In short
During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, members of the Palestinian militant group Black September took eleven Israeli athletes and coaches hostage on September 5th. A botched rescue attempt by West German authorities ended with all eleven Israelis dead, along with five of the eight attackers. The massacre transformed the Olympics from a celebration of sport into a flashpoint for global terrorism and geopolitical violence.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad and officially branded as Munich 1972, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the second Summer Olympics to be held in Germany, after the 1936 Games in Berlin, which had taken place under the Nazi rule. Germany became only the second country at that point after the United States to have two different cities host the Summer Olympics.
As it was happening
13 voices, 84 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Black September operatives breach Olympic Village
Eight members of Black September, a militant faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, enter the Israeli team dormitory at 31 Connollystraße armed with rifles and grenades.
Voices from this moment (2)
The New York Times
Sep 5
“Israeli Athletes Seized by Arab Guerrillas at Munich…”
Black September operatives breach Olympic Village
Sep 5
“Eight members of Black September, a militant faction of the…”
As it was happening
13 voices, 84 days.
Day 0 · September 5, 1972
Black September operatives breach Olympic Village
Eight members of Black September, a militant faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, enter the Israeli team dormitory at 31 Connollystraße armed with rifles and grenades.
“Israeli Athletes Seized by Arab Guerrillas at Munich…”
- The New York Times, Sep 5
“Eight members of Black September, a militant faction of the…”
- Black September operatives breach Olympic Village, Sep 5
Day 0 · September 5, 1972
Initial hostages secured
Attackers kill weightlifter Weinberg and wrestling coach Weinberg immediately. They seize nine more Israeli athletes and coaches as hostages, demanding release of 234 Palestinian prisoners.
“Attackers kill weightlifter Weinberg and wrestling coach…”
- Initial hostages secured, Sep 5
Day 0 · September 5, 1972
First demands broadcast
Black September leadership communicates demands to West German authorities and international media. Israeli government refuses to negotiate prisoner releases.
“Black September leadership communicates demands to West…”
- First demands broadcast, Sep 5
Day 1 · September 5, 1972
Failed negotiation and transport agreement
West German officials arrange transport of hostages and gunmen to Fürstenfeldbruck airfield under guise of providing departure airplane. Attackers believe they will escape to Arab country.
“West German officials arrange transport of hostages and…”
- Failed negotiation and transport agreement, Sep 5
Day 1 · September 5, 1972
Rescue attempt begins at airfield
West German police snipers attempt to eliminate the gunmen at Fürstenfeldbruck. The operation fails when German marksmen lack clear shots and insufficient firepower. Gunmen open fire on hostages in buses.
“West German police snipers attempt to eliminate the gunmen…”
- Rescue attempt begins at airfield, Sep 5
Day 1 · September 5, 1972
Final casualties confirmed
All remaining eleven Israeli hostages are killed by gunmen or in crossfire. Five attackers are killed; three survive and are captured. German police officer Hans Wegener dies from wounds.
“All remaining eleven Israeli hostages are killed by gunmen…”
- Final casualties confirmed, Sep 5
Day 1 · September 6, 1972
Olympic torch continues burning
International Olympic Committee decides to continue the Games after 34-hour suspension. Israeli delegation withdraws from competition.
“Olympic Games Overshadowed by Munich Hostage Drama”
- BBC News, Sep 6
“FR: 'Massacre aux Jeux Olympiques de Munich' / EN:…”
- Le Monde, Sep 6
“DE: 'Blutbad in Muenchen' / EN: 'Bloodbath in Munich'”
- Der Spiegel, Sep 11
“Eleven Israelis Slain in Munich; Games Resume Under Shadow…”
- The Times of London, Sep 12
“International Olympic Committee decides to continue the…”
- Olympic torch continues burning, Sep 6
Day 84 · November 28, 1972
Released attackers freed by Munich massacre
West German government releases the three surviving Black September gunmen in prisoner exchange after Lufthansa Flight 615 hijacking in Yemen, drawing international criticism.
“West German government releases the three surviving Black…”
- Released attackers freed by Munich massacre, Nov 28
The numbers.
4 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Israeli casualties
0 athletes and coaches killed
Attacker casualties
0 of 8 Black September operatives killed
West German casualties
0 police officer killed
Olympic Village dormitory
0 Connollystraße, Building 1
The visual record.
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, Der Spiegel, BBC News.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States · Sep 5, 1972
"Israeli Athletes Seized by Arab Guerrillas at Munich Olympics; Two Killed in Olympic Village"
Palestinian terrorists stormed the Israeli team's quarters in the Olympic Village on Tuesday morning, taking hostages and killing at least two athletes in what has become the gravest security breach in Games history.
- Sep 11, 1972
Der Spiegel
Magazine · West Germany
"DE: 'Blutbad in Muenchen' / EN: 'Bloodbath in Munich'"
DE: 'Blutbad in Muenchen' / EN: 'Bloodbath in Munich' - The hostage crisis culminated in a disastrous rescue attempt at Furstenfeldbruck airfield, leaving 11 Israeli athletes and coaches dead alongside five of the eight attackers.
- Sep 6, 1972
Le Monde
Newspaper · France
"FR: 'Massacre aux Jeux Olympiques de Munich' / EN: 'Massacre at the Munich Olympic Games'"
FR: 'Massacre aux Jeux Olympiques de Munich' / EN: 'Massacre at the Munich Olympic Games' - Eight Palestinian guerrillas infiltrated the athletes' village in a coordinated assault that transformed the symbol of peace into a scene of bloodshed.
- Sep 6, 1972
BBC News
TV · United Kingdom
"Olympic Games Overshadowed by Munich Hostage Drama"
Synthesized from period reporting - The International Olympic Committee suspended competition for 34 hours as negotiations with the Black September organization collapsed and a bungled German police operation ended in tragedy at the airport.
- Sep 12, 1972
The Times of London
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"Eleven Israelis Slain in Munich; Games Resume Under Shadow of Tragedy"
The Olympic movement regrouped after a memorial service for the dead, but the Games that were meant to rehabilitate Germany's image remained indelibly marked by the worst security failure and loss of life in Olympic history.
Captured in time.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.1972 Summer Olympics
en.wikipedia.org