Max Schmeling

Max Schmeling is famous for his two heavyweight boxing matches against Joe Louis, in which the two men were cast in a global drama as the respective symbols of Nazi Germany and democratic America, but he is less well known for his heroic life outside the ring. Here is a web page that tells the story of Schmeling’s refusal to cooperate with the Hitler regime, including his hiding of two Jewish boys in his hotel suite during the Kristalnacht. And here is more information about his dramatic bouts with Louis, who, after becoming World Champion in 1937, felt that he would not truly be champion until he had beaten Schmeling who had defeated him in a huge upset in 1936. This led to their second bout, which Louis won. It’s nice to be reminded of a time when athletes were fine upstanding men, not the overweight sleazy pigs that all too many of them are today.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at July 25, 2004 09:58 AM | Send