One Ring. Two Nations | Clash Of Nations: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling

[00:00:00]This fight is of great international political importance.

[00:00:03]>> 1938, it was a match-up between Hitler's ordained representative of the master race.

[00:00:09]>> Hitler's boy, Max Schmeling.

[00:00:11]>> [music] >> Against a black man representing the blended melting pot of America.

[00:00:16]>> The king of the ring, Joe Louis.

[00:00:18]>> This is the war of the worlds.

[00:00:20]>> The entire world is tuned in to this one fight. And it's because it's FDR versus Hitler, [music] it's democracy versus Nazism.

[00:00:29]>> President Roosevelt called emergency sessions.

[00:00:32]>> Europe is moving rapidly towards the Second World War. For a lot of Americans, the fight has taken on a whole new political life.

[00:00:38]>> I see no reason why Schmeling think that he should regain his title. I will take care of him on night June the 22nd.

[00:00:51]>> No sporting event has ever come close to the stakes of [music] this fight.

[00:00:58]It's man versus man.

[00:01:00]Black versus [music] white.

[00:01:02]Country versus country.

[00:01:04]And ultimately, that fight of good versus evil.

[00:01:06]>> Which way of life shall survive? Their way or our way?

[00:01:10]>> Our place in the world is going to be significantly affected by whether Joe Louis or Max Schmeling wins this fight.

[00:01:21]>> A fight you will never forget.