Most of the video that I’ve looked at for Opening Ceremony Theater has been funny, moving, or just plain weird. This is the only video that I’ve seen that is frightening. Delegations of athletes walking in perfect goose step, and as they get to Fuhrer, they all raise their hands in the Nazi salute. Seeing countries that were ravaged by Hitler’s Third Reich-Poland in particular-stopping to pay respect to Hitler is jaw-droppingly sad.
That really is truly terrifying.
What a scary event! My how things have changed, Germany is now (luckily) under a democratic government. I really hope nothing like that will ever happen again at an Opening Ceremony. Even the non-German (and possibly anti-Nazi) athletes saluting Hitler, it really felt like he was ruling the world at the time. Thank God he didn’t!
Check your history. Most countires we NOT giving the Nazi salute. At the time, the Olypmic salute was an outstretched arm held at should height, very similar to the Nazi salute (in which the arm is raised somewhat). It is one of the reasons is was not used by the US and other countries for fear it would be construed as a salute to Hitler. I am not condonning the Nazi’s or their movement, however this is a cause for confusion with some. I am sure some countires were trying to represent the Olympic ideal in the political environement of the Berlin games.