Max Schmeling on the Hindenburg

German boxer Max Schmeling returned to Germany in triumph on the June 23, 1936 voyage of the Hindenburg, after his victory over American boxer Joe Louis.

Max Schmeling and the Hindenburg

Schmeling had knocked out Louis, who was known as the “Brown Bomber,” in the 12th round of their famous fight at New York’s Yankee Stadium on June 19, 1936, and he was returning to a triumphant welcome in Germany, which would include a meeting with Adolf Hitler.

Max Schmeling

Max Schmeling

The victory of the white Schmeling over the black Louis fit perfectly into the racial theories of Germany’s ruling National Socialist party, and Schmeling was treated as a German hero by the Nazi propaganda machine; in fact, Schmeling’s wife, actress Anny Ondra, listened to the fight on the radio in Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels’ living room.  When Schmeling beat Louis, Nazi officials decided that he should return to Germany on the Hindenburg rather than by ship as originally planned; Hindenburg was viewed as a symbol of German technological achievement, and Schmeling’s flight on the airship would not only create a more dramatic arrival in Germany, but further promote the concept of German superiority in all fields, from athletics to technology.

Passenger list from Max Schmeling's return to Germany

Passenger list from Max Schmeling’s return to Germany

The 1936 fight between Max Schmeling and Joe Louis — and even more so, the 1938 rematch in which Louis defeated Schmeling — was widely viewed in both Germany and America as a contest between Nazism and democracy (and between racism and racial equality).

schmeling-hitler

Schmeling was cast as the ideal Nazi by those on both sides of the political contest, but the reality of Schmeling’s life and political beliefs is much more ambiguous.  Schmeling was neither the perfect Nazi, as he was depicted at the time (he hid the teenage sons of a Jewish friend in his hotel room during Kristallnacht), nor was he an opponent of the Nazi regime, as he has been portrayed in more recent years.

(The facts about Schmeling’s ambiguous moral position are intelligently discussed by David Margolick in the New York Times (Selective Memories of Schmeling) and in his book, Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and a World on the Brink.)

Max Schmeling, with his wife Anny Ondra, after returning to Germany on Hindenburg

Max Schmeling, with his wife Anny Ondra, after returning to Germany on Hindenburg

Max Schmeling made one more flight on Hindenburg, returning to New York in August, 1936, along with many fellow passengers returning from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, including movie star Douglas Fairbanks and Philadelphia attorney Clarence Hall, who described the voyage in his diary.

Schmeling needed to be in New York again in May, 1937, for a proposed fight with American boxer James J. Braddock, and he planned to travel once more on the Hindenburg, on the airship’s first transatlantic flight of the 1937 season, scheduled to arrive on May 6, 1937.  But Schmeling’s manager insisted that Schmeling travel to New York in time to appear at a meeting of the boxing commission on May 4th, so Schmeling canceled his ticket for the Hindenburg and crossed the Atlantic by ship, just narrowly missing the Hindenburg disaster at Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Max Schmeling aboard Hindenburg, 1936.

Schmeling aboard Hindenburg in 1936, passing over Philadelphia in a wonderful photograph by Max Haas.

 

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Wayne Hansondavid helmsBleckmanDavid Kneil H. Wenberg Recent comment authors
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Wayne Hanson
Wayne Hanson

The history of Smelling and the airship are something. I am glad he did not take that flight. It is safe to fly in one in Freidrchshaven, Germany nowadays. I have been there– done that.-Wayne Hanson

david helms
david helms

it has been thrilling researching and collecting information about the hindenburg and other airships over the past 25 years. made some great contacts, been to the crash site and toured the gigantic hanger twice. made contacts with 3 or 4 german crewmen years ago aboard the hindenburg when she crashed.… Read more »

David K
David K

Hindenburg A passenger on the June 24-June 26, Lakehurst-Frankfurt flight was Prof. Robert Alexander MacLean of University of Rochester (NY) – the Schmeling trip. He wrote a short account of it while over the Atlantic for publication in his university’s magazine (MacLean, R. A. (1936) “Written in the sky”, Rochester… Read more »

neil H. Wenberg
neil H. Wenberg

A very intersting article both on Max S. and the Hindenburg Airship

event management solutions

Sounds like Schmeling lead a very interesting life, especially the part about him being torn when it came to being a Nazi. Makes you wonder how many Hitler followers were the same. I haven’t read much about the Hindenburg disaster so I’ll have to read up on that.

Sis and Sophie
Sis and Sophie

Hi! A classmate and i are doing a huge college project on the hindenburg disaster. It seems so many of you have sources and references i do not know of. I know how difficult it is to find them, almost impossible. If you have any you would be willing to… Read more »

david helms
david helms

have been a hindenburg researcher for 20 years. have letters from german crewmen who survived the disaster of may 6 ,1937 at lakehurst. been to the crash site 2 times and inside the gigantic hanger twice. also corresponded with max schmeling for almost 8 years. have a number of pictures… Read more »

Peter Sever
Peter Sever

Mr Helms, I would love to hear about your conversations with Max Schmeling. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I am working on a fictional as well as a documentary account of the two years between the Joe Louis fights. Please feel free to email or call. My phone number… Read more »

Bleckman
Bleckman

Hi David…
Can you drop me an email re: Schmeling? I’m doing some research for a piece on him and I’m curious as to what ‘cha got… will explain more. Thank you!
Best,
G. Bleckman

david helms
david helms

have several letters from scheming and a good many photos of him on birthdays 94-98. a great humanitarian

david helms
david helms

can you tell me where count von zeppelin and hugo eckener are buried and the year they died? thanks for you help. i really appreciate it. david

david helms
david helms

hi peter. i did correspond with max schmeling over a period of 7 years or so. he did write me a short letter in german mentioning his trip back home aboard the hindenburg in 1936 after he defeated joe louis. beyond that he would send me pictures of himself :birthday… Read more »

Jasonwallace
Jasonwallace

Dear Mr Helms Count ferdinand Graf Von Zeppelin died in 1917 and Dr Hugo Eckener died in 1954 as for were they are buried not sure on that! but i wish you all the best in your future endeavours into Airship /Zeppelin History i too have been studying them for… Read more »

david helms
david helms

can anyone tell me where max schmeling is buried? i corresponded with him 6 times or more in the 1990’s. thanks for your help. david

david helms
david helms

can anyone assist me in finding the burial sites for 2 very renowed captains with respect to german airships? captain ernst lehmann and captain max pruss. thanks for any way you can help. david

Dan (Airships.net)

Ernst Lehmann’s grave is in Grassau, Germany, with his wife Marie and son Luv. I don’t know were Max Pruss is buried.

david helms
david helms

hi dan let’s keep the fire burning on airship history.i have a wonderful collection. david