United Team of Germany at the 1956 Summer Olympics


Germany was represented at the 1956 Summer Olympics by a United Team of Germany of athletes from the Federal Republic of Germany and, for the first time at Summer Games, also from the German Democratic Republic which had not joined in 1952. Also, the Saarland athletes who had to enter as a separate team in 1952 could now join in even though the accession of their state was not yet in effect. Thus, this was the only Olympic team ever to comprise athletes from three German states.
Most of the Games were held in Melbourne, Australia, but due to Australian quarantine regulations the equestrian events were held five months earlier in Stockholm, Sweden. 158 competitors, 134 men and 24 women, took part in 95 events in 15 sports.

Events

The horse Halla carried rider Hans Günter Winkler to two Gold medals, and one more in 1960 for an all-time record.
Heinz Fütterer, who had tied the 100m world record and set some European records, was a favorite for medals, but was injured before the games in an event held in the GDR.
Compared to 1952, where no Gold had been won, the Germans improved significantly, but still won more than twice as many Silver than Gold, being ranked joint 4th in total medals.

Medalists

Gold

Men's 110m Hurdles
Men's Marathon

Canoeing

Cycling

;Tandem
Günther Ziegler — 10th place
;Team pursuit
Rolf Nitzsche
Siegfried Köhler
Werner Malitz — 12th place
;Team road race
Gustav-Adolf Schur
Reinhold Pommer — 27 points
;Individual road race
One fencer represented Germany in 1956.
;Men's foil
;Men's épée
;Men's sabre

Gymnastics

Hockey

Rowing

The United Team of Germany had 12 male rowers participate in five of the seven rowing events in 1956.
; Men's single sculls
; Men's double sculls – 4th place
; Men's coxless pair
; Men's coxed pair – 2nd place
; Men's coxless four

Shooting

Two shooters represented Germany in 1956.
;50 m rifle, three positions
;50 m rifle, prone

Water polo

Weightlifting

Wrestling