A strange ribbon bar, a captain and a village

[TabsTabs1964]

These days the first ribbon bar of this year 2023 has arrived in the collection and it’s not imperial, of course.



It’s a double ribbon bar with the ribbon of the KVK 2 Class with swords and with the ribbon of the Olympic Commemorative Medal 1936 (Deutsche Olympia Erinnerungs medaille 1936) but it has an incredible miniature with the relief of the obverse of the medal (the glockenturm – bell tower of the Berlin Olympic stadium with the Olympic rings on top, between the figure of the year 19 – 36) although without the German eagle. This makes me think that it would be a more appropriate miniature for a 1957 style ribbon, of course. But the ribbon bar is original, although that element baffles me. (BTW During the investigation, the doubt was resolved: it’s the medal miniature 1957 style)

[TabsTabs1964]

The 1936 Summer Olympics



As we all know, the XI Olympic Games were held in Berlin, between August 1 and 16, 1936.



3.963 athletes of 49 nationalities participated, competing in 148 sports disciplines. There the American athlete Jesse Owens entered history

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The German commemorative medal.

Initially, on February 4, 1936, Hitler instituted a decoration for services to the 1936 Olympic Games. The 1936 German Olympic Decoration (Deutsches Olympia Ehrenzeichen 1936) for services to the Olympic Winter and/or Summer Games of 1936.

This decoration had two classes: The 1st class in the shape of a cross to hang on the neck (767 awards) and the 2nd class in the form of a ribbon with a medal hanging on the chest (3,364 awards).


The 1st class medal


Deutsche Olympia Ehrenzeichen - Generaloberst Eduard Dietl


The 2nd class medal


NSKK Marine Hauptsturmführer

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Later, on July 31, 1936, Hitler established the German Olympic Commemorative Medal 1936 (Deutsche Olympia Erinnerungsmedaille 1936)


Deutsche Olympia Erinnerungsmedaille 1936


The full medal in wear

This medal was awarded to people who did not meet the strict requirements for the award of the Olympic Medal of Honor but who, nevertheless, contributed meritoriously to the preparation and holding of the 1936 Olympic Games. People who carried out work beyond the normal demands, regardless of whether they participated voluntarily, officially or contractually.


In a triple ribbon bar


tabstabs collection

The applications were submitted by the Reich Minister of the Interior, Dr. Frick. The prize included a certificate of ownership with a facsimile signature of Hitler. Members of the Wehrmacht awarded with it had to wear it on their uniform. The German Olympic commemorative Medal was awarded a total of 54,915 times.

The medal was round with a matte and shiny silver plating, they were made with different materials. There are medals made of bronze, copper, white metal, zinc and also iron.


Für Verdienstvolle Mitarbeit Bei Den Olympischen Spielen 1936 - For Meritorious Collaboration At The Olympic Games 1936

So doing a little research on this topic I discovered some curiosities about an essential place for any Olympics, and that must be prepared in advance of the games: the Olympic Village. I also focused at the figure of a Wehrmacht Hauptman who was responsible for making that place a success and for the sad circumstances of his death: Captain Wolfgang Fürstner.

I hope you enjoy.

[TabsTabs1964]

The Berlin Olympic Village (Das Olympische Dorf)


Long before the city was decked out for the Olympics...


Long before the fire of the Olympic flame reached Berlin...


We swear to be honorable fighters at the Olympic Games and to respect the rules of the games.
We take part in a chivalrous spirit.
To the honor of our fatherland and the glory of sport...


Long before the flame entered the stadium...




And the crowds enthusiastically cheered their Führer and the athletes... Long before all that, the accommodation for the participants had to be built.

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The Berlin Olympic Village from the 1936 Summer Olympics was located in Elstal, Brandenburg, 18 kilometers west of the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
The German authorities gave the accommodation the name Dorf des Friedens (Peace Village). From the beginning of planning, it was clear that the Wehrmacht would use the facilities after the Olympic Games, because the village was built next to the Döberitz military training area. The houses were built for later military use.

The Olympic Village was planned by brothers Werner and Walter March and built between 1934 and 1936.


Propaganda image at an early stage of the works

Construction was carried out by the Construction Administration Department of the Army Administration Office of the Wehrmacht (Heeresbauverwaltungsabteilung des Heeresverwaltungsamtes der Wehrmacht) Georg Schulz was the head of the construction committee and responsible for interior design.


A military music band playing during the works, October 27, 1935


The athletes' houses under construction, already very advanced


The Hindeburghaus under construction

Below, two images of the Dining Room of Nations under construction

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The approximately 3,600 male athletes lived here with their supervisors and staff during the games, while the approximately 330 female participants were housed on the grounds of the German Sports Forum, which is located directly next to the Olympic Stadium.

Each house was named after a German city; the Dining Room of Nations, for example, was called Haus Berlin. The buildings should correspond to a layout like on a map of Germany.







If you look at one of these two plans of the Olympic village with your eyes half-closed, you will see that the shape of the village resembles the silhouette of the map of Germany at that time.




Image of the villa, almost finished

On June 10, 1936 the Wehrmacht solemnly handed over the village to the IOC. The official inauguration with Hitler's visit to the village took place on June 17.

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The village consisted of a reception building, 136 one-story and five two-story residential buildings in which no amenities were spared, a large dining room, a kitchen, the Hindenburg house, the commandant's house, a sports hall, a swimming pool, a sauna and a doctor's office and hospital.





The artistic design (including the murals) was carried out by four famous artists and illustrators who received the “Olympic Medal” for it.


An image of the entrance door to the residential complex


Residential complex guarded by the Wehrmacht

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As we said, each building was named after the city that financed the bungalow. In this way, the Wehrmacht ensured that the cost of each building was assumed by the city council of each city.




Captain Fürstner talks with the decorators of a living room in a house for athletes

Then the coat of arms in the façade and motives of decoration in the living room were determined in this way, containing paintings related to the city that had given his name to that particular house. The cities also sent prints or photographs of their landscapes and monuments to decorate the halls and bedrooms of the barracks.



Each house had a Gemeinschaftsraum or common room. The drawings on the walls referred to his name



The Reich Minister of Education entrusted the German schools of Fine Arts the decoration of the accommodations, a task that was of great benefit to the students and at the same time gave a harmonious tone and to the Olympic village. Through this cooperation project, they created 300 wall paintings and 141 emblems of households.

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The House of Nations dining room consisted of 38 dining rooms, each serving a nation for eating and socializing. It was planned so that the Olympic Stadium could be seen from the top of the three terraced floors...



From the top of the third floor terrace, far in the distance on the horizon you should see the Olympic stadium






The Olympic stadium. Then and now.