NAZI GERMANY
STAMPS
1936

MICHEL 611
11th OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
(Berlin)

These stamps went on sale 9th May 1936 (until 31 May 1936) through the post office and sports organisations, three months prior to the start of the games (1st August 1936) in an effort to generate awareness of the upcoming event.

The games were not quite the spectacle of Aryan prowess that Hitler had wanted as a black American, Jessie Owens, stole the show with 4 Gold medals in the track and field events. He was credited with "single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy", although he "wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either". On the first day of competition, 1 August 1936, Hitler shook hands with only the German victors and then left the stadium. Olympic committee officials insisted Hitler greet every medalist or none at all. Hitler opted for the latter and skipped all further medal presentations.

Valid for use until 30 June 1937. Designed by Eschle and engraved on sheets (10x10) and in booklets. Produced on yellowish paper with swatika watermark and Perf K14.