Germany

Prior to World War II, Germany appeared at all Olympics (Winter and Summer) with the exception of 1920 and 1924, when, as an aggressor nation in World War I, it was not invited. Because of its actions in World War II, and because no true German state existed at the time, Germany was again not allowed to compete in 1948. After World War II, Germany split into two nations. The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) (West) was proclaimed in Bonn on 23 May 1949 from the former United States, British, and French Zones of Occupation. The occupying powers restored civil status on 21 September 1949. The German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East) was formed on 7 October 1949 from the former Soviet Zone of Occupation. As well, the province of Saarland formed an independent country until 1956. Saarland competed independently in 1952, its only Olympic appearance.

From 1952 to 1968, the problem of the “Two Germanies” was a major political problem for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The FRG National Olympic Committee (NOC) was formed on 24 September 1949 and requested IOC recognition immediately. On 29 August 1950, the IOC Executive Board gave provisional recognition to the FRG Olympic Committee. Full recognition came in May 1951 at the 46th IOC session in Vienna. The GDR formed an NOC on 22 April 1951 and also asked for recognition. In 1952, a German team was entered at Oslo and Helsinki. Although titularly a combined German team, it was made up entirely of athletes from the Federal Republic of Germany.

At the 51st IOC session in Paris in 1955, the GDR was granted recognition by the IOC by a vote of 27-7. However, the proviso to this recognition was that both Germanys would compete at the Olympics with a combined team. IOC President Avery Brundage boasted, “We have obtained in the field of sports what politicians have failed to achieve so far.”

In 1956, 1960, and 1964, a combined East and West German team competed under one flag. On 6 October 1965, at the 64th IOC session in Madrid, the IOC gave the GDR the right to enter a separate team at the 1968 Olympic Games. However, the decision mandated that both Germanies compete with the same uniforms, using the same flag adorned with the Olympic Symbol, and using the same anthem, the choral theme from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In addition, the GDR agreed to compete as East Germany, a name it did not recognize.

At the 68th IOC session at Mexico City in 1968, the IOC voted 44-4 that, beginning in 1972, both the FRG and the GDR could compete separately at the Olympic Games, wearing their own uniforms, and using their own flag and anthem, and with the correct names of their nations. On 3 October 1990, the GDR and the FRG dissolved their separate governments to once again form a single united German state. Competing in Albertville and Barcelona in 1992 was a single team representing a unified Germany.

Germany, wholly or separately, has always been one of the most powerful nations at the Olympics. Eight athletes have won eight or more medals while competing for Germany, led by swimmer Franziska van Almsick, though none gold, and equestrian Isabell Werth with 10 medals each. Werth also won the most gold medals for Germany with six. Two other athletes have won five gold medals for Germany: Claudia Pechstein (SSK) and Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (CAN), although Fischer-Schmidt won eight gold medals, including her performances for the GDR.

Germany has also hosted the Games of the XIth Olympiad in Berlin in 1936, the 4th Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, also in 1936, and the Games of the XXth Olympiad in Munich (then West Germany) in 1972. In addition, the 1916 Olympic Games were originally planned for Berlin, and the 1940 Olympic Winter Games were rescheduled for Garmisch-Partenkirchen after Sapporo and then St. Moritz withdrew as hosts.