Gottfried von Cramm was born on July 7, 1909 in Germany. He began playing tennis at the young age of 10, showing a natural talent for the sport from an early age.
Von Cramm quickly rose to prominence in the tennis world, winning the French Championships on two occasions. He was also the men's singles runner-up at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships for three consecutive years. Despite his success on the court, von Cramm faced personal challenges off the court as well.
Von Cramm's personal life was marked by controversy and hardship. In 1940, he was conscripted into military service during World War II. Additionally, despite his enormous popularity with the public, von Cramm faced discrimination and persecution due to his sexuality.
In a deeply troubling incident, von Cramm was arrested by the German government in 1938 on charges of a homosexual relationship with Manasse Herbst, a young Galician Jewish actor and singer. This unjust trial and subsequent persecution shed light on the discrimination faced by LGBTQ individuals during this time period.
Von Cramm was married to socialite Barbara Hutton from 1955 until 1959. Their relationship, like much of von Cramm's life, was marked by both public scrutiny and personal challenges.
Despite the difficulties he faced, von Cramm's legacy as a talented tennis player and a courageous individual endures. He stood up against the oppressive policies of Adolf Hitler, showing bravery and integrity both on and off the court. In 1977, von Cramm was posthumously inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, cementing his place in the annals of tennis history.
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