Fascinating bit of history...

stormholloway · 02-13-2007, 01:25 PM

Anyone know that in 1935-37, Fred Perry and Don Budge defeated Baron Gottfried Alexander Maximillian Walter Kurt von Cramm, a descendant of ancient German nobility and a closeted homosexual?

He was German nobility during the **** era and was a homosexual. It also also openly noted that he did not condone the **** regime. Think about the heat on this guy? He's Germany's top tennis player, a Baron, a homosexual, and on top of that publicly opposed to the **** regime. He eventually stood trial for homosexuality and found guilty, to serve a year in prison. Don Budge collected signatures of fellow international athletes to set him free and sent that with a letter to Hitler.

He won the Queen's Club tourney in 1939 by beating Bobby Riggs Love and 1, but was not allowed to play Wimbledon because he was a convicted criminal, though it probably had more to do with his German citizenship.

He never won Wimbledon but won two French Championships, beating Crawford and Perry.

Interesting little story. To this day he has the most Davis Cup wins in Germany.

ceejay · 02-13-2007, 01:29 PM

He probably has the longest name in history too.

'Baron Gottfried Alexander Maximillian Walter Kurt von Cramm' would never fit on the scoreboard!

stormholloway · 02-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Yeah he didn't go by that name, but I thought it funny to post the full name.

urban · 02-14-2007, 06:13 AM

He was twice married, the second time with the Woolworth daughter Barbara Hutton, the richest woman of the world in that time. The marriage broke up due to obvious reasons, but they remained friends.

alwaysatnet · 02-21-2007, 07:49 AM

He never pulled his racquet out of the bag?

02-13-2007, 01:25 PM	#1
stormholloway Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 6,832	Fascinating bit of history... Anyone know that in 1935-37, Fred Perry and Don Budge defeated Baron Gottfried Alexander Maximillian Walter Kurt von Cramm, a descendant of ancient German nobility and a closeted homosexual? He was German nobility during the ** era and was a homosexual. It also also openly noted that he did not condone the regime. Think about the heat on this guy? He's Germany's top tennis player, a Baron, a homosexual, and on top of that publicly opposed to the ** regime. He eventually stood trial for homosexuality and found guilty, to serve a year in prison. Don Budge collected signatures of fellow international athletes to set him free and sent that with a letter to Hitler. He won the Queen's Club tourney in 1939 by beating Bobby Riggs Love and 1, but was not allowed to play Wimbledon because he was a convicted criminal, though it probably had more to do with his German citizenship. He never won Wimbledon but won two French Championships, beating Crawford and Perry. Interesting little story. To this day he has the most Davis Cup wins in Germany.

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