Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., August 24, 2008 Av 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:09 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
The iconic picture of a Black September terrorist standing on the balcony of an Olympic Village apartment after the Israeli athletes were taken hostage. (AP)
Last update - 11:56 30/06/2008
German prof.: Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves in Munich massacre
By Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Munich, Black September 

Berlin - A German academic has claimed that there is a possibility that the 11 Israeli athletes who were massacred by Palestinian militants during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich knew of the attack in advance but willfully sacrificed themselves, the German weekly Der Spiegel reported on Saturday.

At an academic conference last week, Prof. Arnd Kruger of the Institute for Sport Studies at the University of Gottingen compared the 1929 massacre of Hebron Jews with the athletes' refusal to leave the Olympic Village despite alleged prior knowledge of the attack.

During the 1972 Summer Olympics an offshoot of the Palestinian Fatah movement called Black September took over the apartment of the Israeli team, taking them hostage. After nerve wrecking negotiations, the 11 athletes, as well as a German police officer and five of the eight perpetrators, were killed in a botched rescue attempt.
Advertisement
Der Spiegel's Web site quoted Kruger as saying that "the athletes sacrificed themselves in Israel's service."

Kruger told Haaretz he did not remember making such statement. He said he only sought to address unanswered questions about the massacre.

He said he was a journalist in Munich in 1972 and that he remembered Israelis telling him they think security at the Olympic Village was not tight enough.

The possibility that the Israeli team chose not to leave despite being well aware of the risk must be voiced, he said.

Kruger maintained that the fact that some of them did not run away when the terrorists came in was because of the self-sacrifice ideal of the Israeli ethos.

He said he wonders how it is possible that Shaul Ladany, who was a racewalker, managed to escape and others didn't, bearing in mind he was neither a sprinter nor a long jumper, and was visually impaired.

Kruger said he had sought to bolster his claims with sociological explanations. He said Israelis have a "different perception of the body," and that the abortion rate in Israel is relatively high.

Israeli officials in Germany were infuriated by Kruger's remarks. Ilan Mor of the Israeli embassy in Berlin told Der Spiegel that he sees it as a disturbing attempt to de-humanize Israel, and called on the university management to take disciplinary action against Kruger, who is a former dean of the social science department.

Mor said Kruger's remarks are a symptom of the "rampant anti-Semitism in Germany, often veiled under criticism of Israel."

The German Sports Sciences Association dubbed Kruger's remarks "unfortunate," and said the disciplinary board will convene next week to discuss the case.

Related articles:
  • Sports broadcaster who covered 1972 Munich massacre, Jim McKay, dies at 86
  • Germany pins hopes on Munich to hold Winter Games 2018, first since Nazi era

    More Jewish World news and features
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Nail in the coffin?
    Haniyeh: Arrival of blockade-busting boats spells end of Gaza siege.
    Operation Shalit
    Islamic Jihad urges Palestinian groups to kidnap Israeli soldiers.
      1.   The concept is not new 21:30  |  Arie 28/06/08
      2.   Huhhhhhhhhh? 22:04  |  6 Million Jews 28/06/08
      3.   sacrifice at munich olympics 22:31  |  Rachel Simson 28/06/08
      4.   Anti-semite 22:34  |  Mary 28/06/08
      5.   Candidate for deep psychoanalysis... 23:05  |  Esther 28/06/08
      6.   risk != yearning to die 23:11  |  max 28/06/08
      7.   Munich Massacre 23:21  |  m 28/06/08
      8.   jewish self sacrificed 23:30  |  mother from north 28/06/08
      9.   They all (anti-Semites, that is) come out of their holes 23:35  |  AA 28/06/08
      10.   German revisionism 23:59  |  ulf 28/06/08
      11.   To Arie from BaGolan 00:06  |  Lebanese in Canada 29/06/08
      12.   He is defending Israel and u see him insulting???!!!@$#@$ 00:46  |  Sharif Hafez 29/06/08
      13.   And what was gained by this so-called sacrifice? 00:54  |  McQueen 29/06/08
      14.   German remain germans 00:58  |  rondi 29/06/08
      15.   Enoughhhhh 01:36  |  An Israeli 29/06/08
      16.   And what to expect from Jews? 01:40  |  Harry 29/06/08
      17.   #10 02:18  |  Sami 29/06/08
      18.   Mary: You Really Are Certifiable 02:20  |  Tex 29/06/08
      19.   Sharif: Murdered People Don`t Ask For It 02:24  |  Tex 29/06/08
      20.   Another Iranian statement 03:20  |  Paul 29/06/08
      21.   Heak! 03:22  |  Paul 29/06/08
      22.   Germany will turn into Muslim land 03:25  |  Fred 29/06/08
      23.   Munich Massacre: Sharif is clueless? 03:27  |  Avner 29/06/08
      24.   What do we have? 03:36  |  Axel 29/06/08
      25.   Much Learning Has Made This Man Foolish! 04:19  |  Lavi 29/06/08
      26.   Absurd and offensive! 05:27  |  sg 29/06/08
      27.   Freedom of speech 06:24  |  Amos 29/06/08
      28.   Sylvia Browne the "psychic" claims Jews willingly sacrificed.. 06:42  |  PK 29/06/08
      29.   Article was confusing 06:43  |  Donald 29/06/08
      30.   After Nazis were defeated all Germans could whine about was.. 06:48  |  PK 29/06/08
      31.   German obsession with Jews never ends, even after.. 06:50  |  PK 29/06/08
      32.   The guy seems to be a faschist 07:43  |  Eugene 29/06/08
      33.   KRUGER blame shifting.It was Germany`s duty to guard & defend the 07:51  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      34.   Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves in Munich massac 08:19  |  Dave Bing 29/06/08
      35.   AXEL Trying to shoot the messenger.Spiegel is quoting Kruger 08:42  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      36.   mary - antisemitism - 2. try 09:27  |  scallywag 29/06/08
      37.   Why didn`t the Israeli athletes leave... 09:44  |  Maureen Ann 29/06/08
      38.   Esther # 5 09:49  |  Smart Alec 29/06/08
      39.   #19, Tex to Sharif 09:50  |  Silvienne 29/06/08
      40.   abortion in israel high? 10:10  |  Ivan 29/06/08
      41.   I`d go even further 10:20  |  Nechama 29/06/08
      42.   Everyone has a "view" of what happened. 10:31  |  Fritz 29/06/08
      43.   # Mother from the north. "I don`t know why... 10:51  |  Maureen Ann 29/06/08
      44.   MAUREEN No cop outs! Watch the documentary one day in September 10:51  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      45.   Must have written the Protocols 10:56  |  Harvey (Chaim) 29/06/08
      46.   The Mouth Is Moving 10:58  |  Yosemite 29/06/08
      47.   Germany 10:59  |  Irene 29/06/08
      48.   GERMANY PLEASE EXPLAIN 11:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/06/08
      49.   This is newsworthy? 11:04  |  Ofer Maimon 29/06/08
      50.   LEBANESE in Canada about Palestinians&their children.THEY say it 11:17  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      51.   ari 11:41  |  caroline 29/06/08
      52.   # 35 petersm 11:58  |  Axel 29/06/08
      53.   # 33 petersm 12:01  |  Axel 29/06/08
      54.   Israelis massacred because of German incompetence 12:02  |  Jonathan S 29/06/08
      55.   Hitlers electoral base: German professors 12:03  |  A thinking Jew 29/06/08
      56.   MAUREEN Some people bow to threats others do not! 12:09  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      57.   H M The Queen 12:10  |  Sherlock Holmes 29/06/08
      58.   Whose duty was it? 12:12  |  Joe 29/06/08
      59.   Dave Bing.Plenty will vote democrat.Tradition! 12:12  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      60.   HERR PROFESSOR IS GOT 12:12  |  Robert 29/06/08
      61.   #37 Moron-ann doesn`t ask WHY............ 12:25  |  Ari ben Yisrael 29/06/08
      62.   AXEL "Set Up" for the release of the terrorist.As in cooperation 12:31  |  PETER SM 29/06/08
      63.   abortion rate in israel - and in germany 12:36  |  scallywag 29/06/08
      64.   German crap 12:39  |  Tulip 29/06/08
      65.   # Axel re petersm and his "confusion". 12:49  |  Labhras 29/06/08
      66.   The tsunamis were their fault too. Stop denying it Jews! 12:57  |  x-ray 29/06/08
      67.   Mary from Boston 13:03  |  ChanahS 29/06/08
      68.   Am I surprised? German prof`s remarks. 13:09  |  David Nigel Braham 29/06/08
      69.   Sharif Hafez 12 13:09  |  ChanahS 29/06/08
      70.   Sylvienne 39 13:17  |  ChanahS 29/06/08
      71.   Same game 13:18  |  Frank 29/06/08
      72.   The methods of science and taboos 13:19  |  Fritz T. 29/06/08
      73.   47, negligence is not a massacre 13:22  |  Fritz T. 29/06/08
      74.   they were killed at the airport when the Germans didn`t listen... 13:30  |  r 29/06/08
      75.   #48 see "Hitlers Professors " Yivo 1949 13:39  |  Joanna 29/06/08
      76.   # 39 Silvienne...have you seen the articles 14:23  |  Lynn 29/06/08
      77.   Germany funding anti-Israel conference 15:01  |  Jonathan S 29/06/08
      78.   Anything Goes in Today`s Verbal Assault on Jews 15:07  |  Jane 29/06/08
      79.   Academia`s left-wing psychosis in all it`s glory 15:10  |  Denise Thompson 29/06/08
      80.   FOOLISH GERMANS 15:27  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 29/06/08
      81.   Blame the IOF for the Munich massacre 15:27  |  Dav 29/06/08
      82.   Lebanese in Canada go back to Lebanon 15:32  |  Stevie Harper 29/06/08
      83.   Just because you`re a professor doesn`t mean your not retarded 15:49  |  MIKE 29/06/08
      84.   Great! So, you made an important point here, and .. 15:52  |  Sharif Hafez 29/06/08
      85.   Who said "never again" ? 16:00  |  Akram Zekaria 29/06/08
      86.   He is right about one thing 16:02  |  JewishHeart 29/06/08
      87.   FOR BIBI, LIKE 11/9 ATTACK, THIS WAS GOOD FOR ISRAEL 16:07  |  indrajaya 29/06/08
      88.   Hitler`s Willing Executioners 16:09  |  Strangelove 29/06/08
      89.   munich massacre 16:22  |  uri kn 29/06/08
      90.   Silvienne (#39) you have crossed the Line 16:26  |  Gil 29/06/08
      91.   Silvienne (#39) you have crossed the Line 16:27  |  Gil 29/06/08
      92.   Sharif Hafez (#84) the Racist bitch has spoken 16:43  |  Gil 29/06/08
      93.   Now we know why Jews did not resist the Nazis 16:58  |  Tosefta 29/06/08
      94.   Anything is Possible 17:04  |  Ronnie Wolman 29/06/08
      95.   Sharif Hafez # 84 17:05  |  ChanahS 29/06/08
      96.   a turning-point and an unfortunate event 17:09  |  bashar 29/06/08
      97.   Would a father of a new-born baby sacrifice himself? 17:23  |  AliciaYasmeen 29/06/08
      98.   Maureen Ann (#37) Why Maureen 17:27  |  Gil 29/06/08
      99.   ENOUGH OF THIS GERMAN ACADEMIC- TAKE IT OFF NOW. 17:27  |  Miriam Ashkelon 29/06/08
      100.   Maureen Ann (#37) Why Maureen 17:28  |  Gil 29/06/08
      101.   # 78 You Know What Jane,I am getting tired of hearing.. 17:35  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      102.   the curse continues 17:44  |  albert paul ortiz 29/06/08
      103.   #24 Axel ..You may be right,but still this fellow behaved in 17:47  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      104.   German academics 18:03  |  christoph hoerentrup 29/06/08
      105.   # 88 strangelove 18:08  |  Axel 29/06/08
      106.   # 103 kathy 18:12  |  Axel 29/06/08
      107.   Spiking the Kool-Aid 18:20  |  FOX 29/06/08
      108.   #101 Kathy is fed up with the occupation 18:31  |  Labhras 29/06/08
      109.   # 101, KATHY 18:40  |  indrajaya 29/06/08
      110.   #11-Look at your own headlines for proof 18:46  |  Arie 29/06/08
      111.   Mary; ans. & Either - Or 18:50  |  Gray 29/06/08
      112.   what a pot of crap 18:56  |  Katzenellenbogen 29/06/08
      113.   #109 Indra.I wasn`t complaining about Haaretz per se,Indra.. 19:19  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      114.   LABHRAS (#108) No, KATHY is Fed up with people like you 19:36  |  Gil 29/06/08
      115.   LABHRAS (#108) No, KATHY is Fed up with people like you 19:37  |  Gil 29/06/08
      116.   101 KATHY 19:43  |  KUTW 29/06/08
      117.   # 114, GIL 19:47  |  indrajaya 29/06/08
      118.   # 102 albert paul ortiz ...The curse continuous.. 19:49  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      119.   #82 to Stevie Harper 19:53  |  Humane Canadian 29/06/08
      120.   To #90 Gil 19:57  |  Arthur 29/06/08
      121.   #88; Indrajaya, I didn`t know you were a mind reader 20:07  |  Doc Holliday 29/06/08
      122.   Definitely a problem here 20:15  |  Colin Wright 29/06/08
      123.   # 89 Strangelove Hitler`s Willing Executioners.And They Seem 20:17  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      124.   stupid remark 20:17  |  rm 29/06/08
      125.   5, the arrogance of psychologists? 20:23  |  Fritz T. 29/06/08
      126.   mauron anne and threats 20:27  |  natan 29/06/08
      127.   39. Silvienne 20:28  |  KUTW 29/06/08
      128.   39. Silvienne 20:43  |  KUTW 29/06/08
      129.   ARTHUR (#120) 20:48  |  Gil 29/06/08
      130.   ARTHUR (#120) 20:49  |  Gil 29/06/08
      131.   # 115 &116 Gil Thanks,I never bother to read that one`s posts. 21:04  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      132.   Indrajaya (#117) Jangan ketawa. Ini bukan lucu. 21:06  |  Gil 29/06/08
      133.   Palestinian riots 21:14  |  Esther 29/06/08
      134.   This is really sad 21:19  |  Jan 29/06/08
      135.   Sillyvienne: A Fake, An Imposter, and a Twit 21:31  |  Tex 29/06/08
      136.   what a chuzpa! 21:41  |  saul a. readner 29/06/08
      137.   wrong also in abortion claim 21:56  |  Alban Berg 29/06/08
      138.   Who "citicizes Israel`s politics"... 21:58  |  Montefiore 29/06/08
      139.   #39...Silvienne 22:15  |  Nemesis 29/06/08
      140.   KATHY (#131) 22:20  |  Gil 29/06/08
      141.   # 139 Hey Nemesis..Nice To see YOU here Again..Now 22:32  |  KATHY 29/06/08
      142.   Blabla from `Der Spiegel`, a liberal magazine... 22:33  |  Paul Henzen 29/06/08
      143.   #135 Tex/ too ashamed of his/her heimat 22:38  |  Labhras 29/06/08
      144.   Gil 140 22:41  |  ChanahS 29/06/08
      145.   YES WE ARE THE CHOSEN 22:41  |  TOBIA 29/06/08
      146.   Munich massacre 22:44  |  Hilda 29/06/08
      147.   Um, Channah, About that "chosen" thing (re:Tobia) 23:07  |  Gray 29/06/08
      148.   Founding of Israel ... Clearification 23:24  |  Gray 29/06/08
      149.   Gray 148 00:03  |  ChanahS 30/06/08
      150.   I think the German police acted in an 00:36  |  Edith 30/06/08
      151.   Sports scientists not qualified to make "academic statement" 00:43  |  Andreas 30/06/08
      152.   # 149 edith 00:54  |  Axel 30/06/08
      153.   Gray (#148) when talking of a tragedy of 60 years 01:03  |  Gil 30/06/08
      154.   Gray (#148) when talking of a tragedy of 60 years 01:04  |  Gil 30/06/08
      155.   #141...Kathy 01:05  |  Nemesis 30/06/08
      156.   #PeterSM. And you Peter? Some sit on the fence observing... 01:21  |  Maureen Ann 30/06/08
      157.   #Ari Ben Yisrael. (The name I most admire on Talkback!) 01:43  |  Maureen Ann 30/06/08
      158.   Backhanded way of opening discussion 02:07  |  John Isenhower 30/06/08
      159.   gray#148 02:28  |  Yariv 30/06/08
      160.   Silvienne 03:26  |  DocD 30/06/08
      161.   Yea, right! and next chapter the christians gladly went out 03:36  |  American in NY 30/06/08
      162.   Israeli athletes sacrificed themself? 04:05  |  I. Barr MD 30/06/08
      163.   MAUREEN the native inhabitants of Palestine or Arab invaders 04:07  |  PETER SM 30/06/08
      164.   #115, Gil to Labhras...no, Labhras is fed up with Kathy! 04:25  |  Silvienne 30/06/08
      165.   Poor old Tex..falls for it every single time! 04:36  |  Silvienne 30/06/08
      166.   135# Tex. Thank you `Senior` you got it all right. 05:42  |  Akram Zekaria 30/06/08
      167.   World Renowned Professor Kruger 06:06  |  Seymour 30/06/08
      168.   ChannahS: Israel`s founding...and etc. 06:29  |  Gray 30/06/08
      169.   To # 156/157 Maureem Ann 08:01  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 30/06/08
      170.   To 156/157 Maureen Ann 08:34  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 30/06/08
      171.   Uh Gray, just a reminder 08:36  |  JES 30/06/08
      172.   RABBIS DEMAND GIRLS COVER HAIR 08:44  |  Eva Feld 30/06/08
      173.   MAUREEN What made them do it?Nobody Made them do it? 09:27  |  PETER SM 30/06/08
      174.   facts 10:59  |  Rab Burns 30/06/08
      175.   # 172 Eva Feld 12:00  |  Joe Feld 30/06/08
      176.   Amalekites? 12:05  |  Joseph 30/06/08
      177.   Sillyvienne: Making An Argument Out Of Nothing 15:37  |  Tex 30/06/08
      178.   Falling For Sillyvienne`s Silly and Vain Idiocy All The Time 15:45  |  Tex 30/06/08
      179.   Tex regqarding Silvienne`s behaviour #165 16:03  |  FOX 30/06/08
      180.   THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT... 19:12  |  BBSNews 30/06/08
      181.   JES: $3 Trillion for Eretz Israel/ Lebensraum 20:08  |  Gray 30/06/08
      182.   BBSNews 22:23  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 30/06/08
      183.   #88 Hitler`s Willing Executioners 23:11  |  Kraut in America 30/06/08
      184.   The Teacher/Instruct 23:17  |  Nemesis 30/06/08
      185.   THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT, nevermind 00:15  |  BBSNews 01/07/08
      186.   Sweet, Innocent Gray: Lost In the Slaughter 04:37  |  Tex 01/07/08
      187.   Hey Tex, it ain`t religion, it`s Israel`s policies... 08:31  |  BBSNews 01/07/08
      188.   BBSNews # 182 11:53  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 01/07/08
      189.   BS Journalist 15:49  |  Tex 01/07/08
      190.   Re: Candidate for deep psychoanalysis... 14:08  |  Martin 04/07/08
      191.   Learning from history 03:19  |  Catherine 20/08/08
     Read & React
    Islamic Jihad urges Palestinian groups to kidnap Israeli soldiers
    Responses: 28
    Israel: We let protest boat reach Gaza to stymie bad press
    Responses: 38
    Israel's missile shield against Iran: Three Americans in a trailer
    Responses: 18
    Natasha Mozgovaya: Obama played it safe, but is Biden good for Israel?
    Responses: 34
    Zvi Barel: Israel should bring the U.S. into its talks with Syria
    Send response
    Rosner's Domain
    One State solution? Let the debate begin
    What killed the campaign for Darfur?
    Better chances for a Lieberman VP?
    Poll: Who will be better as leader of the Kadima Party?


    More Headlines
    08:36 Israel's missile shield against Iran: Three Americans in a trailer
    08:35 Israel: We let protest boat reach Gaza to stymie bad press
    10:27 Police shut down offices of Islamic Movement branch suspected of aiding Hamas
    08:39 Russian embrace of Syria tightens, but for what purpose?
    10:31 Haredi rabbis: Renew ban on Jews entering Temple Mount
    09:52 State offers 2-week training to relieve shortage of English teachers
    09:24 43 years after Israel banned the Beatles, Paul McCartney to play Tel Aviv
    05:43 Despite row over cuts, gov't likely to approve 2009 budget
    08:17 Country or family? Israeli soldiers may have to choose which to defend
    19:50 New film follows Holocaust refugees-turned-soldiers
    06:15 In Hamas' Gaza, female police officers have to cover up
    07:30 ANALYSIS / Obama played it safe, but is Biden good for Israel?
    06:01 Biden has 'solid pro-Israel record,' says head of Jewish Democratic group
    05:18 Israel-Syria peace talks place future of Golan settlers in doubt
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    MBA in Israel in English
    APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved