World History Alternate Film Assignment
The films One Day in September and Munich describe the kidnapping of Israeli athletes by a group of Palestinians at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. The attack began in the early morning hours of Sept. 5, 1972, when eight armed Palestinians affiliated with the Black September Organization snuck into the Olympic Village in Munich. They made their way to where the Israeli delegation was housed, killed two men and took nine others hostage.Shortly after the crisis began, they demanded 234 prisoners jailed in Israel and the German-held founders of theRed Army Factionto be released.Black September called the operation "IqritandBiram",after twoPalestinian Christianvillages whose inhabitants were expelled by theIDF (Israeli Defense Forces)in 1948.
Eventually, West German officials will allow the Palestinians and their Israeli hostages to be moved to a Munich airport. Many involved have suggested and allegation that therescue operationwas poorly planned and executed; for instance the German police aboard the getaway plane airplane voted to abandon their mission without consulting the central command, while the snipers were not prepared and were poorly positioned. The One Day in September film also implies that had the West German government prepared better, the athletes might have been saved. Police officers killed five of the eight Black September members during a failed rescue attempt. They captured the three survivors. All of the Israeli athletes were killed. West Germany released survivors the next month following the hijacking ofLufthansa Flight 615.Mossad[the Israeli intelligence agency] responded to the release with the1973 Israeli raid on LebanonandOperation Wrath of God, tracking down and killing Palestinians suspected of involvement in the massacre.
The film also alleges that the 29 Octoberhijacking of a Lufthansa jetand the subsequent release of the three surviving Black September members in exchange for the hostages was a set-up by the German government, who did not want their failings to be made obvious in the trial.
Many have criticized the response of the Olympic Committee to allowing the Olympic Games to continue despite the murders, while others have criticized Israeli Prime Minster Golda Meir for sending the Mossad to hunt down and kill the three suspects that survived the raid.
Questions (answer on back or separate paper)
- What happened at the 1972 Munich Olympics?
- What were the Palestinian demands and what was the justification for their actions?
- How did the West German government become involved?
- What were some of the issues that occurred with the rescue operation?
- What did the film suggest about the West German government?
- What happened to the members of Black September and their hostages?
- Why were the three survivors released?
- What was controversial about their release?
- What were criticisms of the Olympic Committee?
- What was Israel’s response and why was that criticized?