Mentor and supporter

The charred ruins of the Rutt Arena stood as a sad monument for several years, serving as a playground for children before finally being demolished.

In 1937, Walter Rutt, who was now almost completely destitute, was offered the position of "Reich sports instructor". In this role, he was responsible for promoting young talent and for the national track cycling team. However, this position required membership of the NSDAP. According to contemporary witness Klaus Budzinski, he joined the party without conviction. (source reference: "Fredy Budzinski" by Renate Franz)

Walter Rutt, Heinz Hasselberg and Jean Schorn

The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the magazine “Deutsche Sport-Illustrierte” on July 29, 1941. It clearly shows how Nazi propaganda exploited Walter Rutt's popularity.

"Life did not break him, even though it tossed him around violently. There were times when Rutt was celebrated like the other cycling gods of Wilhelmine Germany. It was a time when people threw diamond-studded cigarette cases at the great cyclists out of sheer enthusiasm and celebrated them more fervently than the most famous soccer players later on. Rutt had to pay dearly for everything. Rütt was no Hans in Luck.

He stood behind the nickel taps of a restaurant at the Sportpalast, but he hit a slump. He had built the Rutt Arena, probably in memory of times of cycling that could no longer be conjured up: it burned down. He never went under. His hair turned gray and ice gray. Rutt smiled little. But he remained who he was: a man with courage and heart. The new Germany has given him a beautiful place, Walter Rutt passes on his knowledge to the youth."

"You could always ask him,
he always helped,
he was like a real father to us."

On October 31, 1942, Walter Rutt married Gertrud Brinkmeier. Documents from the Würselen registry office indicate that this was Walter Rutt's third marriage. However, there is no information about a second marriage either there or at the authorities in Berlin.

On the occasion of Walter Rutt's 60th birthday, the official organ of the bicycle wholesale and retail trade associations “FKZ” wrote in its September 1943 issue:

"As a Reichsbundlehrer, Walter Rutt continues to serve German sport today by training young cyclists to become capable, useful racing cyclists. The successes of our young men and amateurs at home and abroad prove that the old master is on the right track with his training methods. Let us hope that this useful force will remain with German cycling for a long time to come."

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