Transgender Movie - Berlin 36
As transgender athletes are a hot transgender topic at the moment I thought I would do some research into the history of how the establishment has exploited cross gender within sport competitions.
During my research I came across the story of Heinrich Ratjen who was born Dora Ratjen. Dora says in his own words, "My parents brought me up as a girl I therefore wore girl's clothes all my childhood. But from the age of 10 or 11 I started to realize I wasn't female, but male. However I never asked my parents why I had to wear women's clothes even though I was male"
Dora Ratjen AKA Heinrich Ratten or 'Heinz' |
In 1938 she was examined by a German physician who described Dora's genitalia as having a "coarse scarred stripe from the tip of the penis to the rear", and stated his opinion that with this organ sexual intercourse would be impossible. It is from this point onward that we perhaps understand that Dora had an intersex condition.
After the war Dora began living as a male, calling himself Heinz.
Times magazine reported that Dora had presented as Hermann, a waiter in Bremen, "who tearfully confessed that he had been forced by the Nazis to pose as a woman 'for the sake of the honor and glory of Germany'. Sighed Hermann: 'For three years I lived the life of a girl. It was most dull.'"
Heinz refused all interviews about his life so it is very difficult to confirm the real story of his unusual life. Heinz died in 2008.
The film Berlin 36 covers her story, of a version of the story which will differ from the reality of his life.
Crossdressed and ready for the Nazi Olympics |
The synopsis for the movie is:
Nazis remove talented high-jumper Gretel Bergmann from Germany's Olympic team because of her Jewish faith, and they replace her with another athlete -- who turns out to be a man. Together the two conspire to ruin the Nazi Olympic ambitions.
Here is the trailer:
The film is easily obtainable on DVD and streaming services. Well worth a watch. Enjoy.
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