Rukeli Trollmann Nazarwala Poster

Rukeli Trollmann poster A3 size (other sizes available on order)
Original is painted on wood panel A3 size. (not available for sale)
Johann Wilhelm "Rukeli" Trollmann (27 December 1907 – 9 February 1943) was a German Sinto boxer. He became famous in the late 1920s when he fought for the German light-heavyweight title and although he clearly led by points the fight was judged "no result". The audience rebelled, and the Nazi officials were forced to acknowledge Trollmann as the victor. Six days later, however, he was again stripped of the title. A new fight was scheduled for 21 July and Trollmann was threatened that he had to change his "dancing" style or lose his licence. Trollmann, of Sinti heritage, arrived the day of the match with his hair dyed blonde and his face whitened with flour, the caricature of an Aryan. He took the blows of his opponent as he was asked, for five rounds before he collapsed. The persecution of Sinti and Roma in Germany dramatically increased in the following years. The Gestapo arrested him in June 1942, and he was interned in Neuengamme concentration camp. He tried to keep a low profile, but the camp commandant had been a boxing official before the war and recognized the former star. He used Trollman as a trainer for his troops during the nights. The prisoners organized a fight between him and Emil Cornelius, a hated Kapo (a prisoner given privileges). Inevitably Trollmann won. Cornelius soon sought revenge for his humiliation and forced Trollmann to work all day until he was exhausted, before attacking and killing him with a shovel. Trollmann was just 36 years old.