Martha Bachem

Martha Bachem, born as Martha Musilek in Austria, was married to well-known publisher Robert Bachem from Köln (Germany) and lived with him and their child in Köln. In Austria she was trained by Karl Schäfer during World War II. After the “Anschluss” and her marriage she became a German citizen.

But when the 1948 Olympics were planned Germany was not invited as an aggressor nation in World War II. Bachem picked up her daughter and returned to Austria where she was repatriated as a native Austrian, although the Austrian authorities wanted her to divorce Bachem, but she refused. However, the Austrian NOC allowed her to compete at St. Moritz where she took 9th place in the ladies’ singles event. Directly after the Games she was sent back to Germany by the Austrian government, because German citizens were not welcome.