Munich Massacre

Munich Massacre

            September 5th, 1972, a day that will never be forgotten by many Israelis for years to come. 11 Israeli athletes were left dead, one German officer was shot, and only five of the eight terrorist were killed. What happen to lead to this horrific event and what actually happen on this bloody day?

            The Olympics were well under way as they entered the second week. The mood was high and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The security itself on the housing grounds was perfectly lessened in order for the athletes and residents to feel less under surveillance and more free.

            This absence of security worried Israeli’s head Shmeul Lalkin. With Israel’s new found independence he was worried for his athletes especially since they were in the country which had persecuted them by the hundreds of thousands only 30 years previous. They Olympic committee had placed the Israel athletes in an isolated corner close to that gate leaving them very open for attack. Although the German police assured Israel participants they would have more security, none was ever provided. Even after repeated attempts to move houses they were ultimately refused and forced to stay at the edge of the town.

            The ironic part about all of this was that they had pre-planned scenarios of terrorist attacks. They had 26 total and number 21 accurately depicted the Palestinians attack on the Israel athletes. No one listened to the 21st plan though because it would interfere with the laxed atmosphere Germany was trying to promote. In any case security was kept minimal and what happen next would always leave a scar on the Olympic games.

            The time was 4:30 in the morning one September 5th, 1972. Everyone was sound asleep after a long day of Olympic games. With the quietly sneaking on to the premises were eight heavily armed Palestinian terrorist. With great agility and strength they hopped the six-foot fence surrounding the village. Although many people saw them it was not unusual for athletes around the camp to hop the fence instead of walking all the way to the entrance. With weapons hidden in their “athletic” bags they made it uninterrupted to the Israeli rooms.