DFB 125 ⋆ An Old International

DFB 125

The German Football Association looks back at 125 years of existence. It is a rich history with many highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies. Many observers would rather the past quarter of a century to be deleted.

Anniversaries like the 125th of the DFB are often overseen or overshadowed by more important dates. In this case it was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army in January 1945 that pushed the headlines about the German football association into the back. Rightly so, as football has taken a bit too much of the limelight during the first quarter of the 21st century. It may be so that over the self-created importance of football, the history that shaped the second half of the 20th century was perhaps overseen. However, the DFB celebrates its century and a quarter and that is something to reflect, rather than to celebrate. In all honesty, only the first 30 years, the DFB had been free from calamities – since 1933 it has been one catastrophe after the other.

At first, it was the anticipatory obedience once Hitler seized power in 1933 that aligned the DFB with the regime. This decision led to the elimination of many Jewish players and officials from football, among them Walther Bensemann, founder of several football clubs and the sports magazine “Kicker” but also Kurt Landauer an important figure in the history of Bayern Munich. If football was an omen of what was to come, Hitler should have considered twice starting a war. Germany’s performances at the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, respectively, were unstable. While a semi-final in 1934 at the first participation was laudable, an early elimination at the Olympics in Berlin 1936 was a catastrophe. Worse, at the World Cup 1938 in France, the German Empire was beaten by Switzerland after extra time. In hindsight, this performance over four years, mirrored the course of the war: a bright start, called Blitzkrieg, followed by a catastrophic and deserved end.

The DFB was not immediately reestablished following zero hour in May 1945, but in 1950 the association was established again yet excluded from any international competition, i.e. the World Cup. However, upon being allowed to compete in 1954, the Germans dumbfounded the entire world by winning the title in the most dramatic manner: they were 2-0 down within 10 minutes, were level after 20 minutes and scored the winner with mere six minutes left. Winning was all nice but it allowed some sentiments to resurface: German supporters sang the first verse of the national anthem, which is not allowed while the president of the DFB spoke of German virtues. Clearly, the de-Nazification process was hollowed out and allowed personnel such as Peco Bauwens back into power, i.e. at the helm of the DFB. The title of 1954 helped to overpaint the recent past. There was no attempt to come to terms with the history of the DFB until the 21st. century; not even the student revolt of the 1960s brought about any enlightenment in the history of football during the period between 1933 and 1945. This was made worse in 1978 when the team in Argentina were visited in their camp by a former Nazi, someone who made no secret of his history.

Additionally, the DFB continued a policy of exclusion as women’s football was not allowed between 1950 and 1970. Even after 1970, it was treated abysmally, a state that lasted until the 1990s, early 2000s. Despite the sweeping success the women had: winning the European Championships eight times in a row and adding two World Cups. Women are now just as important as their male counterparts, but it’s been a long journey to get to this point.
After a full historical examination of the DFB and its personnel during the period of national socialism in Germany, one would have thought that the association had learnt a thing or two. Again disappointment. The World Cup of 2006 was very likely brought to Germany by means of corruption. The tournament itself set new standards for any following host countries yet, the aftertaste of bribery remains. Throughout this episode, the DFB did not appear to be cooperating with the investigation.

When Germany were not winning, they were good at lamenting: against the referee (World Cup 1966; the revenge came in 1968, 1970 or 2010 – whichever date you prefer), or FIFA – between 1933 and 1945 Germany tried to usurp FIFA, yet failed. At the first instance when things did not go as smoothly or as planned, there was outrage. The semi-final 1958 when Sweden beat them 3-1 but the Germans felt betrayed, in fact robbed. As a consequence, Bauwens, who was still in office despite his mutterings of German virtues and superiority following the final in Berne, declared that Germany will not play Sweden ever again. They could not keep their promise: Germany played Sweden again in November – a fortnight before Bauwens passed away. However, whenever Germany cry foul, it needs to be added that their victory in 1954 came with the help of pervitine, a stimulant, now classified as doping.

The latest instalment in this series was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The team arrived with the aim to stand and speak up for human rights, something that many agents and organisations have done before the tournament. Again, disaster followed: Germany’s hand-over-the-mouth gesture backfired as the team returned home after just three games, i.e. the group stages.

After all this negative talk, there has to be something positive. Indeed. The best idea the DFB had was to establish the Bundesliga in 1962, a product that has become the envy of many foreign observers as it prohibits that clubs are bought and sold but instead are owned by a majority of the members. There are exceptions, yet these only confirm the existence of the rule.

Despite these calamities, Germany and its football are still a force in world football, if only the association could wield this power with emphasis and conviction! Alas, we will have more of the same: never change a trusted pattern: muddle through and sell it as a success.

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