Third Reich Press Photograph of Olympian Hans Woellke – Item 94874

Third Reich period photo of Hans Woellke in SS Field Police uniform. Hans Woellke was a famous shot putter in the 1936 Olympics and won gold and was said to be a favourite of Hitlers. Portrait photo measuring 13 x 18cm. Dated 1940. Good condition.

Note: Hans-Otto Woellke (18 February 1911 – 22 March 1943) was a German Shot putter, who won a gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olmypics  and a bronze medal at the 1938 European Championships.

Woellke served with the Berlin Police force. During WWII, he was a captain in the Security Police attached to a regiment in the Waffen SS. He was killed by partisans on 22 March 1943 near Khatyn village, which caused a notorious mass killing of inhabitants of Khatyn.