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Gottfried von CrammGerman amateur tennis player
Date of Birth: 07.07.1909
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Gottfried von Cramm: A Tennis Legend in the Shadow of Nazi Germany
- Rise to Prominence
- Opposition to the Nazis
- Arrest and Imprisonment
- Return to Tennis and War Service
- Post-War Life and Legacy
- Rehabilitation and Honors
- Personal Life
Gottfried von Cramm: A Tennis Legend in the Shadow of Nazi Germany
Early Life and Tennis BeginningsGottfried von Cramm was born into German aristocracy in 1909. From a young age, he exhibited a passion for tennis, honing his skills on the clay courts of his family's estates. In 1928, he began studying law in Berlin, but his tennis talent quickly overshadowed his academic pursuits.
Rise to Prominence
By the mid-1930s, von Cramm had become one of the world's leading tennis players. He won the German International Championships four times (1932-1935) and was a two-time winner of the French Open (1934, 1936). In Wimbledon, he reached the final thrice (1935-1937).
Opposition to the Nazis
Despite his athletic prowess, von Cramm openly criticized Nazi policies, particularly their treatment of Jews and the introduction of compulsory military service. He refused to join the Nazi Party despite pressure from high-ranking officials.
Arrest and Imprisonment
In 1938, von Cramm was arrested on charges of homosexuality and currency smuggling. The trial, widely seen as a show trial, resulted in a one-year prison sentence. Despite international protests and support from powerful figures, the sentence was upheld.
Return to Tennis and War Service
After his release, von Cramm briefly considered moving to the United States, but his visa was denied due to his criminal conviction. Undeterred, he returned to Germany and volunteered for military service in World War II.
Post-War Life and Legacy
After the war, von Cramm helped rebuild his tennis club in Berlin. He also established a successful business importing Egyptian cotton to West Germany. In 1976, he died in a car accident in Egypt.
Rehabilitation and Honors
In 2002, von Cramm's 1938 conviction was overturned. He was posthumously inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1977) and the German Sports Hall of Fame (2008).
Personal Life
Von Cramm was bisexual and had numerous relationships with men, including a close association with Jewish actor Manasse Herbst. He married twice, first to Lisa von Dobeneck in 1930 and later to Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton in 1955. Both marriages ended in divorce.