Olympic Games Officials' Medals - Anyone Seen These Before?

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

Just thought I'd update you on the mystery of these medals, since I've now found a photo showing one of them being worn. The scan is from the special Olympic edition of 'Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung'.

Also, re. the colour of the ribbon bar on the Dr. Diem named medal, the colours are indeed the Olympic colours - the stripe that has faded to white is green when viewed from the reverse.

Any more thoughts please let me know.

All the best,
Toby.

[Mark S.]

Wooo-Hoo!

would you look at that!..way to go Toby!

As suspected, officials identification. These might not have much interest with Third Reich collectors, though both the summer and winter Olympics were in Germany, but with Olympiad collectors, these are probably exceptionally rare, and worth their weight in gold.

Something worth holding on to, or if your interest isnt there, spend some time searching for the right market. Olympic collecting is huge.

Thanks for sharing the fruits of your search, Toby!

[Chris B]

Seek and ye shall find. Well done! Cheers, CB.

[Prosper Keating]

Originally posted by TobyR
Mark,

Me too - I've tried every possible permutation and have come up with nothing. My latest idea is to buy a copy of Leni Reifenstahl's video of the Olympics - you never know maybe I'll catch a glimpse of Dr. Diem sporting such a medal.

Anyway, thanks for trying Mark.

All the best,
Toby.

You won't see these medallions or any other Olympics-related badge in Riefenstahl's documentary. Believe me, I have studied every frame of the film! In her 1937 book containing prints from the film and location stills showing the making of the film, there is a man with one of her camera teams wearing the fairly common and well known white-enamelled lapel badge depicting, like the insignia you show, the Brandenburg Gate and the Olympic symbol.

Riefenstahl told me that there were no special press or filmcrew badges and that officials and other authorised people carried ID cards. This does not mean that the medallions you show are not period items. They could be prototype insignia manufactured for approval by the Olympic Committee. They certainly have a very authentic air about them. I would not condemn them as modern fantasy pieces out of hand. The fantasy Olympics insignia are more reminiscent of Nazi party badges and the like whereas these medallions remind one of veterans' association, masonic and private club insignia of the kind common in the 1920s and 1930s.

Sorry I couldn't tell you more about them but I hope I've saved you from eyestrain at least!

Prosper

[Mark S.]

Prosper, you give every reason to condemn these, without actually doing so..yet Toby shares a picture of one in wear. Are you insinuating that the picture is doctored? What are you trying to say?

you did see the picture didnt you?

[TobyR]

Hmmn! Some interesting developments, though personally, with the evidence at hand I see no reason to doubt the medals. The photo, as mentioned previously, was taken from the Berlin Illustrated News Olympics Commemorative Edition - Part 2 (as it happens). A period photograph of an important official in a period magazine.

If the medal were a prototype why would the gentleman in the picture be sporting such an item? I think it is without doubt the same (type of) medal. Perhaps, the medals satisfy some requirement other than that of an ID pass.

All the best,
Toby.

[Mark S.]

No, no new developments, just another mans opinion, to which he is entitled. I have no doubt about the originality of these items, even if it is based on nothing more than a gut feeling....oh, and a picture of one in wear, of course!

Leni's memory wasnt the best anyway, (not that it really matters)since she seems to have forgotten all about being an ardent Nazi supporter as well.


Enjoy your Olympic collectibles !