Athletes from East Germany (German Democratic Republic, called DDR in the opening ceremony) competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 297 competitors, 231 men and 66 women, took part in 161 events in 18 sports.

Medalists

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Athletics

Men's 800 metres Men's 1500 metres Men's 4 × 100 m Relay Men's High Jump

Boxing

Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg) Men's Heavyweight (+ 81 kg)

Canoeing

Slalom

Sprint

Cycling

Eleven cyclists represented East Germany in 1972.

Road

Track

Diving

Equestrian

Dressage

Eventing

Fencing

Five fencers, all men, represented East Germany in 1972.

Football

First round

Group D

Second round

Group 1

Bronze Medal match

Bronze medals shared.

Gymnastics

Handball

As expected, the East Germans dominated the first round, defeating Iceland, Tunisia, and Czechoslovakia in turn to win their division. The second round began with a loss to the Soviet Union. Czechoslovakia's wins over the Soviet Union and Sweden meant that the East Germans had to defeat Sweden as well just to tie the Czechoslovakian team in the standings, which they did. However, the tie-breaker went against the East Germans and they placed second in the division. They played the other division's second place team, Romania in the bronze medal game and lost, receiving fourth place.

Judo

Rowing

Men's single sculls Men's double sculls Men's coxless pair Men's coxed pair Men's coxless four Men's coxed four Men's eight

Sailing

Shooting

Nine male shooters represented East Germany in 1972. Werner Lippoldt won bronze in the 50 m rifle, three positions and Michael Buchheim won bronze in the skeet.

Swimming

Men's 100m Freestyle Men's 200m Freestyle Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay

Volleyball

Weightlifting

Wrestling