Olympic Torch

Olympic Games 1972 in Munich

This is one of the original torches from the 1972 Munich Olympics. It is made of stainless steel and was manufactured by the West German company Georg Tyczka KG in Geretsried near Munich. The flame was produced by means of a liquid gas cartridge, which was inserted into the torch from below.

The 1972 Munich Games were supposed to be a celebration of joy, with which the Federal Republic wanted to show the world that it was a cosmopolitan, peace-loving and progressive nation that had overcome the dark Nazi past. However, the Games were overshadowed by an attack on the Israeli team by Palestinian terrorists, in which 17 people were killed, including five assassins. As is known today, the GDR knew about the terrorists' assassination plans. In addition, the Palestinians received support from West German neo-Nazis.