Nazi Influence on Football

The Nazis recognized football's potential as a tool for propaganda and national pride, leading to their promotion of the sport across Germany. As part of their regime, they dismantled worker and church-run clubs, replacing them with organizations aligned with their ideology, which included barring Jewish athletes from participation. In preparation for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Nazis ensured that anti-Jewish imagery was concealed to present an image of a unified and strong Germany. The intention was to leverage football's popularity to showcase their strength, as matches were certain to fill stadiums and generate revenue.