The British 4 x 400m relay team taking gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, seen here on the podium along with the German and American teams. All athletes were laurel leaves on their heads while the German team make a Nazi salute. The Olympic Games had been handed to Germany prior to the Nazis coming to power, and Hitler used the opportunity to display German military might and the alleged superiority of the 'Master Race', a theory which was thoroughly disproved by African American athlete Jesse Owens who went on to win 4 gold medals.