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Can Sport Form a National-Socialist Elite? The Example of SS Sports

2014; Routledge; Volume: 31; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09523367.2014.922546

1743-9035

Berno Bahro,

European history and politics

Heinrich Himmler, leader of the Schutzstaffel (SS, Protection Squadron), regarded sports and sports competitions as efficient means to strengthen the importance of his organisation. The members of the SS were obligated to obtain the sports badges of the Sturmabteilung (SA, Storm Detachment) and the ‘German Sports Badge’, thereby – according to national socialist ideology – promoting a ‘natural selection’ and guaranteeing the formation of an elitist troop. The SS wanted to ensure they could successfully compete with other organisations during nationwide sports events and to nominate 50% of the members of the German Olympic Team. Moreover, the athletic rivalry between SS and SA continued in the struggle over the leadership within German sports. The SS tried to occupy as many positions of party officials as possible and consequently SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich saw himself as the legitimate successor of the Reichssportführer,1 1. On April 28, 1933, Hans von Tschammer und Osten was first named Reichskommissar für Turnen und Sport (Commissioner for Gymnastics and Sports of the Reich). On July 19, 1933, he was elevated from Hitler to Reichssportführer and the whole sports sphere in Germany was placed under his power. the leader of the national socialistic sports system.