1936 Summer Olympics

In 1933, a fascist party came to power in Germany. This fascist, Nazi, party was headed by Adolf Hitler. Shortly after the Hitler executed his plan to restore Germany to its former glory. As tensions began to rise the steaks for the 1936 Olympics did too. The 1936 Summer Olympics is one of the most historic Olympics due to the rise of Hitler, the threat to boycott, and one of the most courageous American hero competed. Hitler came to power in 1933 and he vowed to restore pride in the German people. After WW1 Germany took sole blame for the cause of the Great War; consequently, the German population entered a depression that completely destroyed the people’s pride. Hitler saw that the upcoming Olympics was a great opportunity to increase the country's morale by having a great showing in the summer games. In the 1936 games Germany had one of the best performances ever at any Olympics. Germany swept
Louis Zamperini grew up a poor Italian-American in New York but became a national hero after the Olympics. Zamperini set an Olympic record for the fastest final lap on the 5000 meter run. In fact his last lap was so impressive Hitler even personally complimented him on his performance. Zamperini enlisted in the army in 1941 and was captured by the Japanese in 1943. He was captured after being set adrift after he was shot down 47 days earlier. Louis Zamperini remained a prisoner of war until the end of the war; when he returned home he was giving a welcome home parade. Sadly, to due the physical trauma he sustained while in Japan he never competed in another Olympics. In the 1936 Summer Olympics the world saw many events that would forever change history. These Olympics were remembered because it allowed Hitler to restore pride in the German people, the fact that countries boycotted the games, and an American hero was showcased in the summer of