{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwii-1936-berlin-olympic-games-commemorative-porcelain-bell-coin-bank-with-bottom-plate","title":"Original German Pre-WWII 1936 Berlin Olympic Games Commemorative Porcelain Bell Coin Bank with Bottom Plate","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. The 1936 Olympic Games is a confusing study. The most hospitable and dramatic Games up to that point were hosted by one of the cruelest regimes in history. Awarded to Germany in 1931, the Games of the XI Olympiad became a propaganda spectacle for the NSDAP. With the full financial and organizing force of the NSDAP government behind the planning, the 1936 Games transformed the Olympics from an underfunded amateur competition into a spectacle that nations could look toward for both an economic and public relations boost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an extremely scarce porcelain coin bank made and issued to commemorate the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The bell shaped bank is a replica of the Berlin Bell Tower bell, and marked on the sides with the German Eagle over the Olympic rings on one side, and the Brandenburg Gate on the other. It is approximately 4 1\/4 inches tall and 4 inches wide at the base, which retains the original locking plate (key not included). The top part of the bell has a slot where coins were inserted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAround the bottom it is marked with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1.-16. August 1936\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e1.Olympische Spiele Berlin\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (11th Olympic Games Berlin), with \u003cem\u003eSwas's\u003c\/em\u003e (hook crosses) between the statements. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe bottom is maker marked Erzeugnis der Porzellanſtadt Selb\u003cstrong\u003e BAYER.OSTMARK\u003c\/strong\u003e in green. These were originally issued with a display base, which is no longer present. Condition is excellent, showing just some wear on the bottom ring, with no chips or cracks we can see.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn outstanding example, ready for further research and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGerman Olympic Committee officials Carl Diem and Theodor Lewald undertook the massive responsibility of planning Games that would outdo the 1932 Games in Los Angeles and meet the NSDAP standard for large, organized events. During the preparations, the NSDAP removed Lewald, who had Jewish ancestry, from his official post as Olympic Committee President and demoted him to advisor. Despite the change, the remaining members of the German Olympic Committee were determined to outdo all previous Olympic hosts in size, accommodations, and pageantry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most defining innovations of the 1936 Olympics was the Olympic Torch Relay. Never before in either the ancient or modern Olympics had a torch been lit in Athens and carried to the Games. With cooperation from Greece and every nation along the route, the first Olympic torch arrived in Berlin for the opening of the Games via a young male runner chosen by AH himself for embodying the Aryan ideal. The Games were also the first to be televised with closed circuit feeds present throughout the Olympic Village. Acclaimed filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl revolutionized sport documentaries with Olympia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Games are also famous for the accomplishments of American sprinter Jesse Owens. Owens, an African American, won four gold medals in the Track and Field events, prompting spectators around the world to declare that he disproved AH’s notions of Aryan superiority. Reporters at the time declared that AH had snubbed Owens by refusing to shake his hand. The previous day, AH had been warned about acknowledging athletes publicly. The president of the International Olympic Committee informed AH that he could not publicly congratulate only German winners. He must acknowledge all winners or none. AH, not wanting to cause a very visible international incident at the Games, decided to remain a spectator while in public view. Behind the scenes, however, he would congratulate all German medal winners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeading up to the Games, newspapers around the world had printed stories of the harsh treatment of Jews in Germany, and many attendees expected the worst. However, the picture of Germany seen by athletes and spectators was one of hospitality, order, and patriotism. In order to project the image a progressive, orderly nation, the NSDAP ordered the removal of all public anti-Semitic signs and publications. The open persecution of Jewish citizens was effectively put on hold in all areas that could be accessible to outsiders. Some reporters and Olympic officials hoped that this signaled a softer approach to racial issues in Germany, but it was short lived. Members of the International Olympic Committee were confident that hosting the Games had positively influenced Germany and would make them more cooperative in international affairs. After the Olympics ended, the NSDAP were even more emboldened and took further steps to marginalize and persecute Jews, political dissenters, and other “undesirables.” In fact, AH was planning to make the Olympics his own, permanently staging the Games in Nuremberg beginning in 1944.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44543012667461,"sku":"ONAC25SD0658","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC25SD0658__01.jpg?v=1768588110","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwii-1936-berlin-olympic-games-commemorative-porcelain-bell-coin-bank-with-bottom-plate","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}