Hitler did shake hands with Owen. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gurkha · #1 08-11-2009, 10:52 PM

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090812/jsp/frontpage/story_11350737.jsp

“The predominating opinion in post-war Germany was that Hitler had ignored Owens. We therefore decided not to report on the photo. The consensus was that Hitler had to continue to be painted in a bad light in relation to Owens.”

Owens also said later that he was treated better in Germany by society than in America where racism was still rife.

'I was welcomed in hotels in Germany where white folks stayed and ate at the same tables with them,' he said. 'I couldn’t have done that in America.'

After receiving a ticker-tape parade through New York upon his return he was forced to use the freight elevator at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to get to the reception held in his honour because black people were not allowed to use the one reserved for the all-white clientele.

Owens was never invited to the White House and never even received a letter of congratulations from the president.

Almost two decades passed before another American president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, honoured Owens by naming him Ambassador of Sports in 1955

Ara T. · #2 08-11-2009, 11:03 PM

Poor misunderstood Germans

t walgamuth · #3 08-11-2009, 11:09 PM

Interesting. I read an article written by the best long jumper in Germany at those olympics. He said the Owens gave him some pointers which helped him out and he was able to improve his jumping, but not enough to beat Owens.

If I had been that reporter I probably would not have reported the Hitler handshake either.

Eric · #4 08-12-2009, 12:38 AM

wouldnt want hitler to look like a nice guy to a country wanting to go to war with him

Hatterasguy · #5 08-12-2009, 01:07 AM

Hitler was a very smart politcian, and in 1936 he needed support.

I do beleive he probably shook his hand, because he wanted it to be reported in the paper maybe, but with no proof he could later deny it. I highly doubt he wanted to be seen as storming out because a black guy won, in 1936 that would not have benifited him.

I wish the picture was still around and could be made public, it would be a good case study on politics. Also whichever version is true, as a history buff I would like the record to be correct if its wrong.

Gurkha · #6 08-12-2009, 01:13 AM

The world is still in politics and its still being done till today.

t walgamuth · #7 08-12-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

wouldnt want hitler to look like a nice guy to a country wanting to go to war with him

I think the point is that Hitler was NOT a nice guy. In 1933 it may not have been clear to everybody but he had already done a fair share of killing in Germany to rise to power.

With the internet it would be a lot harder to hide all the stuff he did today providing there is a free press.

LUVMBDiesels · #8 08-12-2009, 07:33 AM

Such a nice guy, and he loved dogs too...

Gurkha · #9 08-12-2009, 08:01 AM

Any rise to power comes usually at cost of life, one way or another.

Dee8go · #10 08-12-2009, 08:55 AM

I saw a tee shirt somewhere not too long ago that said:

"Hitler, How come nobody ever talks about the good things he did?"

I thought that was pretty funny.

MTUpower · #11 08-12-2009, 10:18 AM

It's not so black and white until we view it with 20/20 hindsight. Matter of fact Hitler's rise was cheered by many, many people. More people ought to study that today, because some of us know if you do not understand history you are doomed to repeat it.

Hatterasguy · #12 08-12-2009, 10:47 AM

JFK's father loved him, a lot of people cheered for Hitler. You have to remember Hitler and the Nazi party were freely elected, it took them years to get enough of a majority to seize power. But up until that point they were just another German political party trying to get elected. People in all country's need to remember this. I always cringe in this country when we try to get rid of the safety checks our founding fathers put in place to hopefully prevent a Hitler from getting himself elected. The recent move to get rid of the electoral college comes to mind. The masses can be fooled, the point of such a system is to hopefully prevent such a person from taking office if they ever fool the masses.

He also did a lot of good in Germany before the war. He reduced unemployment, got the economy going, and restored national pride. He also got Germany out from under the crushing Versailles treaty.

The Autobahn, VW, assualt rifle, and modern warefare are all things he helped push along.

If he hadn't been a crazy racist SOB that wanted to take over Europe and depopulate it, he might have been remembered very positivly in Germany.

Gurkha · #13 08-12-2009, 10:48 AM

We are repeating history, no ifs and or buts, one way or other.

Gurkha · #14 08-12-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

JFK's father loved him, a lot of people cheered for Hitler.

He also did a lot of good in Germany before the war. He reduced unemployment, got the economy going, and restored national pride.

The Autobahn, VW, assualt rifle, and modern warefare are all things he helped push along.

If he hadn't been a crazy racist SOB that wanted to take over Europe and depopulate it, he might have been remembered very positivly in Germany.

Don't forget Henry Ford as well, lots of rich US industrialists financed him as well. He took Germany to heights in a short span of time unlike no other, he was an ultra nationalist in every sense. From V2 to the initial stages of the Atom bomb are credited to Germany of Hitler's era.

His other acts against people of particular sect were definitely not commendable in any sense.

Hatterasguy · #15 08-12-2009, 10:55 AM

It was an interesting period of history for sure. It should always serve as a warning to free peoples that tyrants can get elected, vigilance is need.