INTERNATIONAL himself as deeply honoured. should not take part in the 1948 On 21st May, Edström informed Games. Nothing of the kind, how- OLYMPIC INSTITUTE. Diem that a participation in ever, can be found in the minutes of Lausanne, however would not be meeting and in Edström’s circular appropriate. Nevertheless Diem, in letter written to the IOC members on 1st September, 1945. hoping for a renewed invitation, offered his services for At the beginning of January, 1945, still wartime as it were, the organization of the Olympic Games in London, whilst Avery Brundage had mentioned in an interview that inwardly fearing that his Olympic activities had come to Germany and Japan would be invited to the Olympic an end. In the summer of 1946 Edström sent invitations to Games if they were politically and economically recog- IOC members including Mecklenburg for the planned nized.7 meeting. The Duke, who would not have received per- On 17th December, 1945 the Allied Control Council mission to go abroad by the occupational authorities, passed the Directive Nr. 23, according to which all German declined, since he did not want to take part in a meeting sports organizations had to be dissolved by 1st January, which planned to exclude Germany. 1946. Diem did not seem to have applied this to the In a letter to Mecklenburg, Diem criticized Edström International Olympic Institute. stating that Edström had not given him sufficient support. On 18th December, 1945 Diem wrote to Brundage, sug- He asked Mecklenburg, however, to bide his time and not gesting setting up an Olympic Academy in Berlin. This to resign his membership. In two further letters 10, academy was to become a connection between the former Edström advised Diem: “that I would dissuade you from “Deutsche Hochschule für Leibesübungen” and the your participation in Lausanne”. Diem followed International Olympic Institute. “Sports students from all Edström’s advice. Nevertheless he offered his services to over the world were to be educated in courses of one year the continuation of the Olympic Institute and as editor of duration with the USA”8 covering the expenses. the “Olympische Rundschau” (Olympic Review). July, Fall, 1998 — Page 23 1946 was party to Mecklenburg receiving an answer from ing the German Athletics Championships which took place Edström maintaining that the German participation had not in Frankfurt on 25th August, 1946. This committee was able yet been decided one way or the other. The Duke replied to name under its members: Diem13, Peco Bauwens the that due to the zonal divisions, it would be difficult to nom- later chairman of the German Football Commission, inate a powerful team. The ensuing exchange of letters Ludwig Wolker the president of the DJK (German Catholic between Edström and Diem dealt with the whereabouts of Sport Organization), Heinrich Sorg speaker of the Executive the Olympic Flag and of the “official chains”, which the IOC Committee of the SPD (Social Democratic Party) and Hugo members had received in 1936. Grömmer secretary of the Zonal Sports Council of the From 2nd - 7th September, 1946, the IOC held a meeting British zone of occupation. This Committee made the in Lausanne. Only 17 IOC members took part in this 39th preparations for the conference their object.14 meeting. 13 new members were appointed, nine of whom The journalist, Karl Brinkmann, was the liaison man were present. Edström and Brundage were elected as presi- between the County Sports Association Hessen and the dent and vice-president, respectively. Edström subsequently county government. Brinkmann issued invitations to the sent the five page protocol to both the Duke and Diem. It assembly which took place on 26th - 28th November, 1946. contained no reference concerning The actual aim: “to produce a uni- the exclusion or inclusion of form sports organization for the Germany at the 1948 Games. In whole of Germany” 15 was not spite of this, the IOC decided to achieved. Nevertheless Diem was edit a new “Olympische THE CONFERENCE START of the opinion that a German 11 Rundschau” (Olympic Review) WAs BESET WITH QUARRELs Sports Committee had been creat- from the Swiss, Otto Mayer. ed: “which stays in action until an Edström however called upon As BRINKMANN official German Sports Diem to make contributions. 12 HAD NOT INVITED Administration is born. This Edström added the handwritten Sports Committee contains repre- sentence: “Unfortunately the anti- SEVERAL COUNTY sentatives of the sports associa- German mood is still very AssOCIATIONs. tions in the western and southern strong”. The second edition of the FURTHER, zones as well as personal mem- “Bulletin des Comité International bers, who are known to the Olympique”, dated 16th Dec- AN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE renowned prelate Wolker and ember, 1946, contained a list of WAs NOT FOUNDED, myself. The chairman of the addresses of all the NOC’s. The EVEN A PLANNED Sports Association of Hessen is in list also named Germany, howev- charge of the Committee”. er, without an address. The direc- OLYMPIC CEREMONY The conference start was tive No. 23 and the edition of a DID NOT COME ABOUT. beset with quarrels as Brinkmann new official authority finally had not invited several County ended Diem’s term of office as an Associations.