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Bayern Munich was forced to use the swastika on its crest from 1938 to 1945, during the Second World War. The decision was made by the Nazi government, which was trying to control all aspects of German life, including sport.
Bayern Munich was founded in 1900 and had always been an open club, regardless of race or religion. The club’s president at the time, Kurt Landauer, was Jewish and the club had a large Jewish following.
The Nazi government, led by Adolf Hitler, was antisemitic and anti-democratic. In 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and began to persecute Jews and other groups he considered undesirable.
In 1938, the Nazi government ordered Bayern Munich to adopt the swastika on its crest. Landauer, a man of principle, refused to obey the order. In retaliation, the Nazi government arrested him and sent him to the Dachau concentration camp.
Without Landauer, Bayern Munich was forced to bow to the pressure of the Nazi government. The club adopted the swastika on its crest in 1938 and kept it until the end of the Second World War in 1945.
Bayern Munich’s use of the swastika was a dark period in the club’s history. The Nazi symbol is a reminder of the persecution suffered by Jews and other groups under the Nazi regime.
After the Second World War, Bayern Munich returned to its original crest, without the swastika. The club also pledged to promote tolerance and diversity.
In 2013, Bayern Munich launched a campaign to raise awareness of its use of the swastika during the Second World War. The campaign included a documentary, a book, and an exhibition.
The aim of the campaign is to educate people about the club’s past and to combat the use of Nazi symbols.
Criticism
Some critics have accused Bayern Munich of not doing enough to distance itself from its Nazi past. They argue that the club should do more to promote anti-racism and anti-fascism.
Others argue that the club should not be held responsible for the actions of the Nazi government. They point out that the club was forced to use the swastika and that Landauer, the Jewish president of the club, was persecuted by the Nazis.
Conclusion
Bayern Munich’s use of the swastika is a complex and sensitive issue. The club is right to try to raise awareness of its past and to combat the use of Nazi symbols. However, it is also important to remember that the club was forced to use the swastika by the Nazi government.