Olympic oaks
The Olympic oaks or, informally, Hitler oaks are the English oak trees grown from the year-old saplings given to the gold medal winners of the 1936 Olympic Games, in Berlin, which was seen as Adolf Hitler's games. They were called "Olympic oaks" at the time. Not many are known, and less have survived. Not all of the trees, if any, were presented by Hitler, Lovelock's for example, being presented by Dr Theodor Lewald, and Boardman's being collected by members of his crew. 130 gold medals were awarded, and a corresponding number of trees.
Germany
While the largest number of oaks was given to German athletes, who won the most medals, many are said to be planted near the stadium, though no record was kept, and they would be difficult to identify among the many oaks in the vicinity.
New Zealand
- Jack Lovelock's tree is at Timaru High School.[1]
United Kingdom
- The sapling presented to Jack Beresford was planted in the grounds of Bedford School.[2] It was removed many years later when building work was undertaken. The wood was used to make presentation shields for the rowing club.[3]
- Harold Whitlock's sapling was presented to Hendon School, and was removed due to fungal disease in July 2007.[4]
- Christopher Boardman's oak was planted in How Hill, Norfolk and was still standing as of December 2013.[5]
United States
- Jesse Owen won four gold medals and so had four trees
- One tree was planted in James Rhodes High School in Cleveland, Ohio.[4]
- One may have been planted at Ohio State University.[6]
- Cornelius Johnson's tree is still standing in his childhood home.
- John Woodruff (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) was the first African American to win gold in the 1936 Olympics (800 Meters). He brought his oak home to Connellsville and planted it in the northwest corner of the High School Stadium (Campbell Field) in Connellsville where it still stands as of 2011, with a plaque.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Vice
- ^ Arthur Mee (January 1951) [April 1939]. The Counties of Bedford and Huntingdon. p. 23.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "Greg Denieffe: 'Hitler Oaks'". Hear The Boat Sing. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- ^ a b "Hitler's Olympic oak gift to Briton axed | UK news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
- ^ "Norfolk How Hill 'Hitler's oak' Olympic gift saved". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
- ^ Vince Grzegorek. "Jesse Owens' Tree from Hitler in Cleveland | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog". clevescene.com. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- ^ http://triblive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_746204.html