China-2008

Amazon.com

In the early hours of September 5, 1972, members of the ultraviolent Palestinian terrorist faction Black September scaled the perimeter fence surrounding the Olympic Village in Munich. Their target was the temporary home of the Israeli Olympic team. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman were dead.
Based largely on exhaustive investigation for the Oscar-winning documentary, One Day in September is the definitive account of the tragedy. Simon Reeve has gathered extraordinary information from a number of sources, including recently released Stasi files and interviews with key figures, including the families of the hostages, politicians, policemen, advisors, fellow athletes, media figures, and even the lone surviving member of the group that carried out the attack. Reeve's control over his material is admirable. He vividly paints images of the individuals involved, humanizing a narrative that cracks and buzzes with the compact tension of those 24 hours. At the same time, he provides the background to the attack, filling in vital historical context from the distant and recent past, such as the Arab-Jewish dispute that produced this and other terrorist actions and their responses.
Reeve conveys the public horror of Jews being incarcerated on German soil, which led the German authorities to make crucial judgments, with tragic results. Fatal errors were made that can only be fully understood through the underlying dynamics of not only Middle East history, but also postwar European politics, individual and institutional arrogance, inexperience, and political pressure--including from the International Olympic Committee. Reeve follows up the events of that day by exposing the full extent of the Israeli revenge mission, which over the next 20 years hunted down and killed those responsible for the attack. He has not only written a compelling book, but provided a considerable service in allowing readers to understand the forces of hatred and history that conspired toward inevitable, but no less tragic human consequences.
Those who were a part of the huge live media audience that watched helplessly as events unfolded will undoubtedly experience again the sense of dread at recalling those traumatized, shackled figures led out from the Olympic Village to their fate on a German airfield. Those who make the mistake of thinking the dark days of international terrorism are history will read One Day in September and remember that the same underlying tensions still cast shadows over our present and our future. --Fiona Buckland, Amazon.co.uk

Journalism at its finest

5 von 5 Punkten
With such an emotionally and politically-charged topic, one of this novel's greatest accomplishments is its objectivity. Its other accomplishments include some of the most thorough research I've seen in a while, superb writing, and a style that keeps such thorough reporting interesting. Reeve reports on every aspect of every crime related to the events of September 5, 1972, including preceeding terrorist attacks that explain the future behavior of Black September, and attacks by Israeli Wrath of God agents following the games.
What still strikes the reader hardest is Reeve's unwavering objectivity, even when dealing with the mass murder of civillians, whether by Black September Terrorists or by Israeli inteligence operatives. Reeve is not once lured into editorializing on the events, but rather presents all the facts, both sides of the story, and others' opinions and allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. Consider this purchase money well-spent.

An amazing book.

5 von 5 Punkten
This is a spectacularly compelling read. Anyone who liked Black Hawk Down will find much to fascinate here. The book is also fair-minded, and does not minimize the role played by any of the many groups (not just Jews and Arabs) who were party to Munich. Superb.

Deeply Disturbing

5 von 5 Punkten
I started this book the other day. Whilst reading it I recoiled in amazement at the blunders and blatantly incompetent German officials and their complete lack of regard for the seriousness of the situation. Their determination for the Games to continue.
I am Jewish and my opinion may be clouded, however, the book represents the various parties involved well. It captures the wariness of the Israeli team in entering the Games, and reflects individual athletes feelings about stepping once more onto German soil. I for one completely understand for the obvious reason. I still have trepidations now 50 years on. Imagine their trepidation not even 25 years on!
Above all this book reflects the way people tend to ignore or trivalise major events. Not just where they involve Jews, but other events throughout the world. Someone has reviewed this book saying 'if you liked Black Hawk Down'. Black Hawk Down involved American soldiers, trained and employed to fight. The incompetencies involved may be similar, but these were Israeli athletes. Their fate was in the hands of a country who had tried to wipe out the religeon.
I realise that the Germans were well aware of this and the book makes this very clear. But I can't help feeling that more was possible to prevent tragedy.
Why weren't the assualt team properly equiped? Why was there no communication between the Israelis (who have dealt with similar situations) and the German officials. The list goes on.
This book is deeply moving, and the events of 5th September 1972 will echo for eternity.

Definitive Account re: Munich Olympics Tragedy

5 von 5 Punkten
Simon Reeve has offered a compelling and definitive treatment of the events of September 5, 1972, when members of Black September occupied the building housing the male members of the Israeli Olympic team at the Munich Olympics. The book also covers the "revenge" against the perpetrators by the Israeli Intelligence organizations.
What I enjoyed most about the book was that it incorporated journalistic-style reportage with pathos that brought to life the dead Israeli athletes, and also provided a human element to the motivations of the members of Black September who planned and participated in this extremely sad and tragic event. There will, perhaps, be those who would prefer the demonization of the individuals who were part of Black September, but by treating these individuals as human beings, the events of September 5, 1972 have an added resonance for the reader that does not lesson the horror of the event.

Triumph: The untold story of Jesse Owens und Hitlers Olympics

5 von 5 Punkten
Ein Buch mit überraschenden Details über die Vorbereitungen der Olympischen Spiele 1936 in Berlin, die sportlichen Vorbereitungen Jesse Owens in den USA, die politischen Einflussnahmen der olympischen Komitees, im Besonderen das Wirken des damaligen OC-Präsidenten der USA, Avery Brundage. Bevor zu viele Sach- und Literaturhinweise das Buch zu ersticken drohen, wird die wunderbare und bislang nicht veröffentlichte Geschichte der Freundschaft zwischen Jesse Owens und dem deutschen Vorzeigeathleten Luz Long aus Leipzig erzählt. Luz Long unterlag Jesse Owens im Weitsprungfinale 1936. Hat A.Hitler nach Jesse Owens Sieg mit einer leichten Handbewegung seinen Respekt erwiesen oder war es eine abfällige Bewegung? Hierüber wird ausdauernd diskutiert, hingegen Jesse Owens dazu seine eigene feste Auffassung hatte.
Bislang nur im Englischen erschienen, für junge Menschen ein Zeitzeugnis ersten Ranges über politische und sportliche Wettkämpfe im Vorfeld des 2.Weltkrieges, weltweitem Rassenwahn und der eigentlichen Entstehungsgeschichte des Satzes "The games must go on."

Amazon.com

In the early hours of September 5, 1972, members of the ultraviolent Palestinian terrorist faction Black September scaled the perimeter fence surrounding the Olympic Village in Munich. Their target was the temporary home of the Israeli Olympic team. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman were dead.
Based largely on exhaustive investigation for the Oscar-winning documentary, One Day in September is the definitive account of the tragedy. Simon Reeve has gathered extraordinary information from a number of sources, including recently released Stasi files and interviews with key figures, including the families of the hostages, politicians, policemen, advisors, fellow athletes, media figures, and even the lone surviving member of the group that carried out the attack. Reeve's control over his material is admirable. He vividly paints images of the individuals involved, humanizing a narrative that cracks and buzzes with the compact tension of those 24 hours. At the same time, he provides the background to the attack, filling in vital historical context from the distant and recent past, such as the Arab-Jewish dispute that produced this and other terrorist actions and their responses.
Reeve conveys the public horror of Jews being incarcerated on German soil, which led the German authorities to make crucial judgments, with tragic results. Fatal errors were made that can only be fully understood through the underlying dynamics of not only Middle East history, but also postwar European politics, individual and institutional arrogance, inexperience, and political pressure--including from the International Olympic Committee. Reeve follows up the events of that day by exposing the full extent of the Israeli revenge mission, which over the next 20 years hunted down and killed those responsible for the attack. He has not only written a compelling book, but provided a considerable service in allowing readers to understand the forces of hatred and history that conspired toward inevitable, but no less tragic human consequences.
Those who were a part of the huge live media audience that watched helplessly as events unfolded will undoubtedly experience again the sense of dread at recalling those traumatized, shackled figures led out from the Olympic Village to their fate on a German airfield. Those who make the mistake of thinking the dark days of international terrorism are history will read One Day in September and remember that the same underlying tensions still cast shadows over our present and our future. --Fiona Buckland, Amazon.co.uk

Journalism at its finest

5 von 5 Punkten
With such an emotionally and politically-charged topic, one of this novel's greatest accomplishments is its objectivity. Its other accomplishments include some of the most thorough research I've seen in a while, superb writing, and a style that keeps such thorough reporting interesting. Reeve reports on every aspect of every crime related to the events of September 5, 1972, including preceeding terrorist attacks that explain the future behavior of Black September, and attacks by Israeli Wrath of God agents following the games.
What still strikes the reader hardest is Reeve's unwavering objectivity, even when dealing with the mass murder of civillians, whether by Black September Terrorists or by Israeli inteligence operatives. Reeve is not once lured into editorializing on the events, but rather presents all the facts, both sides of the story, and others' opinions and allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. Consider this purchase money well-spent.

An amazing book.

5 von 5 Punkten
This is a spectacularly compelling read. Anyone who liked Black Hawk Down will find much to fascinate here. The book is also fair-minded, and does not minimize the role played by any of the many groups (not just Jews and Arabs) who were party to Munich. Superb.

Deeply Disturbing

5 von 5 Punkten
I started this book the other day. Whilst reading it I recoiled in amazement at the blunders and blatantly incompetent German officials and their complete lack of regard for the seriousness of the situation. Their determination for the Games to continue.
I am Jewish and my opinion may be clouded, however, the book represents the various parties involved well. It captures the wariness of the Israeli team in entering the Games, and reflects individual athletes feelings about stepping once more onto German soil. I for one completely understand for the obvious reason. I still have trepidations now 50 years on. Imagine their trepidation not even 25 years on!
Above all this book reflects the way people tend to ignore or trivalise major events. Not just where they involve Jews, but other events throughout the world. Someone has reviewed this book saying 'if you liked Black Hawk Down'. Black Hawk Down involved American soldiers, trained and employed to fight. The incompetencies involved may be similar, but these were Israeli athletes. Their fate was in the hands of a country who had tried to wipe out the religeon.
I realise that the Germans were well aware of this and the book makes this very clear. But I can't help feeling that more was possible to prevent tragedy.
Why weren't the assualt team properly equiped? Why was there no communication between the Israelis (who have dealt with similar situations) and the German officials. The list goes on.
This book is deeply moving, and the events of 5th September 1972 will echo for eternity.

Definitive Account re: Munich Olympics Tragedy

5 von 5 Punkten
Simon Reeve has offered a compelling and definitive treatment of the events of September 5, 1972, when members of Black September occupied the building housing the male members of the Israeli Olympic team at the Munich Olympics. The book also covers the "revenge" against the perpetrators by the Israeli Intelligence organizations.
What I enjoyed most about the book was that it incorporated journalistic-style reportage with pathos that brought to life the dead Israeli athletes, and also provided a human element to the motivations of the members of Black September who planned and participated in this extremely sad and tragic event. There will, perhaps, be those who would prefer the demonization of the individuals who were part of Black September, but by treating these individuals as human beings, the events of September 5, 1972 have an added resonance for the reader that does not lesson the horror of the event.