Gauliga Bayern
Encyclopedia
| Gauliga Bayern |
|---|
| Founded |
| 1933 |
| Disbanded |
| 1945 |
| Nation |
 Nazi Germany |
 |
| State States of Germany Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries... |
 Kingdom of Bavaria |
| Gau (from 1934) |
| Bayreuth Gau Bayreuth The Gau Bayreuth, until 1942 named Gau Bayerische Ostmark , was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia, Bavaria from 1933 to 1945... |
| Franconia |
| Main-Franconia Gau Mainfranken The Gau Mainfranken , was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, from 1933 to 1945... |
| Munich-Upper Bavaria Gau München-Oberbayern The Gau München-Oberbayern was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Upper Bavaria, Bavaria from 1933 to 1945... |
| Swabia |
| Number of Seasons |
| 12 |
| Replaced by |
| Oberliga Süd Oberliga Süd (1945-63) The Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:... |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 1 German football league system The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to a series of hierarchically interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Germany that consists of over 2,300 men's divisions, in which all leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation... |
| Domestic Cup |
| Tschammerpokal DFB-Pokal The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga... |
| Last Champions 1943–44 |
| North: 1. FC Nuremberg |
| South: FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
The Gauliga Bayern was the highest football (soccer) league in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
state of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the five Gaue Bayreuth, Munich-Upper Bavaria, Swabia, Main Franconia and Franconia de facto replaced the state of Bavaria which remained only as a symbolic region.
Overview
The league was introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of powerMachtergreifung
Machtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
in Germany and Bavaria. It replaced the Bezirksliga Bayern
Bezirksliga Bayern
The Bezirksliga Bayern was the highest association football league in the German state of Bavaria from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933.-Overview:...
as the highest level of play in German football competitions. Up until 1963, Germany did not have a nationwide highest league but rather operated on regional divisions with the winners of those entering a finals round for the German championship.
The Gauliga Bayern was established with twelve clubs from the state of Bavaria, but without any teams from the Palatinate region (German:Pfalz), then politically a part of Bavaria but not geographically connected to the rest of the state. The clubs from this region traditionally never played in the Bavarian leagues and were now added to the Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen
Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen
The Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen was the highest football league in the German state of Hesse,the Bavarian province of Palatinate, the Saarland and some parts of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1933 to 1941. From 1941, it also included parts of the occupied French region of Lorraine...
. The football clubs from Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, which had been playing in the Bavarian league system until 1933, now joined the Gauliga Württemberg
Gauliga Württemberg
The Gauliga Württemberg was the highest football league in the German state of Württemberg and the Prussian province of Hohenzollern from 1933 to 1945...
.
The Gauliga replaced as such the two Bezirksligas of northern and southern Bavaria. The arrival of the Gauliga heralded somewhat the decline of Bavarian football. The 1. FC Nuremberg and SpVgg Fürth still dominated the Bavarian league but the national success both clubs had, especially in the 1920s, faded away. Until 1937, Nuremberg still made three more appearances in the German final and won in 1936, but no other Bavarian club had any success on the national championship level. Only in the German cup competition, the Tschammerpokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
, did Nuremberg (1935, 1939) and 1860 Munich (1942) win some more titles.
In its first season, the league had twelve clubs, playing each other once at home and once away. The league winner qualified for the German championship
German football champions
The German football champions are the annual winners of the highest association football competition in Germany. The history of the German football championship is complex and reflects the turbulent history of the country through the course of the 20th century.Brought to the country by English...
while the bottom three teams were relegated. Over the next two seasons, the league was reduced at first to eleven, then ten teams. From 1935–36, the Gauliga Bayern had two teams relegated per season, but the modus remained unchanged otherwise.
The 1939–40 season started on 27 August 1939, but with the outbreak of the Second World War four days later, league football was suspended. It only resumed at the end of October, with a number of local city-championships having been played to bridge the gap. In 1939–40, only one team was relegated as the league reverted to twelve teams for the following season.
After the 1941–42 season, the negative effects of the Second World War became seriously visible with player shortages and transport difficulties. The league was staged in a northern (11 teams) and a southern group (10 teams) in 1942–43 and 1943–44. No overall Bavarian championship was determined and both league winners went to the German finals competition.
The imminent collapse of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1945 gravely affected the Gauligas and in Bavaria the league was now staged in five regional groups. With the exception of the Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
division, most of the leagues had to shut down in late 1944.
Within the Bavarian capital, football games continued until almost the end of the war, with the last official game in Nazi Germany being the FC Bayern versus 1860 Munich derby on 23 April 1945, ending 3–2.
With the end of the Nazi era, the Gauligas ceased to exist and shortly after, in late 1945, in the US occupation zone
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany
The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
in southern Germany, the Oberliga Süd
Oberliga Süd (1945-63)
The Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
came to be the highest league in this region.
Founding members of the league
The twelve founding members and their positions in the 1932–33 season were:- 1. FC Nuremberg, winner Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- TSV 1860 MünchenTSV 1860 MünchenTurn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season...
, finished 2nd Bezirksliga Südbayern - FC Bayern MunichFC Bayern MunichFC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, winner Bezirksliga Südbayern - FC Schweinfurt 05, finished 3rd Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- TSV Schwaben AugsburgTSV Schwaben AugsburgTSV Schwaben Augsburg is a German football club which is part of a larger sports association whose origins go back to the 1847 formation of the gymnastics club Turnverein Augsburg...
, finished 7th Bezirksliga Südbayern - SpVgg Fürth, finished 2nd Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- ASV Nürnberg, finished 5th Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- Jahn RegensburgJahn RegensburgSSV Jahn Regensburg is a German association football club based in Regensburg, Bavaria. The team was part of a larger sports club founded in 1889 as Turnerbund Jahn Regensburg which took its name from Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, whose ideas of gymnastics greatly influenced German sport in the 19th...
, finished 10th Bezirksliga Südbayern - Wacker MünchenWacker MünchenFC Wacker München is a German association football club of about 200 members based in the Sendling borough of Munich, Bavaria. At their zenith in the 1920s the Blue Stars twice reached the semi-finals of the German Championship. After World War II, the club spent a year in the first division play,...
, finished 4th Bezirksliga Südbayern - FC Bayreuth, finished 4th Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- FV Würzburg 04, finished 7th Bezirksliga Nordbayern
- FC München, merger club of Teutonia (8th) and DSC München (6th)
Winners and runners-up of the Gauliga Bayern
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up |
| 1933–34 | 1. FC Nuremberg | TSV 1860 München |
| 1934–35 | SpVgg Fürth | 1. FC Nuremberg |
| 1935–36 | 1. FC Nuremberg | SpVgg Fürth |
| 1936–37 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Schweinfurt 05 |
| 1937–38 | 1. FC Nuremberg | TSV 1860 München |
| 1938–39 | FC Schweinfurt 05 | TSV 1860 München |
| 1939–40 | 1. FC Nuremberg | BC Augsburg |
| 1940–41 | TSV 1860 München | 1. FC Nuremberg |
| 1941–42 | FC Schweinfurt 05 | SpVgg Fürth |
| Season | North | South |
| 1942–43 | 1. FC Nuremberg | TSV 1860 München |
| 1943–44 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Bayern Munich |
Placings in the Gauliga Bayern 1933–44
In the 1942–43 and 1943–44 season, the league was split in two separate groups, North and South. The 1944–45 season was played in five separate groups but never completed.Clubs from the northern division
| Club | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. FC Nuremberg | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| FC Schweinfurt 05 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| SpVgg Fürth | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| ASV Nürnberg | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | |||||||
| FC Bayreuth | 10 | 9 | |||||||||
| FV Würzburg 04 2 | 11 | ||||||||||
| SpVgg Weiden SpVgg Weiden SpVgg Weiden is a German association football club from the city of Weiden, Bavaria.Playing in the tier-four Regionalliga Süd in 2010–11, the club had to declare insolvency after being more than Euro 1 million in debt... |
9 | ||||||||||
| VfB Coburg | 10 | 9 | |||||||||
| BSG WKG Neumeyer Nürnberg | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |||||||
| VfR Schweinfurt | 9 | 11 | 8 | 5 | |||||||
| FSV 1883 Nürnberg | 10 | ||||||||||
| Kickers Würzburg Kickers Würzburg Kickers Würzburg is a German association football club playing in Würzburg, Bavaria.-History:Founded in 1907, the team has played for most of its history as an unknown local side, although they did manage three seasons in the Bezirksliga Bayern, from 1930 to 1933, and two single season appearances... 2 |
12 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||
| Eintracht Franken Nürnberg | 11 | 9 | |||||||||
| Reichsbahn SG Weiden | 12 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||
| VfL Nürnberg | 5 | 3 | |||||||||
| 1. FC Bamberg 1. FC Bamberg The 1. FC Bamberg was a German association football club from the town of Bamberg, Bavaria.In 2006, the club merged with TSV Eintracht Bamberg to form 1. FC Eintracht Bamberg. 1. FC Eintracht went bankrupt in 2010 and a new club was formed, FC Eintracht Bamberg 2010.1... |
6 | 2 | |||||||||
| Viktoria Aschaffenburg Viktoria Aschaffenburg SV Viktoria 01 Aschaffenburg is a German football club based in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria.Even though Aschaffenburg is located in Bavaria, Viktoria Aschaffenburg historically played its football in the Hessenliga and the associated Hessian leagues, rather than the Fussball-Bayernliga , against clubs... |
7 | ||||||||||
| Post SG Fürth | 10 | 8 | |||||||||
| WTSV Schweinfurt | 7 | ||||||||||
Source:
- In the final seasons, especially from 1943, many clubs formed war associations (KSG) with other teams due to the lack of players and resources:
- 1 FC Schweinfurt 05 and LSV Schweinfurt merged to form KSG Schweinfurt.
- 2 Kickers Würzburg & FV Würzburg 04 merged to form KSG Würzburg.
Clubs from the southern division
| Club | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSV 1860 München TSV 1860 München Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season... |
2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| TSV Schwaben Augsburg TSV Schwaben Augsburg TSV Schwaben Augsburg is a German football club which is part of a larger sports association whose origins go back to the 1847 formation of the gymnastics club Turnverein Augsburg... |
5 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 8 | |||
| Jahn Regensburg Jahn Regensburg SSV Jahn Regensburg is a German association football club based in Regensburg, Bavaria. The team was part of a larger sports club founded in 1889 as Turnerbund Jahn Regensburg which took its name from Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, whose ideas of gymnastics greatly influenced German sport in the 19th... |
8 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Wacker München Wacker München FC Wacker München is a German association football club of about 200 members based in the Sendling borough of Munich, Bavaria. At their zenith in the 1920s the Blue Stars twice reached the semi-finals of the German Championship. After World War II, the club spent a year in the first division play,... |
9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| FC München | 12 | 10 | |||||||||
| BC Augsburg BC Augsburg BC Augsburg was a German football club based in Augsburg, Bavaria. The team was founded as Fußball-Club Allemannia Augsburg in 1907 and played as Ballspiel-Club Augsburg from 1921 to 1969. Facing imminent financial collapse, BC merged with the football side of TSV Schwaben Augsburg in July 1969 to... 3 |
8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | |
| VfB Ingolstadt-Ringsee 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | ||||||||
| Luftwaffen SV Straubing | 7 | 4 | |||||||||
| TSG Augsburg TSG Augsburg The TSG Augsburg is a German football and sports club from Augsburg, Schwaben, formed in 1885. It consists of over 2500 members in 13 different departments ranging from football to alpine skiing.-Overview:... |
8 | 10 | |||||||||
| Bajuwaren München | 9 | ||||||||||
| VfB München | 10 | ||||||||||
| TSV Pfersee | 10 | ||||||||||
Source:
- In the final seasons, especially from 1943, many clubs formed war associations (KSG) with other teams due to the lack of players and resources:
- 3 BC Augsburg merged with Post Augsburg to form KSG BC/Post Augsburg.
- 4 VfB Ingolstadt-Ringsee became KSG Ingolstadt.
Sources
- Die deutschen Gauligen 1933–45 – Heft 1–3 Tables of the Gauligas 1933–45, publisher: DSFS
- Kicker Almanach, The yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports MagazineKicker (sports magazine)kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897–1988 History of Southern German football in tables, publisher & author: Ludolf Hyll
External links
The Gauligas Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv- Germany – Championships 1902–1945 at RSSSF.com