Gedania Danzig
Encyclopedia
KS Gedania Danzig was an ethnically-Polish association football club that was part of German football competition
in the inter-war period. It was formed in 1922 in what was at the time the Free City of Danzig
(present day Gdańsk
, Poland
). Banned by the Nazis in 1939, the club re-emerged following the end of World War II
and is active today as Gedania Gdańsk.
, Danzig and environs were separated from Germany through the Treaty of Versailles
, becoming an autonomous city-state under a League of Nations mandate
. Gedania was founded as a sports club 15 September 1922 out of the gymnastics club Towarzystwo Gimnastyczne Sokół (Falcon). Initially the club was to be named Polonia, however, local authorities opposed the idea, so the name Gedania, a Latin
ized version of the name of the city, was used instead. In 1931, the football department of the club was founded and just two years later, in 1933, the club was competing in Germany's Gauliga Ostpreußen
, one of sixteen top flight divisions formed in the re-organization of the country's football competition under the Third Reich. The team enjoyed only moderate success, finishing second in what had become the Gauliga Danzig (I), a regional division of the Gauliga Ostpreußen, in 1936–37 and 1937–38, before delivering poor performances in the playoff round of the combined Gauliga Ostpreußen in both seasons.
The ethnically-Polish side was regarded as politically unpalatable to the Nazi regime and was disbanded on 31 August 1939, on the eve of World War II
, which began with the German invasion of Poland. The club's sporting equipment was destroyed while trophies, awards and the club chronicle were all stolen or taken away. Some of the team's facilities were used by the German military sports club LSV Danzig
during the war.
Following the war, the club was re-established as Gedania Gdańsk, and currently plays in the regional league Gdańsk I. The club also has sections for volleyball
and rowing
.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
in the inter-war period. It was formed in 1922 in what was at the time the Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....
(present day Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). Banned by the Nazis in 1939, the club re-emerged following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and is active today as Gedania Gdańsk.
History
In 1920, following World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Danzig and environs were separated from Germany through the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, becoming an autonomous city-state under a League of Nations mandate
League of Nations mandate
A League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League...
. Gedania was founded as a sports club 15 September 1922 out of the gymnastics club Towarzystwo Gimnastyczne Sokół (Falcon). Initially the club was to be named Polonia, however, local authorities opposed the idea, so the name Gedania, a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
ized version of the name of the city, was used instead. In 1931, the football department of the club was founded and just two years later, in 1933, the club was competing in Germany's Gauliga Ostpreußen
Gauliga Ostpreußen
The Gauliga Ostpreußen was the highest football league in the Prussian province of East Prussia and the Free City of Danzig from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the Gau East Prussia the Prussian province...
, one of sixteen top flight divisions formed in the re-organization of the country's football competition under the Third Reich. The team enjoyed only moderate success, finishing second in what had become the Gauliga Danzig (I), a regional division of the Gauliga Ostpreußen, in 1936–37 and 1937–38, before delivering poor performances in the playoff round of the combined Gauliga Ostpreußen in both seasons.
The ethnically-Polish side was regarded as politically unpalatable to the Nazi regime and was disbanded on 31 August 1939, on the eve of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which began with the German invasion of Poland. The club's sporting equipment was destroyed while trophies, awards and the club chronicle were all stolen or taken away. Some of the team's facilities were used by the German military sports club LSV Danzig
LSV Danzig
Lufttwaffensportverein Danzig was a short-lived German association football club from the city of Danzig, West Prussia . LSV was an air force sports club that was active from 1941-44 and was made up primarily of flak soldiers. During World War II it was common in Germany for military sides to take...
during the war.
Following the war, the club was re-established as Gedania Gdańsk, and currently plays in the regional league Gdańsk I. The club also has sections for volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
.
External links
- Gedania Gdansk official team site – football department
- Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables
- Der Fußball in Ostpreußen und Danzig (en: Football in East Prussia and Danzig)