Field handball was only part of the Olympic program once, at the 1936 Berlin Games. The German Reich dominated their two preliminary round matches, beating Hungary 22-0 and then the USA 29-1, before winning all three matches in the final round, including a 10-6 win over Austria in the deciding match that won the gold medal. Günther Ortmann played two matches in Berlin and scored seven goals. Two years later, the inaugural World Championships in both field and indoor handball were held, which were both won by Germany. He won 16 international caps, although some sources say 22, whilst others say 24.
Ortmann was also a very good decathlete and turned to handball after playing fistball and soccer. In 1944 he was seriously injured whilst serving as a captain on the Eastern Front in World War II. After the war he became a coach and sports official. He also wrote frequently in the local press about sport and especially equestrian events. By profession, Ortmann was a policeman. In 2002 he died following a stroke.
Germany