Olympian EK I's

[hucks216]

I don't collect EK's so I don't often have much to contribute to this section but recently I was able to obtain some items that belonged to a Battalion Commander who won both the EK II & I in World War 2. 

Unfortunately the EK II wasn't part of the set but along with his Wehrpass and some photos I was also able to obtain what military medals there were. Although they were all de-Nazified there were two EK I's with one having a pin fitting and the other having a screw fixing (unfortunately the screw plate was missing) with the latter having the marking of L54.

What is especially interesting is that the soldier, who finished the war as a Major, was an athlete and pre-war he competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, losing in the Semi-Finals of the 400m. He also competed in the 1938 European Championships where he won Gold in the 4x400m Final.

After the war he worked for the pastry company 'Heinemann' which was founded by his sister and her husband.

 

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

very nice, its a pity he did it to both crosses, did he run against anyone famous in the Olympics?

[hucks216]

Unfortunately I have no idea. I am not a follower of athletics so wouldn't know where to look for the runners in his heats in the Olympics or European Championships or who was and wasn't famous.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I thought maybe Jesse Owens but JO won the 100 and 200m... however, Archie Williams won the 400m and Hitler was not pleased.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Williams

Another African American came 3rd...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/400_metres#Men

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here you go, he is listed.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_400_metres

[hucks216]

That is great Chris, thanks - so he did race against the eventual Bronze medalist. 

[Brian R]

Quite an interesting set, Kevin. It is interesting to see that the screwback is de-Nazified but still clearly shows the outline of the swastika.