In Memory of the Munich Massacre

Plaque in front of the Israeli athletes’ quarters commemorating the victims (photo by Highcontrast)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre in Munich, West Germany. On September 5, 1972, members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. By the end of the crisis, 11 Israeli Olympic athletes and coaches were killed.

In remembrance of this tragic event, several Geni users created The Munich Massacre project to honor the memories of those who lost their lives. During the struggle, several members exhibited feats of courage that helped to save a life. Below you’ll find a brief look into their story.

Moshe Weinberg

On the morning of September 5, the terrorists took Yossef Romano and his roommates hostage in their apartment at the Olympic Village. While the team was being moved to a different apartment, Moshe Weinberg, the wrestling team’s coach, grappled with the intruders, which gave flyweight wrestler Gad Tsobari the opportunity to escape through an underground parking garage. Tsobari would end up being the only survivor of the six Israeli athletes housed in Apartment 3. Weinberg was shot and killed after the struggle.

Romano was killed shortly thereafter while attempting to overpower the terrorists. On September 6, the other nine Olympic hostages were killed during a failed rescue attempt.

To learn more about the lives of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team, check out the Munich Massacre project. Join the project to help preserve their memory and family history for future generations!

View The Munich Massacre Project