How the 1972 Munich Olympic Games turned into tragedy
The crisis precipitated by Black September at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games led to the deaths of 11 Israelis and a police officer. Learn more about the event in this video.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where Palestinian militants killed 11 Israelis.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the Munich massacre, in which members of the militant Palestinian group Black September took 11 Israeli athletes hostage during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany; all the hostages were killed.
Transcript
NARRATOR: In the summer of 1972, the Munich Olympic Games are to be a cheerful event. These are the pictures of the first days. But on the morning of the 11th day, eight Palestinian terrorists enter the Olympic Village. They manage to approach the Israeli accommodation unchecked. Two athletes die, nine are taken hostage – just a few manage to get away. Even while the victims' bodies are taken from the scene, the terrorists make their demands. More than 100 Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails are to be exchanged for the nine hostages from Israel.
ABU DAOUD: "If we can, we have to squeeze our cause in 500 million houses all over the world."
NARRATOR: It is the end of the cheerful games. The German security services are caught out, completely unprepared for the attack. The crisis management team negotiates with the terrorist leader, Issa. The attackers set ultimatums. The police want to play for time.
ULRICH WEGENER: "These were all just helpless attempts. The German side had nothing to offer. We didn't have any special units, nor marksmen or any other specialists."
NARRATOR: Instead, ordinary uniformed police prepare as inconspicuously as possible for an attempt to free the hostages. But the deployment doesn’t go unnoticed.
MANFRED OMMER: "I mean, if I can watch what’s going on on TV don’t they also have TV?"
NARRATOR: Dozens of cameras broadcast the pictures of the police operation to the whole world. The terrorists react nervously and soon want to be flown out.
HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER: "I have to say that during my entire political career, these were the hardest, by far the hardest, hours. The feeling that in the end I can’t do anything to help."
NARRATOR: Two helicopters fly the hostages and their attackers to Fürstenfeldbruck airfield.
PAUL BLANKENHAGEL: "For the first time I had the feeling that I should say a lord’s prayer. Who knows if this will end well."
NARRATOR: Five snipers versus eight terrorists. They light their hand grenades. All of the nine Israeli hostages die.
WEGENER: "Even today I still see this as one of the toughest crises – that’s how I want to put it – in the German post-war era."
NARRATOR: This is a new dimension of international terrorism.
ULRICH PABST: "From this point on, the world was no longer as it had been. Germany changed and our security requirements changed. It was a serious wake-up call for all of us."
NARRATOR: Since then, the terrorist attack has cast a shadow over the history of the Olympics.
ABU DAOUD: "If we can, we have to squeeze our cause in 500 million houses all over the world."
NARRATOR: It is the end of the cheerful games. The German security services are caught out, completely unprepared for the attack. The crisis management team negotiates with the terrorist leader, Issa. The attackers set ultimatums. The police want to play for time.
ULRICH WEGENER: "These were all just helpless attempts. The German side had nothing to offer. We didn't have any special units, nor marksmen or any other specialists."
NARRATOR: Instead, ordinary uniformed police prepare as inconspicuously as possible for an attempt to free the hostages. But the deployment doesn’t go unnoticed.
MANFRED OMMER: "I mean, if I can watch what’s going on on TV don’t they also have TV?"
NARRATOR: Dozens of cameras broadcast the pictures of the police operation to the whole world. The terrorists react nervously and soon want to be flown out.
HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER: "I have to say that during my entire political career, these were the hardest, by far the hardest, hours. The feeling that in the end I can’t do anything to help."
NARRATOR: Two helicopters fly the hostages and their attackers to Fürstenfeldbruck airfield.
PAUL BLANKENHAGEL: "For the first time I had the feeling that I should say a lord’s prayer. Who knows if this will end well."
NARRATOR: Five snipers versus eight terrorists. They light their hand grenades. All of the nine Israeli hostages die.
WEGENER: "Even today I still see this as one of the toughest crises – that’s how I want to put it – in the German post-war era."
NARRATOR: This is a new dimension of international terrorism.
ULRICH PABST: "From this point on, the world was no longer as it had been. Germany changed and our security requirements changed. It was a serious wake-up call for all of us."
NARRATOR: Since then, the terrorist attack has cast a shadow over the history of the Olympics.