The 1936 Berlin Olympics brought together athletes, politicians, socialites, journalists, soldiers and artists from all over the world. But behind the scenes, they were a dress rehearsal for the horrors of the forthcoming conflict.
Hitler had secretly decided the Games would showcase Nazi prowess and the unwitting athletes became helpless pawns in his sinister political game. Berlin Games explores the machinations of a wide cast of characters, including sexually incontinent Nazis, corrupt Olympic officials, transvestite athletes and the mythic figure of Jesse Owens. By illuminating the dark, controversial recesses of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle, Guy Walters throws shocking new light on the whole of Europe’s troubled pre-war period.
Hitler had secretly decided the Games would showcase Nazi prowess and the unwitting athletes became helpless pawns in his sinister political game. Berlin Games explores the machinations of a wide cast of characters, including sexually incontinent Nazis, corrupt Olympic officials, transvestite athletes and the mythic figure of Jesse Owens. By illuminating the dark, controversial recesses of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle, Guy Walters throws shocking new light on the whole of Europe’s troubled pre-war period.
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Reviews
Praise for Guy Walter's previous books:
Masterfully crafted and genuinely frightening
'Gripping'
'A classic page-turner'
'Convincing and intelligent'
'Gripping, ingenious ... compelling ... reminiscent of le Carre'
'Thoroughly readable'
'Extraordinary'
Praise for Berlin Games
A comprehensive account of the events leading up to the games
'Amongst several new titles commemorating the Berlin gathering, Walters' is perhaps the definitive account, not only shattering well-entrenched myths... but shedding new light on the numerous dodgy deals struck by the Nazis to ensure the games went ahead as planned.'
'The joy of this book will be the reliving of the 1936 summer Olympics, which Walters evokes with all the cut and dash of an accomplished sports writer'
'It is a tribute to Guy Walters that the real story continues to shock 70 years on'
'A panoramic perspective of the most controversial sporting event of the 20th century... fascinating'
'A fascinating, broad canvas that brings into sharp focus the deadlier political games being played at the time'
'A superb account of the hijacking of the Olympic Games by the Nazis'