German magazine 'Das Motorrad' from June 1939
Date made: 1939
Description: A copy of German magazine 'Das Motorrad' 17 June 1939, containing reports of 1939 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) races. Front cover has an Art Deco image of a motorcycle rider reminiscent of a soldier, with headline 'Zur englischen T.T.' (to the English TT). Artwork by O. Senning.
In 1939 the Germans made a concerted effort to win the Senior TT as a demonstration of German superiority. It was one of a number of sporting events (1936 Berlin Olympics, world heavyweight boxing title) exploited by the Nazis for propaganda value.
Georg Meier was born in Bavaria in 1910 and trained as a motor mechanic before joining the Bavarian State Police, and later the German Army, as a motorcyclist. Meier only rode twice at the TT, in 1938 and 1939, both times for BMW. In 1939, he stormed to victory aboard the supercharged Kompressor motorcycle. The win was a great propaganda coup for Hitler, and as a reward Meier was promoted to Lieutenant. ‘Motorcycling’ described him at the time as ‘the most brilliant racing motorcyclist Germany has ever produced’.
Meier survived the Second World War and later ran the BMW Allach plant and then built up Germany’s largest BMW dealership. He died in Munich in 1999.
See Unlocking Our Sound Heritage Interview (SA 0586) with Eva Kane for a description of the 1939 German TT team staying at the Falcon Cliff Hotel and Georg Meier's win and promotion.
Measurements: 29cm x 23cm
Materials: paper
Object name: magazine
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 2017-0072
Subject tags : #TT&MOTORSPORT