joe louis and max schmeling Flashcards
(11 cards)
when did they fight
1936 and 1938
schemling won first time, louis won 2nd
louis was world heavyweight champ in 1938, but didn’t consider himself so bcs of the one loss
1938 fight
aka greatest fight of our generation
rematch for 1936 non-title fight where louis lost in 12th round KO
this time, louis won with first round KO
55% US pop tuned in via radio
lewis erenberg
says the match transformed louis from AA hero to all-american hero
first step for americans to redefine national identity as ethically and racially diverse
joe louis
nicknamed brown bomber, 1936 heavyweight champ
white americans rooted for him despite lynching history
policy of appeasement
hitler was chancellor, established germany
european politicians gave hitler access to austria in attempt to prevent WWII
only made him more bold
fritz kuhn
promoted anti-semitism in US w german american bund
reaction to schmeling
US jewish leaders feared if he won, would promote nazism
match organziers said he’d be a martyr if he was prevented from fighting
US media protrayed him as a villain/nazi, even tho he was very anti-nazi and saved 2 jewish citizens while in the military
- refused to join nazi party
- drafted
why did joe louis win
- high lvl motivation
- intense training, avoided leisure, affairs
- first loss alleged bcs affair w sonia henie - sparring partners made him stop dropping his left hanf
- schmeling unsettled…fans threw cigs/cups, his cornerman left
joseph goebbels
propaganda minister, banned display of fight in germany
richard wright
joe louis winning defied nazi racial laws
aftermath
AA to all american hero
media coverage from savage to humane
louis and schmeling friends
history shows schmeling not nazi
white americans reflected on race bcs of jesse ownes and louis
- AAs fighting in WWII
- move towards desegregation
