Stamps series "Summer Olympia set 1936"

The surtax on these stamps was supposed to go to be for the Olympic Games but actually was given to Hitler’s Culture Fund which donated to the building of the stadiums.

These stamps were sold by all German P.O’s and also through various sports organisations. The Halle/Saale P.O. sold a few of these stamps by mistake on the 5th May 1936. After the date of validity all remaining stocks were destroyed.

Preparations for the Eleventh Olympic Games in Berlin, August 1st thru 16th 1936, were planned with typical German thoroughness. The main stadium took 2,200 men 2 years and 3 months to build at a cost of 77,000,000 Marks, but brought in a return of 500,000,000 Marks. Smaller stadiums, swimming pools, special roads, underground stations; no expense was spared to do things on a magnificent scale. Unfortunately not all in the name of sport, they were to afford the Nazis an opportunity to impress the world with their achievements, and a German victory from Hitler’s point of view would be more a moral and political one than merely a sporting one.

As he said later, 12th April 1942; "These Games were, it is universally agreed, the most unfortunate ever held; being marred by various diplomatic protests of the greatest virulence. Hitler himself behaved childishly, refusing to present awards to coloured or Jewish athletes, and these Games were dominated by the great coloured athlete", Jesse Owen.

Thirty two Nations competed in these Games.