Did You Know That Adolf Hitler Once Offered Dhyan Chand A Position In The German Army? Here Is What The Major Did.

Hockey Magician, The Wizard or Major Dhyan Chand is most known for his role in helping India win three Olympic gold medals although the nation and its people were still subject to British colonial control and regularly made to feel inferior by the English ruling class.

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Major Dhyan Chand was born in 1905, was also known as Dhyan Chand Bais and went by the name Dhyan Singh. The hockey icon is reported to have been referred to as “Chand” by his fellow citizens since he frequently practised hockey at night under the moonlight after finishing his shift. At the age of 16, Dhyan Chand enlisted in the British Indian Army, where he played hockey while also serving in the Punjab Regiment.

Dhyan Chand changed India’s fortunes in the hockey final of the Berlin Olympics

The hockey squad from India had a poor start. In the first half, they failed to score a goal. However, their luck changed in the second half when they successfully put up an 8-1 score against Germany by scoring quickly and fiercely. The barefooted Dhyan Chand’s outstanding performance and his personal contribution of 6 goals stunned the 40,000-person crowd. Adolf Hitler reportedly departed the stadium in annoyance after coming to support his team. But he returned to present the Indian team’s medals.

What happened between Adolf Hitler and Dhyan Chand?

During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Dhyan Chand is reported to have been offered German citizenship by none other than Adolf Hitler himself. According to legend, the fascist dictator was so moved by Dhyan Chand’s performance at that year’s Olympic Games that he offered to give the Indian major German citizenship and even a job in the nation’s armed forces.

In order to participate in the 1936 Olympics, Dhyan Chand went to Berlin as the captain of the Indian hockey squad. Dhyan Chand scored 11 goals in five games to finish the prestigious competition. In the 1936 Olympics final, he played in rubber slippers and scored three goals against Germany to help India win another gold medal.

Dhyan Chand rejected Adolf Hitler’s offer

Hitler sent Dhyan Chand a letter on August 16, 1936, requesting to meet with the hockey whiz. Chand was shocked and terrified since he had heard stories of Hitler rapidly killing people. Hitler asked about the hockey legend’s occupation during their encounter and, upon discovering that he had been a Major in the Indian army, presented an offer to him for a high-ranking position in the German military. Dhyan Chand, however, politely rejected the proposal, stressing the difficulties of moving to Germany with his family. The Nazi dictator, who was astounded by Chand’s performance on the field, acknowledged Chand’s concerns and they finished their conversation in the stadium’s private box.

‘India is not for sale’

Former Indian hockey team coach Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi claims that Dhyan Chand resolutely opposed Adolf Hitler. “He answered to Hitler with closed eyelids but in a forceful voice of an Indian soldier that India is not for sale,” Naqvi recalled the hockey wizard telling him personally. He revealed that Hitler gave Dhyan Chand the title of “Wizard of Hockey” in addition to saluting him. Hitler saluted him instead of shaking his hand and said, “The German nation salutes you for the love of your country India and your nationalism,” Naqvi added. This caught everyone in the stadium completely off guard.