Ludwig SCHWEIKERT

Ludwig Schweickert was a German middleweight wrestler who won the silver medal in the Greco-Roman style at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Sweden’s Ivar Johansson led throughout in Berlin, only accumulating 2 bad points on decision wins before he won the gold medal by defeating Hungary’s József Palotás by a fall in the final contest at 3:48. Palotás’ loss to Johansson gave the silver medal to Schweickert, with Palotás taking bronze. Schweickert lost to Johansson in the final of the 1937 and 1939 European Championships. From 1937-42 Schweickert won the German Greco-Roman titles and in 1938, 1940-41 he was freestyle champion.

He was a professional soldier from 1936. As a close friend of his team-mate, and avowing communist Werner Seelenbinder, he often had trouble with Nazi officials. He was killed in action in 1943 during World War II defending the town of Orjol from recapture by the Soviet Army.