Schmeling was seriously wounded in WW2 when he took part in the attack against Crete in 1941 as a parachutist and spent the rest of the war in a hospital. After the war he became the head of the Coca Cola company in Germany.
Early in his career was called the "German Dempsey" because of his strikingly similar physical appearance to former king Jack Dempsey .
3
Maintained a lifelong friendship with his old ring rival Joe Louis.
4
He became a millionaire by going in the soda business.
5
After World War II, a broke Schmeling made a comeback in his 40s.
6
Once gave the Nazi salute and regretted it for the remainder of his life.
7
A controversial photo showed Schmeling and his wife at a dinner party with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
8
Was a paratrooper in the German army during World War II and was seriously wounded in the attack on Crete in 1941. He spent the remainder of the war recuperating from his wounds.
9
Successfully defended his heavyweight championship by knocking out Young Stribling who had 120 knockout victories in the 15th round.
Despite being used as a political tool by the German regime in the 1930s he fought hard against the Nazi party, and managed to save several Jewish friends from the Nazis during World War II. Over the years, Schmeling greatly treasured his friendship with his most famous rival in the ring - Joe Louis - and quietly gave the down-and-out American gifts of money in later years. He also paid for Louis' funeral in 1981.
13
Voted Germany's greatest sportsman of the 20th century.
14
Although Schmeling was the German heavyweight champ during the height of the Nazi regime, he never joined the Nazi party. In fact, he risked his own life hiding Jews in his own apartment from the Nazis.
15
Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1982.
16
On June 19, 1936, after rain postponed the fight a day, the undefeated Joe Louis was knocked out by Schmeling. In a 1938 rematch, Louis defeated Schmeling in one round (knockout).
17
World heavyweight boxing champion, 1930-1932. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1991.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Glückspilze
1971
TV Movie
Polizist
Keine Angst vor großen Tieren
1953
Zuschauer
Das große Spiel
1942
Zuschauer des Fussballspiels (uncredited)
Knockout - Ein junges Mädchen, ein junger Mann
1935
Max Breuer
Love in the Ring
1930
Max - Sohn der Obsthänderlin / Son of The Fruit Peddler
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Love in the Ring
1930
performer: "Das Herz eines Boxers"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Super Fight: Marciano vs. Ali
2005
Video documentary
Himself (voice)
Die Großen und die Kleinen - Kinder im Gespräch mit Prominenten
1983
TV Series
Himself
The Moviemakers
1983
TV Series
Himself
Heut' abend
1983
TV Series
Himself
Dalli Dalli
1975
TV Series
Himself - Box-Experte
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1974
TV Series
Himself
V.I.P.-Schaukel
1971
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Super Fight
1970
Himself (voice)
Rendezvous mit Stars
1967
TV Movie
Himself
Stars in der Manege
1966
TV Series documentary
Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling
1965
Short
Himself
Steht's in den Sternen?
1964
TV Series
Himself
Der Sport-Spiegel
1963-1964
TV Series documentary
Himself
World's Heavyweight Championship Fight: Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson
1961
Himself - Guest
The Affairs of Julie
1957
Himself
Zwei auf einem Pferd
1956
TV Series
Himself
Zu Gast bei Margot Hielscher
1955
TV Series
Himself
Days of Our Years
1950
Documentary
Himself
The Stars Shine
1938
Himself
Great International Heavyweight Boxing Contest Between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling
1936
Documentary
Himself
Max Baer vs. Max Schmeling
1933
Himself
Max Schmeling vs. Mickey Walker
1932
Short
Himself
Max Schmelling, 'Heavyweight Champion of Germany'
1929
Short
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Die großen Kriminalfälle
2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
HBO Boxing After Dark
2010-2011
TV Series
Himself
On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Greatest Team You Never Heard Of
2010
Documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Tyson
2008
Documentary
Himself
Joe Louis: America's Hero... Betrayed
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Hitlers nützliche Idole
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Costas Now
2005
TV Series
Himself - Boxer
Die Johannes B. Kerner Show
2005
TV Series
Himself
The Goebbels Experiment
2005
Documentary
Himself
Unsere Besten
2003-2004
TV Series
Himself
American Experience
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
Legenden
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Television Under the Swastika
1999
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Boxes Heuser (uncredited)
The 20th Century: A Moving Visual History
1999
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
The Sweet Science
1999
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Great Depression
1993
TV Series documentary
Himself
ABC's Wide World of Sports
1976
TV Series
Himself
Brother Can You Spare a Dime
1975
Documentary
Himself
a.k.a. Cassius Clay
1970
Documentary
Himself
Hallo Max!
1967
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Untouchables
1960
TV Series
Himself / Boxer
Project XX
1959
TV Series documentary
Himself - Boxer
They Were Champions
1954
Documentary short
Himself
Roar of the Crowd
1953/II
Documentary
Himself
The Joe Louis Story
1953
Himself (uncredited)
Wonderful Times
1950
Documentary
Himself
The Negro Soldier
1944
Documentary short
Himself
Prelude to War
1942
Documentary
German Paratrooper (uncredited)
Known for movies
Max Schmelling, 'Heavyweight Champion of Germany' (1929) as Himself
The Affairs of Julie (1957) as Himself
Love in the Ring (1930) as Max - Sohn der Obsthänderlin / Son of The Fruit Peddler
$15 Million
